Tyler Perry (born September 14, 1969) is an American actor, director, screenwriter, producer, and author.
, Tyler Perry's films have grossed over $400 million worldwide, not including his plays.
He also raked in $125 million between June 1, 2007 and June 1, 2008, and made history last year as the first black film producer to own a major television and film studio. To date, he's sold more than 25 million DVDs. He also has two hit TBS comedies, a best-selling book and several successful stage plays.
Personal life
Tyler Perry was born
Emmitt R. Perry, Jr. in
New Orleans, Louisiana (he now lives in
Atlanta, Georgia).
[Tyler Perry Biography - Inspired by Oprah, Perseverance Paid Off, Concentrated on Madea Character] His father, Emmitt, Sr., was a
carpenter and construction worker, and his mother, Maxine, was a pre-school teacher who worked at the New Orleans
Jewish Community Center for most of her life.
[Tyler Perry Discusses Tyler Perry's Daddy Little Girls Movie]
The younger Perry changed his first name to Tyler because of his troubled relationship with his father. Tyler Perry has said that his father was physically and verbally abusive to him during his childhood, and that this contributed to his attempting suicide as a teenager.
[Ewald, Dan. (2008, September 10). "From Misery to Mastery", Christianity Today]
