- Born
- Birth nameEmmitt Perry Jr.
- Height6′ 5¼″ (1.96 m)
- Perry was born and raised in New Orleans, to Willie Maxine (Campbell) and Emmitt Perry, Sr. His mother was a church-goer and took Perry along with her once a week. His father was a carpenter and they had a very strained and abusive relationship, which led Perry to suffer from depression as a teenager.
In 1991, he was working an office job, when he saw an episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show (1986) discussing the therapeutic nature of writing. This inspired him to begin writing and he worked through his bad experiences by writing letters to himself. He adapted his letters into a play, "I Know I've Changed", about domestic abuse. Unfortunately, after renting a theater in Atlanta to put on the play, he failed to attract audiences.
He took on a series of odd jobs and found himself living in his car. But, in 1998, he was given a second chance to stage his play and, this time, he was more business-savvy with his marketing. The play was sold-out and drew attention from investors.
Tyler has gone on to established a successful career as a writer, director and producer for stage, television and film.
- IMDb mini biography by: Kad
- Children
- Parents
- RelativesJerry Banks(Aunt or Uncle)Lucky Johnson(Cousin)Emmbre Perry(Sibling)
- His films/TV series take place in Atlanta, Georgia or Louisiana
- His films/TV series include African-American themes
- Often plays multiple characters, including in drag, in his films or on stage
- Towering height
- Purchased the shuttered Fort McPherson Army Base (1885-2011) for his "Tyler Perry Studios" operation, a 330-acre complex in southwest Atlanta where his own personal offices are housed in "The Dream Building". With this acquisition, Perry becomes the first African-American to own a major film studio outright.
- Has been writing plays since he was age 18. As of March 2005, his eight plays have grossed over US$75 million in tickets and DVD sales.
- His mother, Willie Maxine Perry, passed away on December 8, 2009 at age 64. She was a preschool teacher who worked at the New Orleans Jewish Community Center for most of her life.
- Spent a period of time destitute and living on the streets of Atlanta after his play ''I Know I've Been Changed'' flopped.
- Worked in construction before his movie career became successful.
- 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 will 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.
- He who has the gold makes the rules. (60 Minutes (1968), 25 October 2009)
- It takes a week to do a sitcom in Hollywood. I do a show a day in my studio, three or four shows a week.
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