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Madea Makes Her Screen Debut - Tyler Perry’s big mama character, Mabel “Madea” Simmons (played by Perry), was the hit of his numerous stage plays. In the 2005 film adaptation of Perry’s play Diary of a Mad Black Woman, the playwright and his gun-packing grandma alter ego made their big-screen debut. Perry gained mainstream notice when his film opened at No. 1 at the box office. In celebration of her "birthday" on April 26 (no word on her real age), we look back at Madea's biggest family moments. (Photo: Lionsgate)

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Diary of a Mad Black Woman - Tyler Perry brought an A-list cast for his film debut, which included the legendary Cicely Tyson (as Myrtle) and BET fave Kimberly Elise (as Helen). Diary of a Mad Black Woman was an emotional rollercoaster, but the birthday girl managed to bring that seamless humor to lighten the most intense of situations. (Photo: BET Pictures/Tyler Perry Company)

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Meet the Browns - For 2008’s Meet the Browns (based on another Perry stage play of the same name), the filmmaker brings back the hit characters Madea and her brother, Joe. The following year, the film is turned into a TV series, with Madea making sporadic appearances throughout the season. (Photo: Debmar-Mercury/Tyler Perry Company)

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Comedic Geniuses - The Meet the Browns cast had audiences in stitches with Jenifer Lewis (Vera), Lamman Rucker (Will), Margaret Avery (Sarah), Frankie Faison (L.B.), Tamela Mann (Cora Brown) and David Mann (Mr. Brown). Other cast members included Angela Bassett, Rick Fox and a quick cameo by Perry as Madea.  (Photo: Debmar-Mercury/Tyler Perry Company)

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Madea Goes to Jail - Usually the comedic side dish, Perry’s star character is featured front and center in 2009’s Madea Goes to Jail. The film is based on Perry’s 2006 stage play of the same name and saw mama Madea interact with several interesting characters while on her prison run. Other stars in the film include Derek Luke, Keshia Knight-Pulliam and Viola Davis. (Photo: Lionsgate)

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Madea Goes to Jail - Before Sofía Vergara was a star on Modern Family, she had roles in Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns as Angela Bassett's best friend and Madea Goes to Jail as one of Madea's fellow eccentric inmates. (Photo: Lionsgate)

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Shad Moss Meets Madea - Bow Wow returned to the big screen in Madea's Big Happy Family back in 2011. It was the rapper/actor's first film since Lottery Ticket. The rapper's hilarious on-screen relationship with singer Teyana Taylor also made for a memorable part of the film. (Photo: Quantrell Colbert/Lionsgate)

Photo By Photo credit: Quantrell Colbert

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Madea's Big Happy Family - In the hilarious Madea's Big Happy Family, there was a host of new characters, such as Aunt Bam (Cassi Davis), Byron (Shad “Bow Wow” Moss), Kimberly (Shannon Kan) and Calvin (Isaiah Mustafa — the Old Spice Guy!). (Photo: Lionsgate)

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Familiar Faces - Madea's Big Happy Family brought back familiar characters like Mr. Brown (David Mann) and Cora (Tamela Mann), who are best known for Tyler Perry's House of Payne and the spin-off Meet the Browns. (Photo: Quantrell Colbert/Lionsgate) 

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The Funny Bunch - In promoting Madea’s Big Happy Family, Tyler Perry had fun placing America’s new favorite big mama in ads playing on iconic films and TV shows such as The Brady Bunch. (Photo: Lionsgate)

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Madea's Witness Protection - Madea brought some fresh faces for her 2011 project, Madea's Witness Protection. Romeo Miller, Denise Richards, John Amos and Eugene Levy were among the experienced cast who helped make the film another hilarious home run for the franchise. (Photo: Lionsgate)

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A Madea Christmas - Tyler Perry's working relationship with Tika Sumpter goes way beyond The Haves and the Have Nots. Back in 2013, Sumpter starred alongside Madea in the holiday-themed film. Random family visits always turn out well, right?(Photo: Lionsgate)