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Holly Robinson Peete

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Holly Robinson Peete
Peete in 2010
Born
Holly Elizabeth Robinson

(1964-09-18) September 18, 1964 (age 60)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Alma materSarah Lawrence College
Occupation(s)Actress, author, television personality
Years active1969–present
Known for
Spouse
​
(m. 1995)​
Children4
FatherMatt Robinson

Holly Elizabeth Robinson Peete (born September 18, 1964)[1] is an American actress. 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.[2]

Early life

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Peete was born Holly Elizabeth Robinson in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Dolores and Matt Robinson (the first Gordon on Sesame Street). Her mother was a school teacher, in public relations, and later a personal talent manager, and her father a producer/writer. She has an older brother named Matthew Thomas Robinson III. She attended Greene Street Friends School in nearby Germantown.[3] In 1974, her family moved to California.[4] 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.[5] Peete studied abroad for a year at the Sorbonne, and is fluent in French.[5] While there she sang in Paris nightclubs, including a performance with jazz musician Lionel Hampton at the Hotel Meridian Jazz Club.[6][7][8]

Career

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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.[9] 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.[10] 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.[9] She contributed a variety of songs to the soundtrack of the film Howard the Duck. (She appeared as a musician/singer in a minor role in the film.) She recorded the theme song "We Got Our Love" for the 1987 film Three for the Road. She and Dawnn Lewis, along with R&B quartet En Vogue, performed the theme song for the first season of Hangin' with Mr. Cooper.

In 2006, she won, along with fellow writer Daniel Paisner, the Quills Award in Sports for the book Get Your Own Damn Beer, I'm Watching the Game!: A Woman's Guide to Loving Pro Football.[11]

In 2010, she participated in The Celebrity Apprentice 3, playing for her own charity, the HollyRod Foundation,[9] which provides support for families with Parkinson's disease or autism.

Robinson began co-hosting The Talk, a CBS daytime talk show, on October 18, 2010.[12] 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.[13] In April 2011, Robinson hosted a weekly series on The Talk promoting autism awareness.[14]

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.[15][16] 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.[17][18]

Peete hosted the 42nd NAACP Image Awards, alongside Wayne Brady, on March 4, 2011.[19]

The Peete family starred in a reality TV series on OWN, entitled For Peete's Sake from 2016 to 2017.[20] The series followed the lives of Peete and her husband Rodney as they juggle career choices with their family life.[21] This was followed by a similar Hallmark Channel reality series Meet the Peetes, which also ran for two seasons from 2018 to 2019.[22]

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

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Peete with her husband Rodney Peete in 2010

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.[23] Robinson played baseball for Sierra Canyon School (2017-2019).

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.[9][24]

In September 2012, Nestle's Carnation Breakfast Essentials announced they had teamed up with Robinson, featuring her as the spokesperson for the brand.[25][26] On October 4, 2012, Robinson was inducted as an honorary member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.[27]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1979 Dummy Genettia Lang TV movie
1986 Howard the Duck K.C., Cherry Bomb
1998 Killers in the House Jennie Sawyer TV movie
1999 After All Michelle Troussaint TV movie
2004 Earthquake Heaven TV movie
2007 Matters of Life and Dating Nicole Banning TV movie
Football Wives Jackie Jameson TV movie
2010 Speed-Dating Gayle
2012 21 Jump Street Officer Judy Hoffs
2015 Angel of Christmas Yvette Collins TV movie
2017 Michael Jackson: Searching for Neverland Raymone Bain TV movie
Christmas in Evergreen Michelle Lansing TV movie
2018 Christmas in Evergreen: Letters to Santa Michelle Lansing TV movie
2019 Christmas in Evergreen: Tidings of Joy Michelle Lansing TV movie
A Family Christmas Gift Amanda TV movie
2020 The Christmas Doctor Dr. Zoey TV movie
Christmas in Evergreen: Bells Are Ringing Michelle Lansing TV movie
2021 Our Christmas Journey Lena TV movie
2022 The Journey Ahead Madeline TV movie
Holiday Heritage Micah TV movie

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1969 Sesame Street Herself Episode 47
1987–91 21 Jump Street Officer Judy Hoffs Main Cast
1989–90 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"
1992–97 Hangin' with Mr. Cooper Vanessa Russell Main Cast
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 Recurring Guest
For Your Love Malena Ellis Main Cast
1999 Jeopardy! Herself/Celebrity Contestant Episode: "1999-A Celebrity Jeopardy! Game 2"
1999–2001 Intimate Portrait Herself Recurring Guest
2001 Strong Medicine Halle Ellis Episode: "Donors"
2001–02 One on One Stacey Recurring Cast: Season 1
2002 Fillmore! Joelle Fillmore (voice) Episode: "Cry, the Beloved Mascot"
2003 Ripley's Believe It or Not! Herself Episode: "Episode #4.17"
2003–04 Like Family Tanya Jones Main Cast
2005–06 Love, Inc. Clea Main Cast
2008 Who Are You Wearing Herself Episode: "Holly Robinson Peete"
2010 The Celebrity Apprentice Herself Main Cast: Season 9
2010–11 The Talk Herself/Co-Host Main Cast: Season 1
2010 Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? Herself Episode: Season 5, Episode 48
2011–14 Mike & Molly Christina Recurring Cast: Season 2-3
2012 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"
2014-16 Celebrity Name Game Herself/Celebrity Player Recurring Guest
2015 David Tutera's Celebrations Herself Episode: "Family Fundraiser for Autism"
Wife Swap Herself Episode: "Margaret Cho/Holly Robinson-Peete"
Celebrity Family Feud Herself Episode: "Rob Gronkowski vs. Holly Robinson Peete/Bill Engvall vs. Keke Palmer"
Real Husbands of Hollywood Herself Episode: "Broad Talk"
2016 Kocktails with Khloé Herself Episode: "Khloé Kardashian Spills the O.J."
Chicago Fire Tamara Jones Recurring Cast: Season 4-5
2016–17 For Peete's Sake Herself Main Cast
2018–19 Meet the Peetes Herself Main Cast
2018–21 Morning Show Mysteries Belinda "Billie" Blessings Main Cast
2019 Hollywood Medium Herself Episode: "Lala Kent, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Holly Robinson Peete"
Uncensored Herself Episode: "Tisha Campbell"
2020 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Detective Rachel Wilson Episode: "The Longest Night of Rain"
2021 American Housewife Tami Gaines Recurring Cast: Season 5
2022 People Puzzler Herself Episode: "Now Ya Tell Me"
A Black Lady Sketch Show Herself Episode: "Save My Edges, I'm a Donor!"
2023 Name That Tune Herself/Contestant Episode: "Bring the Funny"
Queens Court Herself/Host Main Host
The Masked Singer Herself/Fairy Season 9 contestant
The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder Dr. Kathleen Lord (voice) Episode: "BeBe"[28]

