Tyler Perry

Born in New Orleans on September 13, 1969, Tyler Perry’s is a true rags-to-riches story. He overcame a troubled childhood during which he had to endure the endless abuse of his own father. In 1992, inspired by Oprah Winfrey, Tyler started writing some soul-searching letters to himself as a catharsis for his pain. These journal entries, in turn, would ultimately serve as the basis for his first play, entitled I Know I’ve Been Changed.

The 6’5’ actor/writer/director’s success with that hit musical would change the face of urban theater, enabling him to tour the country with his company in a string of sellout performances of that and Woman, Thou Art Loosed, Behind Closed Doors, and I Can Do Bad All by Myself. A year ago, he parlayed his most popular character, Madea, into a major motion picture via the big screen version of Diary of a Mad Black Woman. Here, he talks about his return for another round in drag as the sassy, 68 year-old senior citizen in Madea’s Family Reunion.