Actor, filmmaker, comedian and playwright Tyler Perry is officially calling it quits on his "Madea" franchise, he announced during a SiriusXM interview Monday.

“I just don’t want to be her age [still] playing her,” he joked.

» RELATED: Tiffany Haddish said she bonded with Tyler Perry over living in their cars

The character Mabel Earlene “Madea” Simmons, played by Perry himself, first appeared as a 68-year-old in the 1999 stage play “I Can Do Bad All by Myself,” followed by the play and film, “Diary of a Mad Black Woman.”

According to Vanity Fair, Madea has appeared in dozens of productions since — and her films alone have grossed upwards of $500 million globally.

Perry wrapped up on the last series film, “Madea Family Funeral,” two years ago. The movie, set to premiere in March 2019, tells the story of a Georgia family reunion gone bad.

“Perhaps uncoincidentally, the forthcoming film will also mark the last collaboration between Perry and Lionsgate,” Vanity Fair reported. “The filmmaker has signed a deal with Viacom that will have him producing content across television, film, and short-form video platforms.”

» RELATED: Tyler Perry's next film is a thriller, reports say

You can watch the full SiriusXM interview below:

Perry is also behind the soon-to-be-released Atlanta-filmed "Nobody's Fool" featuring stars Tiffany Haddish and Tika Sumpter.

About the Author

Keep Reading

Twins Viola (Alejandra Ruiz, foreground left) and Sebastian (Roberto Mendez, foreground right) navigate confusion and romance with Orsino (Benedetto Robinson) and Lady Olivia (Anna Holland) in "Twelfth Night." (Photo by Jeff Watkins)

Credit: Photo by Jeff Watkins

Featured

Protestors demonstrate against the war in Gaza and the detention of Columbia University student Mahmoud Khalil at Emory University in Atlanta on March 20, 2025. The 30-year-old legal U.S. resident was detained by federal immigration agents in March. An Atlanta-based law firm has filed a lawsuit against the federal government arguing it illegally terminated the immigration records of five international students and two alumni from Georgia colleges, including one from Emory University. (Arvin Temkar / AJC)

Credit: arvin.temkar@ajc.com