“Tyler Perry”
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Tyler Perry was born and raised in New Orleans. He had a challenging childhood marked by years of abuse from his father. Perry had an outlet early on by writing down his daily thoughts and experiences in letters to himself. After dropping out of high school, he eventually earned his GED.
In 1990, Perry made a pivotal move to Atlanta. Watching Oprah Winfrey on TV inspired him to turn his letters into his first stage show, "I Know I've Been Changed." He took a risk and put his last $12,000 down for this to work and only 30 people showed up. Homelessness became his reality as he slept out of his car. Disappointed yet determined, he kept trying.
In 1998, he staged his play again at the House of Blues in Atlanta, this time to a sold-out crowd. The success forced them to move to a larger venue, the Fox Theatre in Atlanta. From 1998 to 2004, Perry produced approximately 300 live shows annually, drawing an average weekly attendance of 35,000.
By 2005, Forbes reported that Perry's stage shows and productions had generated $100 million in ticket sales, an additional $30 million in videos, and an estimated $20 million in merchandising. Capitalizing on this success, Perry reinvested that money to finance his first motion picture, "Diary of a Mad Black Woman," in 2005.
Today, Tyler Perry stands as the creative force behind 24 feature films, 20 stage plays, and 17 television shows.
In 2016, he opened the Tyler Perry Studios on 330 acres, formerly the Fort McPherson Confederate Army base in Atlanta, Georgia, creating over 8,000 jobs.
HELLA INSPIRED.
In 1990, Perry made a pivotal move to Atlanta. Watching Oprah Winfrey on TV inspired him to turn his letters into his first stage show, "I Know I've Been Changed." He took a risk and put his last $12,000 down for this to work and only 30 people showed up. Homelessness became his reality as he slept out of his car. Disappointed yet determined, he kept trying.
In 1998, he staged his play again at the House of Blues in Atlanta, this time to a sold-out crowd. The success forced them to move to a larger venue, the Fox Theatre in Atlanta. From 1998 to 2004, Perry produced approximately 300 live shows annually, drawing an average weekly attendance of 35,000.
By 2005, Forbes reported that Perry's stage shows and productions had generated $100 million in ticket sales, an additional $30 million in videos, and an estimated $20 million in merchandising. Capitalizing on this success, Perry reinvested that money to finance his first motion picture, "Diary of a Mad Black Woman," in 2005.
Today, Tyler Perry stands as the creative force behind 24 feature films, 20 stage plays, and 17 television shows.
In 2016, he opened the Tyler Perry Studios on 330 acres, formerly the Fort McPherson Confederate Army base in Atlanta, Georgia, creating over 8,000 jobs.
HELLA INSPIRED.