Tyler Perry has revealed why he paid Cicely Tyson a whopping $1 million (£820,000) for just a single day’s work.
Cicely Tyson passed away back in in January 2021 aged 96 and shared a close relationship with Perry, now 52.
The pair were not only good friends but worked together on a number of projects.
After Tyson passed, Perry said she was 'the grandmother [he] never had'.
Advert
They first met back in 2005 on the set of Perry's rom-com, Diary of a Mad Black Woman.
After Perry hired her for the film, the rest was history.
And now, the actor, producer and philanthropist, has now revealed why he paid Tyson so much for just one day's work on his movie Why Did I Get Married? in 2007.
Perry told AARPs The Magazine: "I’ve never said this publicly, but I took care of Ms. Tyson for the last 15 years of her life.
"She was a proud woman, and the only reason I mention this is because she wrote it in her book.
"This woman had done so many amazing things, but she wasn’t well compensated for it.
"She made $6,000 for Sounder, you know? I wanted to make sure she knew that there were people who valued her.
"So, she did one day of work on my 2007 film Why Did I Get Married? I paid her a million dollars.
"I loved working with her. And it makes me feel great that I was in a position to give this incredible woman some security in her latter years."
When Tyson passed last year, Perry wrote an emotional tribute to the actor on Instagram, which read: "I was sitting at the table working when I got this overwhelming feeling to watch Miss Jane Pittman. I hadn’t seen the movie in years. I didn’t even understand the feeling to turn it on, but I did anyway.
"Not 12 minutes into the movie my phone rang. It was Oprah calling to tell me that Cicely had died. This one brought me to my knees! She was the grandmother I never had and the wisdom tree that I could always sit under to fill my cup."
He added: "My heart breaks in one beat, while celebrating her life in the next. To think that she lived for 96 years and I got to be a part of the last 16 brings me great joy. She called me son.
"Well, today your son grieves your loss and will miss our long talks, your laughter from your belly, and your very presence. Always so regal, always so classy, always a lady, always a queen.
"Every time we would talk I would ask, 'How are you?' and you would say, 'I’m still here. He must have something he wants me to do'.
"Well, I think it’s safe to say you have done all you were put here to do, and we are all better for it."
If you have a story you want to tell, send it to UNILAD via [email protected]
Topics: Celebrity, Tyler Perry
Anish Vij