Biography for
Tyler Perry More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

14 September 1969, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Birth Name

Emmitt Perry Jr.

Height

6' 5" (1.96 m)

Trivia

Has been writing plays since he was 18. As of March 2005, his eight plays have grossed over US$75 million in tickets and DVD sales.

Before becoming a successful film-maker with Diary of a Mad Black Woman (2005), he was already the owner of a successful play company that tours the country and caters to African-Americans. His plays are also recorded and sold as DVDs.

His plays often reference The Color Purple (1985), which starred Oprah Winfrey. He credits "The Oprah Winfrey Show" (1986) with inspiring him to write.

Has a 12-acre estate outside Atlanta.

Often quotes famous black-focused movies such as What's Love Got to Do with It (1993) and The Color Purple (1985). These two are especially quoted in Madea's Family Reunion (2006).

2007 - Ranked #7 on EW's The 50 Smartest People in Hollywood.

Attended high school with rapper Michael "Mystikal" Tyler.

Personal Quotes

I know my audience, and they're not people that the studios know anything about.

Hollywood is finally waking up to the fact that people who go to church also go to the movies. I'm not sure what took them so long to see that or how long they'll keep it up.

Did you know you can't say 'Jesus' in a sitcom? They told me that and I was like, You gotta be kiddin' me. If you don't want my God here, you don't want me here either. God has been too good to me to go and try to sell out to get some money..It ain't gonna happen.

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