Tyler Perry's Madea became a staple figure within popular culture, and her character is surprisingly inspired by real-life. The famous caricature made her first appearance off-screen in the 1999 play I Can Do Bad All By Myself, a hit stage show about a divorcee who moves in with his grandmother, Mable "Madea" Simmons, written, directed, produced, and headlined by Tyler Perry. Since her introduction into the public eye, Madea has spurred the production of several more plays, countless movies, and iconic pop-cultural references that have made her a mainstay in the entertainment industry and Tyler Perry's catalog.

Perry's vast archive intentionally incorporates themes and subjects intended to bring social and domestic issues to the forefront of each project, but, high-spirited slapstick and situational humor establishes Tyler Perry's Madea productions primarily within the comedy genre. A significant part of Madea's comedic appeal is that she is performed by Perry himself...