Tyler Perry Trivia Quiz

Answer: Emmitt R Perry Jr

Tyler Perry was born Emmitt R. Perry Jr. on September 13, 1969 in New Orleans. His parents were Emmitt Sr. and Maxine Perry.

Answer: Changed his name

Perry changed his name at the age of 16 due to the troubled nature of his relationship with his father. Perry stated to Margena A. Christian, of "Jet" that his father was a man "whose answer to everything was to beat it out of you."

Answer: Member of a rap group

Perry has been recognized as an American playwright, actor and director. His plays have been known to carry messages that work on the conscience of his audience through the various characters and Christian based themes.

Answer: Oprah Winfrey

Perry watched an episode of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" in 1992 which led him to find an outlet for all of the emotional chaos inside him. After watching the show, he sat down and started writing letters to himself about his past physical and mental abuse while growing up. Those letters later became the basis for his plays.

He was afraid that someone would read them so he made up fake names and inserted them into his real life experiences, because he never wanted anyone to relate those experiences to him.

This is how he brought his characters to life.

Answer: Mabel Simmons / Madea

Madea is a 68 year-old gun toting (Watch out for her purse!), foul mouthed, smoking, totally outrageous grandmother. She doesn't care what people think of her, she is never politically correct and she is going to tell the truth no matter who she makes mad or who doesn't like it. When she's around, everyone's children belong to her.

Perry has played other smaller parts in addition to Madea giving him multiple roles on film.

Answer: True

Madea was based on Perry's mother and one of his aunts. The name Madea is a Southern black contraction that means "Mother Dear."

Answer: I Know I've Been Changed (1998)

Perry's first attempt, in 1992, at this musical was unsuccessful. However, he didn't give up. He tried again in 1998 at the House Of Blues in Atlanta and was successful.

"I Know I've Been Changed" is a musical about two adult survivors of child abuse who grew up and became exactly what their mother said they would be. Perry plays the lead character named Joe. They are able to overcome their past when they take God into their lives.

Answer: T.D. Jakes

This movie was based on a true story. Michelle Jordan, played by Kimberly Elise, was raised by her single mother, Cassie, played by Loretta Devine. Cassie became involved with a man named Reggie, played by Clifton Powell, who began sexually abusing Michelle at the age of eight. Michelle's life was filled with sexual abuse and her mother was in complete denial. Betrayed by her mother's denial, Michelle ran away from home, became a prostitute and ended up addicted to crack.

This lifestyle landed Michelle in prison for murder.

While Michelle was in prison she obtained some information on the minister T.D Jakes and a program he ran to help abused women. She wrote to the Reverend Jakes, who played himself, in hopes of meeting him. Amazingly Jakes came to see her and arranged for her to have a three day furlough so that she could attend one of his revivals. Through the Reverend Jakes help she was able to put her life back on the road to spiritual and emotional recovery.

Answer: Diary of a Mad Black Woman (2005)

"Diary Of A Mad Black Woman" was an instant box office success. It's final gross at the box office was $50.6 million.

This movie was about a woman named Helen McCarter, played by Kimberly Elise, who was married to a successful Atlanta attorney, Charles McCarter, played by Steve Harris, for 18 years. Instead of celebrating their anniversary together, Charles decided to bring home his mistress and put his wife out of their home. With Helen out of the house and nowhere to go, she moved in with her grandmother Madea, played by Tyler Perry. Madea helped Helen to get back on her feet emotionally, and Helen found a job as a waitress. While staying with Madea, Helen met a man by the name of Orlando, played by Shemar Moore, who was interested in more than being her friend. There were lots of twists and turns in this movie, but the ultimate message ends up being forgiveness.

Answer: House Of Payne (2006)

This show followed a fictional African-American household, the Payne family, through the struggles and pains of broken family, drug abuse, single parenting, and how family can pull together to make it. Perry has also used this show to try and bridge the generation gap in the American family by bringing the young and old closer.