David and Tamela Mann’s rise began starring alongside Tyler Perry in a string of stage plays, films and television projects. The real-life husband and wife star in Perry’s long-running, multi-platform franchise as Mr. Brown and Cora, a dynamic father and daughter on-stage duo whose undeniable chemistry led Perry to create their own content.
The Manns have since has their own successful movies and shows around their characters in projects like Meet the Browns and their current BET series, Tyler Perry’s Assisted Living. They’ve also expanded their entertainment resume with music, reality television and literature.
Tamela has gone on to have a chart-topping gospel music career with hits like “Take Me to the King” and “I Can Only Imagine.” But nothing beats working with David and together, they created the Us Against The World Brand in the form of a joining album, memoir and tour highlighting their lengthy love story.
Despite their individual success as a couple both currently star they never steered too far from Perry and jumped at the chance to reprise their roles for what Perry promised to be his final Madea stage play, Madea’s Farewell Play.
David told Shadow and Act that though the process was bittersweet, he doubts fans will see the end of Cora and Mr. Brown with Madea.
“I hope not [being the last play] – I still love Madea, Madea my baby mama,” he joked. “I just know after this pandemic, after this quarantine thing, we’re all going to need an outlet to just go, laugh and have a good time for those couple of hours. So, I’m putting it in the air and I want Tyler to do it again.”
The couple has been married since 1988 and enjoys working side by side. They say the secret to their success is genuinely liking and supporting one another.
“This is my friend,” Tamela gushed. “He’s my friend and I’m just not in love with him but I like him – and I enjoy his company.”
David agreed, noting, “If we say that was a tea or secret to it is that we genuinely enjoy each other.”
Both hope to continue their work with Perry and beyond. David even teases to potentially having his own Mr. Brown holiday stage play or film. Madea’s Farewell Tour is currently streaming on BET+ and will make its linear television debut on BET this week.
Watch the full interview with David and Tamela Mann with Shadow and Act below:
