Success in a dress: Actors do well in drag

Arts and Culture

Atlanta-based filmmaker Tyler Perry launched a multi-million dollar franchise by playing the character "Madea," the quick-tempered matron of a large, loving family. His latest film, "Madea Goes to Jail," made $2.2 million at 51 theaters across metro Atlanta the weekend of Feb. 22, 2009. Here are photos of men who brought cross-dressing into the mainstream.

The late Flip Wilson (shown here in a scene with NFL Hall of Famer Joe Namath) caused a nationwide sensation when he played the sassy character "Geraldine" on "The Flip Wilson Show" in the 1970s.

Comedian Eddie Murphy has proven himself quite skilled at playing riotously funny female characters such as "Rasputia," the domineering female interest of the nerdy title character in 2007's "Norbit."

In 2001, actor Miguel Nunez starred in "Juwanna Mann," portraying a disgraced pro basketball player who took on the looks and mannerisms of a female in order to reclaim glory in the women's professional ranks.

Frequently in his career, comic actor Martin Lawrence has portrayed female characters or men posing as women, most notably in the "Big Mama's House" films where he played a detective in disguise.

In 1995, John Lequizamo, Wesley Snipes And Patrick Swayze starred as a trio of traveling transvestites in "To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything, Julie Newmar."

In the 1993 film "Mrs. Doubtfire," Robin Williams portrayed a man who posed as a wily old nanny in order to secretly spend time with the children of his estranged wife.

Oscar-winning actor Tom Hanks got his big break starring opposite Peter Scolari in "Bosom Buddies." It was an early '80s sitcom about two men who customarily posed as women to advance their careers.

In 1982, Dustin Hoffman (right, with the late writer-director-actor Sydney Pollack) earned an Oscar nomination for his role as a difficult, out-of-work actor who dressed in drag to land a role on a prominent soap opera.

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Atlanta-based filmmaker Tyler Perry launched a multi-million dollar franchise by playing the character "Madea," the quick-tempered matron of a large, loving family. His latest film, "Madea Goes to Jail," made $2.2 million at 51 theaters across metro Atlanta the weekend of Feb. 22, 2009. He's not the only man who has found success in a dress.

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