Emmitt Perry Jr. (born 13 September 1969), addressed professionally as Tyler Perry, is a self-made American actor, TV personality, screenwriter, director, and filmmaker. He is marked as one of the wealthiest personalities in the American movie industry, Hollywood.
I Know I’ve Been Changed, a musical he directed, produced, and starred in, was released in 1992. I Can Do Bad All by Myself, a play he wrote in 2000, gave rise to the character Madea, who would star in a succession of successful films.
Tyler Perry has also acted in films such as Alex Cross (2012), Gone Girl (2014), and Vice. He’s developed various television projects, including House of Payne (2018). In 2019, he announced the opening of Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta, which cost US$250 million.
He is a self-made billionaire. He built his wealth from scratch, starting with his single play, I Know I’ve Been Changed, which he wrote and produced.
Tyler Perry turned that play into a little theater empire that eventually expanded into today’s massive multi-media empire while living in his van.
TYLER PERRY |
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 Tyler Perry: History • Bio • Photo |
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| WIKI FACTS & ABOUT DATA | |
| Full Name: | Emmitt Perry Jr. |
| Stage Name: | Tyler Perry |
| Born: | 13 September 1969 (age 54 years old) |
| Place of Birth: | New Orleans, Louisiana, United States |
| Nationality: | American |
| Height: | 1.96 m |
| Parents: | Willie Maxine Perry, Emmitt Perry Sr |
| Siblings: | Emmbre Perry, Melva Porter, Yulanda Wilkins |
| Wife • Spouse: | Not Married |
| Girlfriend • Partner: | Gelila Bekele (ex.), Tasha Smith (ex.), Tyra Banks (ex.) |
| Children: | Aman Tyler Perry |
| Occupation: | Actor • Filmmaker |
| Net Worth: | US$1 billion |
Table of Contents
Early Life
Tyler Perry was born Emmitt Perry Jr. on September 13, 1969, in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. He was born to Willie Maxine Perry (mother) and Emmitt Perry Sr (father). The renowned entertainer has three siblings: Emmbre Perry, Melva Porter, and Yulanda Wilkins.
He had a rough life as one of four children, suffering years of maltreatment at the hands of his carpenter father. He had a terrible childhood, as he was abused for many years.
Tyler Perry also had issues outside the home, revealing that four individuals had sexually molested him. According to him, he attempted suicide at one point to get out of his stressful situation. To distance himself from his father, he changed his first name to Tyler at 16.
Tyler Perry dropped out of high school but received his GED. He held several unfulfilling occupations while trying to find his way professionally before realizing his true calling.
Career
Tyler Perry, who was financially strapped, presented the show in various locations and performed various odd jobs. He even lived in his car, but he didn’t give up and continued to rewrite and perform the musical. His piece, ‘I Know I’ve Been Changed,’ was ultimately well-received by critics and was produced in several locations between 1998 and 2000.
In 2000, he wrote his next play, ‘I Can Do Bad All by Myself,’ which became an instant hit. The principal character in the play ‘Madea,’ who was modeled after his mother and portrayed by himself, stole the show.
In 2001, Tyler Perry released ‘Diary of a Mad Black Woman,’ which was followed by ‘Madea’s Family Reunion,’ both of which garnered favorable reviews. He began traveling to promote all of his plays after writing ‘Madea’s Class Reunion’ in 2003.
Diary of a Mad Black Woman was another of his films, which was released in 2005. He played a significant role on the silver screen. The movie was a bomb, especially since it involved African Americans.
He played the part of Madea in the 2006 film “Madea’s Family Reunion.”
Following the film’s popularity, he established his studio in Atlanta. On June 21, 2006, he debuted his television series, ‘Tyler Perry’s House of Payne,’ on TBS.
In 2006, he released his best-selling book, “Don’t Make a Black Woman Take Off Her Earrings: Madea’s Uninhibited Commentaries on Love and Life.”
In 2007, he directed the romantic comedy-drama film ‘Daddy’s Little Girls.’
Filmography
- Gone Girl (2014)
- Star Trek (2009)
- Precious (2009)
- Diary of a Mad Black Woman
- Why Did I Get Married?
- Good Deeds (2012)
- The Family That Preys (2008)
- For Colored Girls (2010)
- Daddy’s Little Girls (2007)
- Backseat (2018)
Awards & Achievements
Tyler Perry won two BET Awards for ‘Diary of a Mad Black Woman,’ the first in the category of ‘Outstanding Actor in a Theatrical Film’ and the second in the category of ‘Outstanding Writing for Theatrical Film.’
Tyler Perry also received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts in 2021.
Personal Life
Tyler Perry has never been married, although he dated Gelila Bekele from 2009 to 2020 after they broke up. Tyler Perry and Gelila Bekele gave birth to their daughter, Aman Tyler Perry.