Music Video

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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.

References

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  1. ^ "Holly Robinson Peete Biography". TV Guide. Archived from the original on September 27, 2015.
  2. ^ "Holly Robinson Peete's Winning Image". Celebrity Baby Scoop. 2011-03-05. Retrieved 2011-08-01.
  3. ^ "Hangin' with Mrs. Robinson Peete". philly-archives. Archived from the original on August 19, 2013.
  4. ^ "The Holly Robinson Peete Picture Pages". Superiorpics.com. Archived from the original on September 14, 2012. Retrieved 2011-08-01.
  5. ^ a b "SLC Buzz: 2010–2011". Slc.edu. Archived from the original on 2011-08-13. Retrieved 2011-08-01.
  6. ^ "Holly Robinson & Rodney Peete". Womensconference.org. 2010-03-16. Archived from the original on 2013-04-16. Retrieved 2011-08-01.
  7. ^ "Holly Robinson". Luxury Awaits. Archived from the original on 2011-07-18. Retrieved 2011-08-01.
  8. ^ "Holly Robinson Peete | Speaker Profile and Speaking Topics". Apbspeakers.com. Retrieved 2011-08-01.
  9. ^ a b c d Byrne, Bridget (2003-12-09). "Actress is at Home in TV Role As Busy Mom". Boston.com. Globe Newspaper Company / The New York Times Company. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  10. ^ Whip Appeal#Music video
  11. ^ "The 2nd Annual Quill Awards". Retrieved August 26, 2017.
  12. ^ Domanick, Andrea (August 11, 2010). "CBS' 'The Talk' to Premiere Oct. 18". Broadcasting and Cable. Retrieved December 4, 2019.[permanent dead link]
  13. ^ "Rodney and Holly Robinson Peete on their son RJ's autism". People. 2007-05-30. Retrieved 2019-12-04.
  14. ^ Peden, Mike (24 April 2011). "Holly Robinson Peete's Autism "Talk"". The Autistic Journalist. Retrieved 25 July 2011.
  15. ^ Nede, Jethro (2011-09-07). "'The Talk' Without Leah Remini and Holly Robinson Peete: What THR Readers Are Saying". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2022-12-13.
  16. ^ "Holly Robinson Peete Opens Up About Being Fired From The Talk!". Archived from the original on 2018-11-22. Retrieved 2012-02-09.
  17. ^ Del Rosario, Alexandra (March 13, 2021). "Sharon Osbourne Responds After Holly Robinson Peete Claims Her Former 'The Talk' Co-Host Said She Was "Too Ghetto" For CBS Show – Update". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
  18. ^ Murphy, Desiree (March 16, 2021). "Leah Remini Claims Sharon Osbourne Used Racist and Homophobic Language Towards 'The Talk' Co-Hosts". Entertainment Tonight. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
  19. ^ Seidman, Robert (2011-03-04). "Wayne Brady and Holly Robinson Peete to Host '42nd NAACP Image Awards' Friday, March 4 on Fox". TV By the Numbers. Archived from the original on 2011-02-10. Retrieved 2011-08-01.
  20. ^ "OWN Orders Holly Robinson Peete and Rodney Peete Docuseries". The Hollywood Reporter. 2015-05-06. Retrieved 2022-12-13.
  21. ^ "Holly Robinson Peete and Rodney Peete Star in New OWN Docuseries". Oprah.com.
  22. ^ Pena, Jessica (March 21, 2018). "Meet the Peetes: Season Two Renewal Announced by Hallmark". TV Series Finale. Retrieved May 23, 2018.
  23. ^ Kaplan, Erin Aubry (February 2007). "Holly's Heart". Essence. Archived from the original on 2008-08-28. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
  24. ^ "Ability Magazine: Holly Robinson Peete Interview with Chet Cooper" (2007)". Retrieved 2012-04-03.
  25. ^ "Breakfast Nutrition - Carnation Breakfast Essentials®". Archived from the original on 2013-05-22.
  26. ^ Nestle Health Science (20 September 2012). "Holly Robinson Peete and Carnation® Breakfast Essentials™ Offer Moms Solutions to... -- Florham Park, N.J., Sept. 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/" (Press release).
  27. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-05-09. Retrieved 2012-11-05.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  28. ^ The Proud Family [@theproudfamily] (December 13, 2022). "The family's getting bigger 🙌 The Proud Family: #LouderAndProuder is back for Season 2, streaming February 1, only on @DisneyPlus" (Tweet). Retrieved December 13, 2022 – via Twitter.
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Media offices
First The Talk co-host
2010–2011 		Succeeded by
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