In case you didn’t already know, Mabel “Madea” Simmons is a character created and portrayed by Tyler Perry. The character is a tough elderly black woman.

Madea is based on Perry’s mother and his aunt, as well Eddie Murphy’s performance in Nutty Professor II: The Klumps.

In Perry’s own words Madea is “. . .exactly the PG version of my mother and my aunt, and I loved having an opportunity to pay homage to them. She would beat the h— out of you but make sure the ambulance got there in time to make sure they could set your arm back!”

Update:
Tyler Perry plans to retire ‘Madea’ character in 2019.

During a recent interview, Perry said he plans a farewell stage tour and the film “Tyler Perry’s a Madea Family Funeral” next year to end the character.

“I just don’t want to be her age, playing her.”

Mabel Earlene “Madea” Simmons first appeared on stage almost 20 years ago and went on to be the star of several of Perry’s hit films.
Those movies have grossed hundreds of millions of dollars despite some criticism that the character stereotypes black women.

Perry said he actually shot “Family Funeral” two years ago but wanted to stagger it along with his other films, including two Madea Halloween movies and the drama “Acrimony.”