Tyler Perry Reveals Abuse, Molestation on 'The Oprah Winfrey Show'

As the first African American to own his own movie studio and recently ranked the second most powerful man in Hollywood by Forbes magazine, Tyler Perry seems like he has a charmed life. But despite his increasing fame and fortune, the celebrated black filmmaker is still battling demons from his past.

The 'Madea Goes to Jail' star and director sat down with his dear friend Oprah Winfrey on her Emmy Award-winning daytime show to talk about his troubled childhood and the molestation and child abuse he endured.

Perry said since his mother died in 2009, it has given him strength to speak openly about his past.

"It has everything to do with my mother's death, and I could not be a source of pain," he said. "I knew if I spoke about it, she would be hurt, but now that she is gone, I feel this tremendous sense of now is the time for me to take care of me."

The 41-year-old New Orleans native said that his father was physically and emotionally abusive, berating him and beating him with vacuum cleaner cords. Perry said his father hated him and that he "could never understand why."

"I felt like I died as a child," he confided to the media maven, who counts herself as one of his closest friends.

Going to church with his mother helped him get through the hard times at home, he added. "My mother was truly my saving grace, because she would take me to church with her. I would see my mother smiling in the choir, and I wanted to know this God that made her so happy. If I had not had that faith in my life, I don't know where I would be right now."

Still, Perry tried to commit suicide by slitting his wrists.

And though he supports his abusive father financially, Perry said the two men have no father-son relationship.

In addition to being abused by his father, Perry revealed that he was molested by three men, including a neighbor, a male nurse and a church member, starting at the age of 5. He said he was also abused by a woman.

"I knew that I liked the little girls in the neighborhood," he said, adding, "but this man kept doing something to me and my body kept betraying me."

The sexual molestation Perry endured as a boy hindered his ability to get close with women, and he said that he's only had five serious relationships.

"Every woman helped me to realize something to do with what happened. I was so awkward, which made women think 'What's wrong with this guy?'" he told Winfrey.

He thanked Winfrey for inspiring him to write down all of the things that happened to him before he became famous.

"I started using character's names and through these dead years, I started to search my soul," he shared.

"On behalf of the millions of people who cannot sit here with you, I want to say thank you on behalf of all of them and myself. I didn't want these 25 years to end without you knowing that," he said.

On Nov. 5, the same day Perry's 10th feature film 'For Colored Girls' hits theaters, 'The Oprah Winfrey Show' will invite a studio audience of 200 abused men to share their stories of molestation as boys.

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Six Degrees of Tyler Perry

Six Degrees of Tyler Perry
In just three years, Tyler Perry has become the toast of Hollywood. Could you name another director black or white who can boast of having released six feature movie projects within a three year period? Nope. Not only did the New Orleans native write all of the storylines for the films, he starred in four. Combined, five of the films have grossed upwards of $250 million worldwide, some within budgets below $6 million. And with the major money train also comes associating with some of the biggest names in and out of the entertainment business. BlackVoices.com takes an introspective look at how a former homeless man turned chit'lin circuit theater czar has connections to the likes of Michael Jackson, Denzel Washington, Whitney Houston and Will Smith, to name a few. Check out Six Degrees of Tyler Perry.

Tyler Perry
The best-selling playwright turned Hollywood hot-shot (real name: Emmitt R. Perry, Jr.) was born Sept. 14, 1969 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Ray Nagin
Another New Orleans native, Ray Nagin, Jr. was elected into the office of Mayor of the Crescent City on March 6, 2002.

Labelle
Known as the music capitol of the Gulf Coast, New Orleans was also the setting for 'Lady Marmalade,' a hit song from 1970s glam-soul trio Labelle, comprised of Patti LaBelle, Nona Hendryx and Sara Dash.

Lenny Kravitz
Modern day rock & roll demigod Lenny Kravitz is one of the top-notch talents chosen to produce Labelle's long-awaited reunion album, 'Back to Now,' due out later this year via Verve Records.

Lisa Bonet
'The Cosby Show' and 'A Different World' star Lisa Bonet eloped with Lenny Kravitz in November 1987. Their daughter Zoe Isaballe Kravitz was born the next year. The couple separated in 1991.

Gary Dourdan
'C.S.I.' actor Gary Dourdan played Cree Summer's character's love interest Shazza Zulu on the NBC sitcom 'A Different World,' which was originally developed as a spin-off vehicle for Lisa Bonet. The Philadelphia native appeared on 13 episodes from 1991 to 1992.

Janet Jackson
Gary Dourdan also played the love interest of Janet Jackson in the music video for her chart-topping ballad, 'Again,' in 1993.

Tyler Perry
Janet Jackson starred in the lead role of Tyler Perry's box office smash, 'Why Did I Get Married?' The twice divorced pop star won an NAACP Image Award for her performance.

Ruben Cannon
One of the most respected executives in Hollywood, Ruben Cannon has served as a casting director of film and TV projects dating all the way back to 1977. He co-executive produced Tyler Perry's 'Why Did I Get Married?'