12/9/2009

in

Tyler Perry's mother, whom he credits as the inspiration for "Madea," has died.

Allison Manchel

Actor, director, and comedian Tyler Perry announced the death of his mother today. On his website, Perry wrote a brief message: "Willie Maxine Perry. February 12, 1945 to December 8, 2009. Thank you for all your prayers."  
  
[Perry](http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory?id=9292523) attributes his character "Madea" to his mother. "Madea" was first introduced in Perry's 2000 play "I Can Do Bad All By Myself."  
  
Perry portrayed Madea himself, and has appeared in several plays and then Perry started to make hit movies based around the character, including "Madea's Family Reunion" and "Madea Goes To Jail," which opened at number one at the U.S. box offices and went on to gross $90.5 million.  
  
Perry said in a 2006 interview with the Atlanta-Journal Constitution that the character of Madea was a combination of his mother and his aunt. "My mother is the wisdom of Madea, but my aunt Mayola, that's her wig, that's her voice, that's her gun in the purse," Perry said.