Tyler Perry detours from film, TV career to return to stage

Tyler Perry has come a long way since his first musical, "I Know I've Been Changed," played at a church-turned-theater in Atlanta.

In the intervening 12 years since that $12,000 investment, Perry has evolved into an undisputed mogul.

Actor. Director. Screenwriter. Author. Producer.

Before his financial success and fame, Perry, 40, earned a living working in restaurants and used-car lots.

In 2008, he placed No. 41 on Forbes' Celebrity 100 list after his three films that year grossed $130 million worldwide and cable network TBS bought his sitcom "Tyler Perry's House of Payne" for $200 million.

But it's Perry's signature creation, Mabel "Madea" Simmons, the wise-yet-argumentative, God-fearing, gun-toting grandmother -- based on Perry's mother and played by Perry in drag -- that has earned him high-end celebrity status and an enviable bank account.

Perry's standing in the industry is so respected that once he and Oprah Winfrey got involved in promoting "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire," the critically well-regarded film received a crucial commercial thrust.

It's up for six Oscars next month.

Yes, it's been a fruitful decade-plus for a workaholic who used to have to sleep in his car. An overview of Perry's career MOVIES

Most of Perry's films, which he usually writes, directs, produces and stars in, haven't fared well critically. According to review compilation site Rotten Tomatoes, only two of his eight movies have scored above a 50 percent approval rating among top critics: 2008's "The Family That Preys" (51 percent) and last year's "I Can Do Bad All By Myself" (62 percent).

"Contrived," "visually pedestrian," "shallow" and "sloppy" are some of the kinder descriptions of his on-screen product.

But the high-wattage names attached to most of his films -- Angela Bassett, Taraji P. Henson, Janet Jackson and Derek Luke among them -- and subject matter that millions relate to, have buoyed box-office receipts.

His next project, "Why Did I Get Married Too," is due April 2.

Perry's characters are frequently bawdy but usually work through a pattern of sin and redemption. Based on grosses, clearly, someone appreciates his work.

•2005: "Diary of a Mad Black Woman." Gross: $50.6 million. Rotten Tomatoes score: 28 percent favorable.
•2006: "Madea's Family Reunion." Gross: $65 million. RT score: 27 percent favorable.
•2007: "Why Did I Get Married?" Gross: $56 million. RT score: 50 percent favorable.
•2009: "Madea Goes to Jail." Gross: $90 million. RT score: 28 percent.

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TV

In 2006, Perry expanded his empire by branching into TV.

His mainstream appeal was solidified when, after a 10-show syndicated run of his "Tyler Perry's House of Payne" scored attractive numbers, TBS signed a 100-episode, $200 million deal with Perry to air the show.

Its first two episodes on TBS in June 2007 broke a cable-sitcom record, with 5.2 million and 5.8 million viewers tuning in.

In January 2009, "Meet the Browns," based on Perry's play and movie of the same name, debuted on TBS to more than 4 million viewers.

If you haven't seen either show, a primer:

•"Tyler Perry's House of Payne" (airs at various times on TBS): The show revolves around the Payne family, who live in suburban Atlanta. Perry's "Madea" made appearances the first three seasons, but it's the character of Curtis "Pops" Payne who steals the attention. An arrogant, belligerent sort, Payne is a fire chief who excels at his job, despises technology and relies on his patient wife, Ella.
•"Meet the Browns" (new episodes air at 9 p.m. Wednesdays on TBS): Perry's latest small-screen foray is self-created and produced and is also set in Atlanta. David Mann and Tamela Mann, who starred as Mr. Brown and his daughter, Cora Simmons, in the play and film versions, reprise their roles.

. . .

Perry also conquered the publishing industry in 2006 with the release of his first novel, "Don't Make a Black Woman Take Off Her Earrings: Madea's Uninhibited Commentaries on Love and Life."

Using his acerbic matriarch as his mouthpiece, Perry humorously describes the rules of flirting, explains how to maintain a happy marriage, and rationalizes the benefits of a fried-food diet.

Madea also dispenses advice on raising a family, dealing with depression and gun control.

The hardcover version of the book debuted at No. 1 on The New York Times' best-seller list (displacing "Marley and Me") with more than 300,000 copies in print its first week.

. . .

Stage

Though most of Perry's works derive from stage productions, it's been five years since the man himself has hit the road to perform live.

But that drought ended last month when Perry returned to his original creative outlet, bringing "Madea's Big Happy Family" to New York and Los Angeles and now throughout the U.S. until May, including two performances Sunday at the Richmond Coliseum.

Perry, who, according to his publicist, isn't doing interviews so he can "stay focused on the show for his audience," stated on his Web site, "I gotta tell you, I have missed you. There is nothing like a live performance and if you've never seen a Madea play, then you haven't seen Madea at all. It is an experience, just ask someone who's seen it."

In the current issue of Time magazine, senior editor and entertainment writer Richard Zoglin reviews the show's recent stop at The Theater at Madison Square Garden, describing Perry as "the most popular unsung playwright in America" and calling the show "an odd hybrid of populist comedy-drama, rock concert, revival meeting and motivational seminar."

Sounds like the exact qualities that keep Perry's fans racing to see anything with his name attached.

Contact Melissa Ruggieri at (804) 649-6120 or mruggieri@timesdispatch.com.