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.

Tyler Perry at an event for Madea's Big Happy Family (2011)

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Cassi Davis, Jennifer Gibney, Tamela J. Mann, Brendan O'Carroll, Tyler Perry, and David Mann in Tyler Perry's A Madea Homecoming (2022)

Cassi Davis, Tamela J. Mann, Brendan O'Carroll, Geneva Maccarone, Tyler Perry, Gabrielle Dennis, and Candace Maxwell in Tyler Perry's A Madea Homecoming (2022)

Tyler Perry in Tyler Perry's A Madea Homecoming (2022)

Crystal Fox, Tyler Perry, Bresha Webb, and Donovan Christie Jr. in A Fall from Grace (2020)

Amy Adams and Tyler Perry in The Late Late Show with James Corden (2015)

Tyler Perry in Boo 2! A Madea Halloween (2017)

Stephen Colbert and Tyler Perry in The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (2015)

Tyler Perry in Diary of a Mad Black Woman (2005)

Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike in Gone Girl (2014)

Cicely Tyson, Henry Simmons, Blair Underwood, Lynn Whitfield, Lisa Arrindell, Boris Kodjoe, Jenifer Lewis, Tyler Perry, Rochelle Aytes, and Keke Palmer in Madea's Family Reunion (2006)

Best Moments from the Oscars 2021 Telecast

'A Fall from Grace' Trailer With Tyler Perry's Commentary

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows

Tyler Perry(I)

Tyler Perry(I)

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