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Tyler Perry is on Time’s list of world’s 100 most influential
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
What does Tyler Perry have in common with President Bush, the Dalai Lama, Rupert Murdoch, Russia’s Vladimir Putin, China’s Hu Jintao and presidential candidates Barak Obama, Hillary Clinton and John McCain?
In Time magazine’s estimation: world influence.
Atlanta’s premier movie mogul is among the nearly 30 artists and entertainers named Thursday to Time’s list of the world’s 100 most influential people. Also making the list: teen singer Miley Cyrus, George Clooney, Mariah Carey, filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen, Hollywood comedy guru Judd Apatow and TV finance adviser Suze Orman. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, Oprah Winfrey and Mia Farrow were cited in the list as “heroes and pioneers” for global goodwill.
Actor Rockmond Dunbar, who recently completed filming of “Tyler Perry’s The Family That Preys” in Atlanta for this fall and who is directing and co-starring in his own “Pastor Brown” now filming in Decatur, said Perry has been a huge inspiration for African-Americans.
“He’s really stepped out of the box,” Dunbar said. “He’s all about ‘Hey, let’s do it. Let’s tell a good story. Let’s uplift our people. Let’s uplift humanity. Let’s entertain.’ And when Hollywood said there’s no market for that, he just broke it. He said, ‘Yes there is and I’ll show you where.’”
Once homeless and so poor he had to live in his car, the 38-year-old Perry is known for inspirational stories and donning drag to play the crotchety, foul-mouthed signature character, Madea, in his hit films and stage plays.
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Comments
By J. Love
May 2, 2008 3:55 PM | Link to this
J.LOVE
Tyler Perry is someone that I look up to. He was one of the reasons for me to move to Atlanta because even though he was poor, he was able to get out of it without leaving his own state to do it. He also influence me to want to take make my novels that I am working on to the BIG screen as well.
Tyler keep doing your thing because the Lord is blessing you with everything you put your mind to.
J.LOVE a.k.a Miss
By DW
May 2, 2008 4:02 PM | Link to this
Congratulations, Tyler!!!
By RMJ
May 5, 2008 9:56 AM | Link to this
I’m very proud of Tyler. It is something to be said to start your own movie production company that goes against the Hollywood machine. He is an inspriation to all.
God Bless you Tyler,
By L.Kells
May 6, 2008 10:24 AM | Link to this
CONGRATS!, Tyler. You have been an inspiration to allot of indivisuals including myself. I appreciate your zeal, and your desire to encourage others. You deserve this type of recognition and more.