SR 360: Perry, Tyler; recognize

Senate Resolution 360

By: Senators James of the 28th, Rhett of the 33rd, Jackson of the 41st, Mangham of the 55th, Jones of the 10th and others

A RESOLUTION

Recognizing and commending Tyler Perry; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, a visionary filmmaker, playwright, author, and entrepreneur, Tyler Perry has built an entertainment empire that currently spans 24 feature films, 20 stage plays, 17 television series, and two New York Times bestselling books; and

WHEREAS, born and raised in New Orleans, Tyler Perry overcame a childhood marked by poverty and adversity, transforming his experiences into compelling narratives that would later shape his career and artistic legacy; and

WHEREAS, in 1992, he wrote and self-financed his first stage play, I Know I've Been Changed, which initially struggled to find an audience but, through his perseverance and dedication, became a resounding success six years later, leading to sold-out performances at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta; and

WHEREAS, he revolutionized modern theater with 13 original plays over the next 13 years, including I Can Do Bad All By Myself, which introduced the iconic Madea character, a beloved figure that has since become a cultural phenomenon; and

WHEREAS, in 2005, he made his directorial debut with Diary of a Mad Black Woman, a box office hit that launched his film career, followed by a series of successful movies such as Madea's Family Reunion, Why Did I Get Married?, and The Family That Preys; and

WHEREAS, in 2006, he became a bestselling author with Don't Make a Black Woman Take Off Her Earrings: Madea's Uninhibited Commentaries on Life and Love, which topped the New York Times bestseller list for eight consecutive weeks; and

WHEREAS, in 2007, he expanded into television with House of Payne, the highest-rated first-run syndicated cable show of all time, followed by Meet the Browns, Love Thy Neighbor, The Haves and The Have Nots, and other groundbreaking series; and

WHEREAS, in 2015, he acquired Fort McPherson in Atlanta to expand Tyler Perry Studios, transforming the 330-acre site into one of the largest film production studios in the world, creating more than 400 job opportunities and positioning Atlanta as a major hub for film and television production; and

WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper that this remarkable individual be appropriately honored during this special time.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body recognize and commend Tyler Perry for his extraordinary achievements in entertainment, his contributions to the cultural and economic landscape of Georgia, and his unwavering commitment to storytelling that uplifts and inspires.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to Tyler Perry.