Tyler Perry is one of America's most successful filmmakers. He is an actor, director, screenwriter, and producer. He started his career with theater and rose to become a national figure with his first movie "Dairy of a Mad Black Woman" in 2005.
Perry was born to Emmitt Perry and Willie Maxine Perry on 13th September 1969 as Emmitt Perry Jr. When he was 16 years old he legally changed his name to Tyler Perry in an attempt to distance himself from his father who used to abuse him and his mother. Inspired by one of Oprah Winfrey's show Perry began to write about his thoughts and feelings in the form of letters to himself. This was a like therapy to enable him to deal with his childhood trauma. This also inspired him to purse a career in writing.
These letters were then made into musical called "I Know I've Been Changed" and he wanted to stage. He took all his savings and moved into Atlanta and staged the play but it was a financial disaster. But he still wanted to make it big and for six long years he tried re-writing the same, and finally in 1998 his musical was bought by a promoter to be staged in a church-turned theater, and this time it was a hit. Later it was bought by prestigious Fox Theatre and the musical became a huge success. He went on to write many more plays thereafter which were all hits.
Thereafter he tried his hands in films and he was an instant hit with his first movie released in 2005, which grossed $22 million and was number one on charts nationwide. All movies of his are coproduced and distributed by Lionsgate Entertainment. Till 2010, Perry's films were mostly shown in North America with limited release outside.
He also published his first book "Don't Make a Black Woman Take off Her Earrings: Madea's Uninhibited Commentaries On Life And Love" in 2006 which also was a bestseller. He was awarded Quill Book Awards for "Humour" and "Book of the Year".
He also made a mark with television for the first time in 2006 by producing "Tyler Perry's House of Payne". After its pilot run of 10 shows he signed the contract worth of $200 million for 100 shows with TBS.
Another unique quality to all his creativity is that most of them are based on a central character called "Mabel 'Madea' Simmons". It is said that this character is based on one of his aunt and his mother. His stories are based on the African-Americans and his stories always reflect closer to life themes and with lot of humor which endears him to his audiences.
Darius has been writing online now for a while and has many different interests. You can check out his websites at Trunk Coffee Table and Portable Hammock
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