Tyler Perry Documentary Premier of Maxine's Baby

Tyler 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 notes into a play, "I Know I've Changed," about domestic abuse. Unfortunately, he failed to attract audiences after renting a theater in Atlanta to put on the space. 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 space was sold out and drew attention from investors. Tyler has gone on to establish a successful career as a writer, director, and producer for stage, television, and film.

- IMDb Mini Biography By: Kad