Tyler Perry: From humble beginnings to entertainment mogul

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From the “Madea” franchise to “The Haves and the Have Nots,” Tyler Perry has been responsible for some of the most popular movies and TV shows from the last couple of decades, making him one of the world’s wealthiest celebrities. But how did this actor, filmmaker and playwright build his billion-dollar entertainment empire?

Read more about Tyler Perry below, including his impact on representation in Hollywood, philanthropic endeavors and influence on Black creatives. You’ll also learn how Tyler went from being unhoused to a pop cultural figure who changed the face of TV, movies and theater.

Early life and background

World Premiere of Netflix's "The Six Triple Eight"

Tyler Perry was born Emmitt Perry Jr. on Sept. 13, 1969, in New Orleans, Louisiana. He says he suffered physical abuse from his father and sexual abuse from several adults, causing him to feel unsafe. Tyler also survived a suicide attempt and dropped out of high school. He later changed his birth name to distance himself from his father.

Other traumatic experiences shaped Tyler’s childhood, including dealing with a middle school science teacher who, he says, “hated” him:

“I didn’t know why he hated me, but I was sitting in the room, and I was really leaning in and paying attention. He was like, ‘Why are you looking at me that like that? You don’t intimidate me.'”

Tyler’s passion for writing began after watching an episode of “The Oprah Winfrey Show” that highlighted the benefits of writing things down. He says:

“Journaling gets it out of you and onto paper; it is a catharsis. It helps you to understand, unload, and heal.”

When a friend found Tyler’s diary, they encouraged him to pursue a career in writing. Later, Tyler left New Orleans for Atlanta, a city that would eventually become the backdrop for many of his major feature films and TV shows.

Today, the star has a 330-acre studio in the heart of “The Big Peach,” located on the grounds of the former Fort McPherson army base. Tyler Perry Studios is one of the biggest production facilities in the country, with 12 purpose-built stages and 200 acres of green space, and the first ever fully-owned Black studio lot.

Career beginnings

After arriving in Atlanta, Tyler took various jobs, including selling cars and collecting debts. He sometimes didn’t have a home and lived in his car to save money.

Establishing himself in the theater

In 1992, Tyler had raised enough cash to stage his first theater production, in which he also starred. However, the show received little attention and eventually closed.

None of this set him back. Tyler retweaked the play, entitled “I Know I’ve Been Changed,” several times over the next few years before restaging it in 1998. This time around, the show was a major success, playing to sold-out crowds for eight days straight and then moving to Atlanta’s acclaimed Fox Theatre.

Tyler had made it. His second theater production, “Woman, Thou Art Loosed!,” grossed more than $5 million in just five months. Then, in 2000, he staged the play “I Can Do Bad All by Myself,” which featured what may be Tyler’s most iconic character, Madea.

Transition to film and television

In 2005, Tyler transitioned from stage to screen with a feature film version of his hit play “Diary of a Mad Black Woman.” The movie was a huge hit. Despite only having a production budget of $5.5 million, it garnered nearly $22 million in its opening weekend alone, proving Tyler could be a major box-office draw.

In the movie, Tyler plays several characters, including the now-iconic Mabel “Madea” Simmons — an outspoken, gun-carrying and wise-cracking grandmother. This marks the start of the hugely successful “Madea” franchise, with Tyler reprising the role in several movies and TV shows.

Tyler continued to successfully bring his stage productions to the big screen, with the 2007 movie adaptation of “Why Did I Get Married?” eventually grossing nearly $56 million at the worldwide box office. The film, which stars Janet Jackson and Jill Scott, is a tense drama about maintaining a relationship in the modern era.

Tyler has also had phenomenal success on the small screen. In 2012, he signed a deal with the Oprah Winfrey Network to produce content, including scripted series. This partnership would eventually lead to several popular shows, including “The Haves and the Have Nots,” “If Loving You Is Wrong” and “For Better or Worse.”

In 2023, Tyler was the subject of a documentary about how he rose to the top of the entertainment industry. “Maxine’s Baby: The Tyler Perry Story” was well-received by critics, with Shifter calling it a “highly inspirational look at the ups and downs faced by one of the most iconic creators of our time.”

In 2024, Tyler signed a multi-year BET deal to create content.

Notable works

16th Annual African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) Awards

According to his website, Tyler has made 24 feature films (including 13 Madea movies) and 17 television shows.

Hit films

Some successful Tyler Perry movies include:

“Boo! A Madea Halloween”
“Daddy’s Little Girls”
“For Colored Girls”
“Good Deeds”
“I Can Do Bad All by Myself”
“A Madea Christmas”
“A Madea Homecoming”
“Madea’s Family Reunion”
“Mea Culpa”
“Meet the Browns”
“The Six Triple Eight”
“Why Did I Get Married?”
“Why Did I Get Married Too?”

Successful Television Shows

Tyler’s hit TV shows include:

“All the Queen’s Men”
“Beauty in Black”
“Bruh”
“For Better or Worse”
“The Haves and the Have Nots”
“Tyler Perry’s House of Payne”
“If Loving You Is Wrong”
“Love Thy Neighbor”
“Meet the Browns”
“The Oval”
“The Paynes”
“Too Close to Home”

Tyler Perry’s movies and TV shows are not just popular in the United States but in many countries worldwide, including the U.K. and Australia.

Tyler Perry's Mea Culpa Premiere | Netflix

Some critics feel Tyler has brought Black narratives to a wider audience, with Rutgers School of Criminal Justice saying:

“In recent years, filmmaker and actor Tyler Perry has entertained families with movies depicting Black families and particularly Black women and the issues that they face. Issues such as poverty, classism, stereotypes, and abuse are examined for their ability to sustain discriminatory practices.”

