Madea

For the daughter of King Aeëtes of Colchis in Greek mythology, see Medea.
Madea
Madea serving time in prison for committing a series of crimes as seen in Madea Goes to Jail
First appearance
Created byTyler Perry
Portrayed byTyler Perry
In-universe information
Full nameMabel Earlene Simmons
Family
  • "Big Mabel" Murphy (mother)
  • Fredrick Baker Sr. (father)
  • Joe (brother)
  • Fredrick (brother)
  • Irene (sister)
  • Willie Humphrey (brother)
  • Heathrow (brother)
Spouse
  • Johnny Simmons
Children
  • Michelle Simmons
  • William Simmons
  • Cora Jean Simmons
  • Myrtle Simmons (daughter-in-law)
  • Nikki Grady-Simmons (foster daughter)
Relatives
  • Helen McCarter (granddaughter)
  • Jackie (granddaughter)
  • Gina (granddaughter)
  • Vianne (granddaughter)
  • Maylee (granddaughter)
  • Lisa (granddaughter)
  • Tina (granddaughter)
  • Darlene (granddaughter)
  • Laura (granddaughter)
  • Ellie (granddaughter)
  • Robin (granddaughter)
  • Charles McCarter (ex grandson-in-law)
  • Orlando (grandson-in-law)
  • Keisha (great-granddaughter)
  • Shemar (great-granddaughter)
  • Malik (great-grandson)
  • Titi (great-granddaughter)
  • Tim (great-grandson)
  • Ruby (aunt)
  • Vickie (niece)
  • Shirley (niece)
  • Angela (niece)
  • Eileen Murphy (niece)
  • Sonny (nephew)
  • Brian (nephew)
  • Donna (niece)
  • Victoria Breaux (niece)
  • Vianne (niece)
  • Isaac (nephew)
  • Anthony (nephew-in-law)
  • Mike (grandnephew)
  • Tiffany (grandniece)
  • BJ (grandnephew)
  • Lisa Breaux (grandniece)
  • Vanessa Breaux-Henderson (grandniece)
  • Nima (great-grandniece)
  • Jonathan (great-grandnephew)
  • AJ (grandnephew)
  • Silvia (grandniece)
  • Jesse (grandnephew)
  • Jason (grandnephew-in-law)
  • Calvin (grandnephew-in-law)
  • Harold (grandnephew-in-law)
  • Will (grandnephew-in-law)
  • Carol (grandniece-in-law)
  • Lacey Murphy (grandniece)
  • Kimberly (grandniece)
  • Tammy (grandniece)
  • Byron (great-grandnephew)
  • H.J. (great-grandnephew)
  • Will (great-grandnephew)
  • C.J. (great-grandnephew)
  • B.J. (great-great-grandnephew)
  • Sarah (cousin)
  • May (cousin)
  • Pete (cousin)
  • Isaac Sr. (cousin)
  • Grover (cousin)
  • Aunt Bam (cousin)
  • Marylin Madam Deville(Granddaughter)
  • Fatima Wilson (Niece)
  • Zachary Taylor (Nephew in-Law)

Mabel "Madea" Earlene Simmons is a character created and portrayed by Tyler Perry. She is portrayed as a tough, street-smart elderly African-American woman.[1]

Madea is based on Perry's mother and his aunt. 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 hell out of you but make sure the ambulance got there in time to make sure they could set your arm back because the love was there inside all of it."[2]

The Madea films and plays are comedies, but all contain serious themes and are intended to deliver moral messages about issues such as infidelity, spousal abuse and the consequences of one's actions.

Madea also appears outside of her movie universe in two sketches on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, in one occasion as the White House Press Secretary and the second cameo as herself, always aside Fallon's impression of then president Donald Trump.[3][4]

  1. ^ Austerlitz, Saul (2010). Another Fine Mess: A History of American Film Comedy. Chicago Review Press. p. 444. ISBN 9781556529511. Retrieved 2012-12-30. Madea avenging.
  2. ^ "Tyler Perry Transforms: From Madea To Family Man". NPR. 2012-10-15. Retrieved 2013-01-17.
  3. ^ "Tyler Perry's Madea is Trump's new White House Communication Director on 'The Tonight Show'". Yahoo Entertainment. 2017-10-10. Retrieved 2023-11-01.
  4. ^ Sedmak, Ryan (2016-10-10). "Jimmy Fallon cracks up as Trump calling Tyler Perry's Madea". Mashable. Retrieved 2023-11-01.