Tyler Perry, born as Emmitt Perry Jr. on September 13, 1969, is an American actor, filmmaker, and playwright. He is widely recognized for creating and performing the character Mabel "Madea" Simmons, a tough elderly woman who has become a cultural icon. Madea's first appearance was in the stage play "I Can Do Bad All by Myself" in 1999.

Perry's journey in the entertainment industry began with writing and producing stage plays in the 1990s and 2000s, reaching a breakthrough in 2005 with the film "Diary of a Mad Black Woman". This was an adaptation of his own stage play.

He has also developed popular television series, most notably "Tyler Perry's House of Payne", which aired for eight seasons on TBS. In 2011, he was named the highest-paid man in entertainment by Forbes, earning $130 million between May 2010 and May 2011.

Besides his own productions, Perry has appeared in numerous Hollywood films, such as "Star Trek" (2009), "Gone Girl" (2014), and "Don't Look Up" (2021). He has also contributed as a voice actor in animated films like "The Star" (2017).

Despite the commercial success, Perry's work has faced criticism for perpetuating negative stereotypes of African Americans. However, his influence remains significant, with Time naming him one of the 100 most influential people in 2020. Additionally, he received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award from the Academy Awards in 2021.

Perry's dedication extends beyond entertainment, as he is involved in philanthropy through The Perry Foundation, focusing on health, education, and global economic development.