That said, some critics view Tyler’s movies and TV shows as disempowering to Black women and promote negative stereotypical representations. Rendy Reviews says:

“Whatever progressive strides a Black filmmaker makes for Black representation in cinema, it only takes one new Tyler Perry movie to take us twenty steps back.”

Tyler responded to this criticism in an interview with Variety magazine:

“When I hear that kind of stuff, I’m thinking, ‘Are y’all looking at the ratings? Do you understand that the audience is in love with this? Because if you’re complaining about my writing, you’re not the audience. My audience loves the way that it’s done and the way the stories are told. And from the beginning, it’s always been about being true to them.”

Philanthropy and community work

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Tyler has championed various good causes over the years and supported up-and-coming entertainers in his movies and TV shows.

Charitable Initiatives

Some of the nonprofits Tyler has worked with include Keep a Child Alive, Aid Still Required, the Jackie Robinson Foundation and the Elton John AIDS Foundation. He started his own foundation in 2006, which aims to “transform tragedy into triumph by seeding individual potential, supporting communities, and harvesting sustainable change.”

Oprah Winfrey says about Tyler:

“Though he now sits atop a growing pinnacle of successes, he’s always trying to help others. Whether addressing food insecurity and homelessness in his community, helping the families of George Floyd, Rayshard Brooks, and Secoriea Turner, or donating millions, his giving always comes from a personal place.”

Supporting aspiring artists

Tyler has provided various opportunities for new artists and filmmakers. For example, he set up an internship program called TPS DREAMERS, which helps college students gain experience in various fields, including filmmaking, art, graphic design and digital media.

Awards and recognitions

Kerry Washington Honored With Star On Hollywood Walk Of Fame

Tyler is one of the most-awarded figures in the entertainment industry and has had an indisputable influence on Hollywood.

Major honors

Some of Tyler’s award wins include:

Outstanding Actor in a Theatrical Film and Outstanding Writing for a Theatrical Film at the 2005 BET Comedy Awards for “Diary of a Mad Black Woman”
Outstanding Motion Picture and Outstanding Directing for a Motion Picture/Television Movie at the 2011 NAACP Image Awards for “For Colored Girls”
The Governors Award at the 2020 Primetime Emmy Awards
The Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the 2001 Academy Awards

Influence on Hollywood

Despite not basing his productions in Tinseltown, Tyler is one of the most influential people in the movie business. His Atlanta studio is bigger in size than any of the five main Hollywood lots aside from Universal’s, and he has lucrative streaming deals with both Netflix and Amazon.

Tyler is also known in the industry for paying competitive wages. CEO Today says:

“The success of his studio, with its large number of projects across multiple TV shows and films, undoubtedly ensures significant compensation for those working on his productions. The business has grown into a global powerhouse, with ‘Madea’ films and other popular TV series consistently providing high-paying jobs in the industry.”

In 2020, Time magazine named Tyler one of the 100 most influential people in the world.

Personal life and values

Tyler’s personal life has long been the subject of media articles. He is also known for his strong faith and work ethic.

Family and relationships

Despite rarely talking about his relationships, the media previously linked Tyler to the actress Crystal Hayslett. He reportedly met the model, filmmaker and activist Gelila Bekele in 2007. The pair broke up in 2020 but remain close friends.

Tyler has a son with Gelila called Aman Perry. Few photos of the child are available online as Tyler chooses to keep him out of the limelight.

Beliefs and work ethic

In an interview with TBN, Tyler said he is a Christian and has “faith in God’s plan.” He also has a strong work ethic and said the following on X in 2019:

“I have no writer’s room. Nobody writes any of my work. I write it all. Why am I telling you this? I wrote all of these scripts by myself in 2019. What’s my point? Work ethic.”

Current and upcoming projects

Five new Tyler Perry releases will hit Netflix in 2025, including “Madea’s Destination Wedding” and the second part of the first season of “Beauty in Black.” His current Netflix TV deal will also include a Tyler Perry new movie called “Straw,” which stars Taraji P. Henson.

Frequently asked questions

Does Tyler Perry have a wife?

Tyler has never married. He dated Gelila Bekele for several years. However, the pair broke up in 2020.

Who is Tyler Perry, and why is he famous?

One of the most accomplished African-American film producers and TV content creators over the last 20 years, Tyler Perry is famous for his “Madea” franchise and for opening a major studio lot in Atlanta. He started his career in the theater before successfully transitioning into TV and movies.

Does Tyler Perry have children?

Tyler has a son called Aman Perry, who was born in 2014. The name Aman means “peace.”

What made Tyler Perry a billionaire?

According to Forbes, Tyler has a net worth of $1.4 billion, making him one of the richest people in entertainment. His wealth comes from being a producer and owning all the content he’s created. The “Madea” franchise has grossed over $600 at the box office.

Tyler Perry: Legacy and impact

Despite some negative film reviews and criticism about perpetuating stereotypes in his work, Tyler is generally considered a pioneer, with his content allowing Black talent to shine. As you can see from this Tyler Perry biography, his impact on the entertainment industry is undeniable, and his studio has grown into a powerhouse that employs hundreds of creatives. It’s for these reasons, among others, that theGrio gave Tyler the Icon Award in 2022.

Get the latest news about Tyler Perry here.

If you or someone you know is considering self-harm or suicide, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or the Suicide Crisis Line at 1-800-784-2433. Help is available 24 hours a day.

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