Tyler Perry is an actor, screenwriter, director, songwriter, author, and producer who was born on September 13, 1969 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Perry, in his early 20’s, was inspired to pursue writing after learning how therapeutic it could be. The first stage production he wrote was I Know I’ve Been Changed. Over the years he created others, which helped attract a strong base of supporters for his work. His first film appearance was in his own film, Diary of a Mad Black Woman, in 2005. Over the years he’s produced multiple stage productions, television shows and films, presiding over a thriving independent production business.