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http://www.lifetimetv.com/onair/intimate/frameset.shtml/port9938.htmlAfter 11 consecutive years on television,
Holly Robinson Peete has proved herself to be one of the medium's most versatile and appealing actresses.Holly Robinson was born in Philadelphia in 1964. When she was nine years old, her mother, Dolores Robinson, and father, Matthew Robinson (who played Gordon on "Sesame Street") divorced. With only $500 in her pocket, Dolores drove Holly and her brother cross-country to California. Though the family was broke, they were able to stay in an expensive Malibu beach house on loan from longtime family friend, actor Cleavon Little. Holly's mother got a job as an assistant in an agency and climbed the ranks to become an influential actor's manager.
With both her parents involved in the entertainment industry, Holly caught the acting bug. She soon landed a role on a children's celebrity interview show and became involved in drama while in junior high school. During this time she found a lifelong friend in classmate and fellow budding thespian, Rob Lowe.
During her freshman year at Sarah Lawrence College, Holly's father, then a writer/producer for the "The Cosby Show," was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. Upon her father's insistence, Holly continued her college education and spent her junior year abroad in France at the Sorbonne. During her senior year, Holly's mother helped her to win a role in the surprising George Lucas flop, "Howard the Duck."
Holly had intended to pursue an advanced degree in foreign languages, but upon completing her college years she put off graduate school in favor of an acting career. Managed by her mother, Holly was quickly cast as officer Judy Hoffs on "21 Jump Street," the flagship show of the then brand-new FOX network.
The premise of "21 Jump Street" — four young officers going undercover in high schools — made it the number one show with teen-age audiences. Holly sang the show's theme song and co-starred with Johnny Depp, Peter DeLuise and Dustin Nguyen from 1987-1990.
Feeding her musical ambitions, Holly signed with Atlantic records in 1988, but, dissatisfied with the results, she eventually withdrew from her contract. Also during this time, Holly fell in love with actor Brian Robbins (from the sitcom "Head of the Class"). He proposed and she accepted; however, she would later cancel the wedding — twice.
Holly went on to play Diana Ross in the ABC miniseries "The Jacksons: An American Dream." She then returned to the series format with a comedic role in "Hangin' With Mr. Cooper," which debuted in 1992 and ran for four and a half years.
In 1993, actress Lela Rochon introduced Holly to Detroit Lions quarterback Rodney Peete. Proclaimed "America's most romantic couple" by Oprah Winfrey, Holly and Rodney were married in 1995 by the Reverend Jesse Jackson, a longtime family friend.
Holly gave birth to twins in 1997. Just three months after the children were born, Holly began shooting the sitcom "For Your Love."
Holly and her husband are engaged in a number of charitable causes. Caring for her father has made Holly aware of the burdens that Parkinson's disease imposes on patients and their families. With this in mind, Holly and Rodney have developed the HollyRod Foundation to aid underprivileged Parkinson's patients. The couple also organizes an annual celebrity fashion show at the Super Bowl in support of the fight against breast cancer.
"Intimate Portrait: Holly Robinson Peete" is narrated by
Diahann Carroll and features interviews with Rob Lowe, Lela Rochon, Mark Curry, Terry Ellis and Rodney Peete.