Holly Robinson Peete

Holly Elizabeth Robinson Peete (born September 18, 1964) is an American actress and singer. She is known for her roles as Judy Hoffs on the Fox police drama 21 Jump Street, Vanessa Russell on the ABC sitcom Hangin' with Mr. Cooper, and Dr. Malena Ellis on the NBC/The WB sitcom For Your Love. She also served as one of the original co-hosts of the CBS Daytime talk show The Talk. She is also known for her portrayal of Diana Ross in the 1992 miniseries The Jacksons: An American Dream, which also aired on ABC.

A children's book by Peete, My Brother Charlie, won her an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work in March 2011.

Early life, family and education Holly Elizabeth Robinson was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Dolores and Matt Robinson. Dolores was a schoolteacher, in public relations, and later a personal talent manager. Matt was an actor, producer and writer, probably next known as the first actor to play Gordon on the children's television series Sesame Street. Holly has an older brother, Matthew Thomas Robinson III. She attended Greene Street Friends School in nearby Germantown. In 1974, her family relocated to California.

Peete graduated from Santa Monica High School in Santa Monica, California, where her classmates included Rob Lowe and Yvette Lee Bowser. Peete graduated from Sarah Lawrence College in 1986 with a degree in psychology and French. Peete studied in Paris for a year at the Sorbonne; she is fluent in French.

Career She made her first television appearance on Sesame Street. She recalls that when she was six years old, she kept blowing her line, saying "Hi, Daddy", instead of "Hi, Gordon", his character's name. She ended up with just an appearance where she walked down the street with Big Bird. At the age of 11, Holly worked for the children's show Kidsworld as a celebrity correspondent; she interviewed many actors and actresses for the program. As an actress, she has appeared on the TV series 21 Jump Street (1987–1991), Hangin' with Mr. Cooper (1992–1997), For Your Love (1998–2002), and Like Family (2003–2004). She was featured in the video for the 1990 hit single "Whip Appeal" by Babyface as the sultry radio host at the beginning of the video. While on Hangin' with Mr. Cooper, in 1992, she portrayed Diana Ross in The Jacksons: An American Dream. Robinson most recently starred on the UPN comedy Love, Inc.. The show lasted just one season, and was canceled after the WB/UPN merger.

Robinson has also had a limited career as a singer and recording artist, including the introductory song to 21 Jump Street.

In 2010, she participated in The Celebrity Apprentice 3, playing for her own charity, the HollyRod Foundation, In this forum, Robinson was known for expressing herself through her ethnicity and being especially vocal about African American issues and, since her son Rodney is affected by it, autism. In April 2011, Robinson hosted a weekly series on The Talk promoting autism awareness.

After serving on The Talk for its first season, Peete along with Leah Remini were released from the show. Failure to ever disclose why the two were let go brought on a great deal of audience criticism of the show, as well as protests from the stars' fans. Sharon Osbourne, Peete's former co-host on The Talk, reasoned why the two former hosts were released from the program in a guest appearance on The Howard Stern Show, criticizing both Peete and Remini. In early 2021, Osbourne was later embroiled in a scandal for her remarks made on The Talk to Sheryl Underwood, leading to Osbourne's termination from the program. During Osbourne's scandal and termination, both Peete and Remini took to social media to reproach Osbourne over her behaviors, additionally pointing out that they were on the receiving end of similar behaviors by Osbourne. Osbourne responded with threats of defamation lawsuits against both women, but ultimately did nothing.

Peete hosted the 42nd NAACP Image Awards, alongside Wayne Brady, on March 4, 2011.

The Peete family starred in a reality TV series on OWN, entitled For Peete's Sake from 2016 to 2017. The series followed the lives of Peete and her husband Rodney as they juggle career choices with their family life. This was followed by a similar Hallmark Channel reality series Meet the Peetes, which also ran for two seasons from 2018 to 2019.

Peete received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for television on June 21, 2022.

In 2023, Peete competed in season nine of The Masked Singer as "Fairy". After besting Malin Akerman as "Squirrel" and Lele Pons as "Jackalope" on "Sesame Street Night", she was eliminated on "Country Night" alongside Alexa Bliss as "Axolotl". Peete also made some references to her father's work on Sesame Street.

Personal life

On June 10, 1995, Robinson married Rodney Peete, a National Football League quarterback. He proposed by surprising Holly during an episode of Hangin' with Mr. Cooper on October 7, 1994. They have four children: twin boy and girl born in 1997, and sons born in 2002 and 2005.

One of their twins was diagnosed on the Autism spectrum at age three in 2000.

After her father was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, Robinson and her husband co-founded the HollyRod Foundation, which is dedicated to help find a cure for the disease, as well as for autism, and assist those living with the conditions.

In September 2012, Nestle's Carnation Breakfast Essentials announced they had teamed up with Robinson, featuring her as the spokesperson for the brand. On October 4, 2012, Robinson was inducted as an honorary member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.

Filmography

Film

Television Year Title Role Notes 1969 Sesame Street Herself Episode 47 1987–1991 21 Jump Street Officer Judy Hoffs Main role 1989–1990 Booker Officer Judy Hoffs Episode: "The Pump" 1991 Gabriel's Fire Jackie Tate Episode: "Belly of the Beast" 1992 The Jacksons: An American Dream Diana Ross Episode: "Part I & II" 1992–1997 Hangin' with Mr. Cooper Vanessa Russell Main role 1993 It's Showtime at the Apollo Herself Episode: "Episode #6.14"1994 Soul Train Herself/Guest Host Episode: "Prince/Nona Gaye/For Lovers Only" An Evening at the Improv Herself/Host Episode: "Episode #15.25"1997 Pacific Blue Gina Galindo Episode: "Soft Targets" Touched by an Angel Vanessa Hamilton Episode: "Smokescreen"1998–2002 Hollywood Squares Herself/Panelist For Your Love Malena Ellis Main role 1999 Jeopardy! Herself/Celebrity Contestant Episode: "1999-A Celebrity Jeopardy! Game 2" 1999–2001 Intimate Portrait Herself 2001 Strong Medicine Halle Ellis Episode: "Donors" 2001–2002 One on One Stacey Recurring role 2002 Fillmore! Joelle Fillmore (voice) Episode: "Cry, the Beloved Mascot" 2003 Ripley's Believe It or Not! Herself Episode: "Episode #4.17" 2003–2004 Like Family Tanya Jones Main role 2005–2006 Love, Inc. Clea 2008 Who Are You Wearing Herself Episode: "Holly Robinson Peete" 2010 The Celebrity Apprentice Main role: Season 9 Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? Herself Episode: Episode 48 2010–2011 The Talk Herself/Co-Host Main role 2011–2014 Mike & Molly Christina Recurring role2012 RuPaul's Drag U Herself/Guest Professor Episode: "Dangerous Curves" Say Yes to the Dress Herself Episode: "NFL Brides" 2013 Blue Holly Episode: "In the Running" 2014 Instant Mom Mrs. Kimberley Phillips Episode: "Distant Mom" 2014–2016 Celebrity Name Game Herself/Celebrity Player 2015 David Tutera's Celebrations Herself Episode: "Family Fundraiser for Autism" Wife Swap Herself Episode: "Margaret Cho/Holly Robinson-Peete" Celebrity Family Feud Episode: "Rob Gronkowski vs. Holly Robinson Peete/Bill Engvall vs. Keke Palmer" Real Husbands of Hollywood Episode: "Broad Talk"2016 Kocktails with Khloé Episode: "Khloé Kardashian Spills the O.J." Chicago Fire Tamara Jones Recurring role 2016–2017 For Peete's Sake Herself Main role 2018–2019 Meet the Peetes 2018–2021 Morning Show Mysteries Belinda "Billie" Blessings 2019 Hollywood Medium Herself Episode: "Lala Kent", "Jesse Tyler Ferguson" & "Holly Robinson Peete" Uncensored Episode: "Tisha Campbell" 2020 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Detective Rachel Wilson Episode: "The Longest Night of Rain" 2021 American Housewife Tami Gaines Recurring role2022 People PuzzlerHerself Episode: "Now Ya Tell Me" A Black Lady Sketch Show Episode: "Save My Edges, I'm a Donor!" 2023 Name That Tune Herself/Contestant Episode: "Bring the Funny" Queens Court Herself/Host The Masked Singer Herself/Fairy Season 9 contestant The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder Dr. Kathleen Lord (voice) Episode: "BeBe" 2024 Lego Masters: Celebrity Holiday Bricktacular Herself Season 3 contestant 2025–present Weather Hunters Dot Hunter Main role 2026 Boston Blue Jill Peters "Beautiful Broken Things"

Music videos Year Title Artist Role 1990 Whip Appeal Babyface Radio Announcer 2003 Dance with My Father Luther Vandross Herself

Note: She was credited as Holly Robinson until 1997.