For his next project, Perry worked on an adaptation of evangelist T. D. Jakes’s book Woman, Thou Art Loosed, which proved to be quite popular. His next effort, however, brought Madea, his most famous character, to life. The gun-toting, sharp-tongue grandma first appeared in his 2000 play I Can Do Bad All by Myself. Basing Madea on his mother and several other mature women in his life, Perry played the eccentric character himself, wearing drag. Madea next appeared in Diary of a Mad Black Woman (2001).
In 2001, Perry proved himself to be a box-office powerhouse with the release of his debut film Diary of a Mad Black Woman, starring Kimberly Elise as the scorned wife and Steve Harris as the adulterous husband. Perry appeared as three different characters in the film, including the legendary Madea. Eventually grossing more than $50 million, the successful film showed Hollywood that there was a market for urban African American comedies.
