Tasha Smith
Tasha Smith starred in Daddy’s Little Girls, Why Did I Get Married?, and Why Did I Get Married Too?. In all three of her roles in Perry’s films she plays a loud talking wife with a street edge, larger than life personality and no-nonsense savvy.
In this photo, Tasha Smith attends the premiere of Why Did I Get Married Too? at the School of Visual Arts Theater on March 22, 2010 in New York City.
(Photo by Theo Wargo/WireImage)
Jill Scott
Jill Scott appeared in Why Did I Get Married? and Why Did I Get Married Too?. In Why Did I Get Married?, Scott gained 30 lbs and donned a fat suit to play the confidence lacking character Shelia. In the sequel Scott’s character was married, in love and minus the fat suit.
In this photo, Jill Scott attends the premiere of Why Did I Get Married Too? at the School of Visual Arts Theater on March 22, 2010 in New York City.
(Photo by Jim Spellman/WireImage)
David Mann
David Mann has appeared in Tyler Perry’s film adaptations of Meet the Browns, Madea Goest to Jail, Madea’s Big Happy Family. Mann found success as an actor and gospel singer appearing in many of Perry’s plays before following the director to act in his movies. Mann provides comic relief consistently playing the head strong self-righteous character in Perry’s films.
In this photo, Mann in Backstage Creations Celebrity Retreat at The 42nd Annual NAACP Image Awards – Day 2 on March 4, 2011 in Los Angeles, California.
(Photo by Mark Sullivan/WireImage)
Janet Jackson
Janet Jackson starred in For Colored Girls, Why Did I Get Married?, Why Did I Get Married Too?. In all three of her roles Jackson plays strong minded business women with suppressed emotion . Tyler Perry claimed filming For Colored Girls was cathartic for Jackson weeks after the death of her brother. In an interview with Jay Leno, Jackson said, “There was some stuff that was right there for me – stuff that had just happened, with my brother passing, and also relationships.”
In this photo, Jackson attends preview screening of Why Did I Get Married? on May 21, 2010 in London, England.
(Photo by Fred Duval/FilmMagic)
Malik Yoba
Malik Yoba stars as Janet Jackson’s husband in Why Did I Get Married? and Why Did I Get Married Too?. In both Yobas roles in Tyler Perry’s films his characters exemplify a strong and enduring husband struggling to hold on to the institution of marriage.
In this picture, Yoba attends the premiere of Why Did I Get Married Too? at the School of Visual Arts Theater on March 22, 2010 in New York City.
(Photo by Jim Spellman/WireImage)
Taraji P. Henson
Taraji P. Henson starred in The Family That Preys, I Can Do Bad All by Myself. In her second Perry film, I Can Do Bad All By Myself Henson held down the lead role playing a single aunt raising her sister’s children and finding love along the way.
In this photo, Henson attends the New York premiere of Tyler Perry’s I Can Do Bad All By Myself at the School of Visual Arts Theater on September 8, 2009 in New York City.
(Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)
Shemar Moore
Shemar Moore starred in Tyler Perry’s Diary of a Mad Black Woman. Moore’s character in the film served as the “Knight in shining armor” to rescue the down-on-love divorcee played by Kimberly Elise.
In this photo, Moore attends the film premiere of Diary of a Mad Black Woman at the Arclight Cinerama Dome on February 21, 2005 in Hollywood, California.
(Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
Cicely Tyson
Cicely Tyson starred in Why Did I Get Married Too?, Madea’s Family Reunion, Diary of a Mad Black Woman. In all of her Tyler Perry film roles Tyson is character is a wise compassionate elder.
In this photo Tyson attends the special screening of Why Did I Get Married Too? at the School of Visual Arts Theater on March 22, 2010 in New York City.
(Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)
Richard T. Jones
Richard T. Jones starred in Why Did I Get Married, Why Did I Get Married Too?. Throughout the first film he played the negligent husband, oblivious to the needs of his wife. In the second film his character was reformed due to the emotionally crippling nature of his terminal illness.
In this photo, Jones attends the special screening of Why Did I Get Married Too? at the School of Visual Arts Theater on March 22, 2010 in New York City.
(Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)
Loretta Devine
Loretta Devine starred in Tyler Perry’s For Colored Girls and in his new film Madea’s Big Happy Family. In both of Devine’s roles her characters are strong, independent women with the overwhelming desire to find true love.
In this photo, Loretta Devine attends the premiere of For Colored Girls at Ziegfeld Theatre on October 25, 2010 in New York City.
(Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)
Kimberly Elise
Kimberly Elise starred in For Colored Girls and Diary of a Mad Black Woman. In both of her Tyler Perry film roles she was a victim of domestic violence and forced to find inner peace to survive.
In this photo, Elise, winner of the award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture for For Colored Girls, poses in the press room at the 42nd NAACP Image Awards held at The Shrine Auditorium on March 4, 2011 in Los Angeles, California.
(Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)
Derek Luke
Derek Luke starred in Tyler Perry’s Madea Goes to Jail. In the film he plays a young lawyer on the fast track to success, but lands a case of young prostitute friend played by Keshia Knight Pulliam that winds up becoming his love interest.
In this photo, Luke attends a screening of Tyler Perry’s Madea Goes to Jail at the AMC Loews Lincoln Center on February 18, 2009 in New York City.
(Photo by Brad Barket/Getty Images)
Idris Elba
Idris Elba starred as the father in Tyler Perry’s Daddy’s Little Girls. Elba’s character embodied the image of a strong black single father providing for his young daughters against all odds.
In this photo, Elba attends the premiere of Lionsgate’s Daddy’s Little Girls at the Cinerama Dome on February 7, 2007 in Hollywood, California.
(Photo by Stephen Shugerman/Getty Images)
Angela Bassett
Angela Bassett starred in Tyler Perry’s Meet the Browns. In her role Basset’s character is a single mother struggling to make ends meet in the inner city of Chicago. This film about second chances takes Bassett’s character on a journey of self discovery, motherhood and romance.
In this photo, Bassett arrives at the premiere of Lionsgate’s Tyler Perry’s Meet The Browns at the Cinerama Dome Theater on March 13, 2008 in Los Angeles, California.
(Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou appeared in Tyler Perry’s film Madea’s Family Reunion. In the movie she played a wise family relative. Angelou shined in her role performing a moving poem during the wedding scene at the end of the film.
In this photo, Angelou smiles as she greets guests at a garden party at her home Thursday, May 20, 2010 in Winston-Salem, N.C.
(AP Photo/Nell Redmond)
In honor of this weekend’s debut of Tyler Perry’s latest project — Madea’s Big Happy Family, theGrio has compiled a slideshow of some of his favorite and/or most frequent collaborators. Featuring a veritable who’s who of African-Americans in Hollywood, it’s an impressive roster for an undeniably unique talent.
