Holly Robinson Peete

For more than two decades, Holly Robinson Peete has been a television star with high-profile roles that cross over between comedy and drama. Snagging her first acting gig on the award-winning children’s show Sesame Street at the age of four, she knew her heart belonged to showbiz at an early age but opted to place her education first. Upon graduating college, Peete landed the role of “Officer Judy Hoffs” on the hit series 21 Jump Street. From there, her career soared to admirable heights with starring roles on long-running sitcoms Hangin’ With Mr. Cooper, For Your Love and One on One. Peete is one of a handful of actresses to star in four shows in syndication.

In childhood, Peete was exposed to the entertainment business through her father, Matthew, who produced and starred as “Gordon” in the original Sesame Street and later joined The Cosby Show as a writer/producer. Her mother, Dolores, achieved success as a personal manager, guiding the careers of directors, writers, and actors, including Peete.

Peete was born in Philadelphia and moved to Los Angeles at the age of ten. In junior high, she was voted “most talented” with fellow classmate Rob Lowe. After graduating from high school, she entered the prestigious Sarah Lawrence College, majoring in Psychology and French. While studying abroad at Sorbonne University, she sang in Paris nightclubs, including a memorable performance with Jazz legend Lionel Hampton at the Hotel Meridian Jazz Club.

It was three months after graduation in 1986 when she won her starring role on the hit Fox network series 21 Jump Street as “Officer Judy Hoffs,” and received an opportunity to exercise her vocal talents by singing the show’s theme song. Subsequently, she starred opposite Mark Curry in the hit television comedy series Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper (for which she also sang the theme song) and portrayed and did her own singing as Diana Ross in the miniseries The Jacksons: An American Dream. Peete also starred in the original Lifetime movie Matters of Life & Dating, for which she was nominated for an NAACP Image Award.

Married for 13 years to former NFL quarterback Rodney Peete, she became an author with her book, Get Your Own Damn Beer, I’m Watching the Game: A Women’s Guide to Loving Pro Football. Released in 2005, Peete’s first book won a 2006 Quill Literacy Award. She is currently working on co-authoring a children’s book with her daughter Ryan, due in 2009.
In 2008, Peete and her husband Rodney debuted Meet The Peetes a new talk show on XM Radio’s Oprah & Friends that covers cover topics on family, relationships and raising kids. She also starred in Matters in Life & Dating, where she plays a breast cancer survivor. The role hit a personal note for her as she has friends that have battled breast cancer.

Peete believes profoundly in the “power” of philanthropy and lives by the motto “Service is the rent you pay for living.” In 1996, the Peetes formed a non-profit, the HollyRod Foundation, with a mission to help improve the quality of life of people plagued with devastating life circumstances. The foundation was inspired by her father’s battle with Parkinson’s Disease, which ultimately took his life in 2002. HollyRod has expanded its mission recently with the formation of HollyRod4Kids which benefits many children’s causes, focusing on improving the quality of life of the children in the Gulf Coast post-Katrina, Kenya and South Africa.

She has received numerous awards and honors for her incredible philanthropic deeds, including: The 1999 Woman of Conscience Award, American Mentor Award, the Buddy Award (NOW Legal Defense & Education Fund), The Southern California Broadcasters’ Association Community Service Award, 2004 Gerald R. Ford People Helping People Award, The 2004 March of Dimes Healthy Babies, Healthy Futures Award, 2004 USC Woman of Distinction Award, Anheuser Busch John E. Jacob Community Service Award, the Huntington Disease Society Distinguished Achievement Award, the 2004 Girls Inc Mentor Award, the 2005 Girls Inc Mentor Award, and the 2006 A Place Called Home Humanitarian Award.

Actress, singer, wife, mother, philanthropist, child advocate, and author, Peete is a virtual “renaissance woman.” In her words: “I feel like I am just getting started! I am always hearing the whispers of my ancestors urging me keep moving forward with so many more resources, freedoms and opportunities than they had. I am so grateful to those who came before me with such tremendous sacrifice. I feel embodied by the obligation to carry their torch.”