Madea

fictional character

Also known as: Mabel Simmons

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Last updated

July 19, 2026

Quick Summary

Madea is a fictional character created and portrayed by American actor, writer, and director Tyler Perry. The character is an outspoken, gun-toting grandmother whose name is a contraction of "Mother Dear." Madea first appeared in Perry's 2000 play I Can Do Bad All by Myself and has since been a recurring figure in many of his subsequent plays and films, including Diary of a Mad Black Woman and Madea's Family Reunion. Perry often portrays Madea in drag, blending humor with themes of religious wisdom and personal triumph. The character has become a recognizable icon in popular culture, appearing in numerous film adaptations of Perry's stage productions.12

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Tyler Perry
Perry’s trademark character, Madea, was created in his play I Can Do Bad All by Myself (2000; film 2009). The brutally honest, rambunctious gun-toting grandmother, whose name comes from the frequent African American contraction of “Mother Dear,” was played by Perry in drag. She was a recurring figure…
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Perry’s trademark character, Madea, was created in his play I Can Do Bad All by Myself (2000; film 2009). The brutally honest, rambunctious gun-toting grandmother, whose name comes from the frequent African American contraction of “Mother Dear,” was played by Perry in drag. She was a recurring figure…
Read More