Holly Robinson Peete Biography: Husband, Age, Kids, Height, Net Worth, Movies & TV Shows, Awards

Holly Robinson Peete is an American actress, author, singer, television personality, and activist who came to prominence in the late 1980s for her role as Officer Judy Hoffs in 21 Jump Street.

Her performances in sitcoms like Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper and For Your Love further established her in television comedy, while her portrayal of Diana Ross in the miniseries The Jacksons: An American Dream demonstrated her range.

Over the years she has become known not only for acting but for her advocacy work, writing, and hosting roles that have made her a multifaceted public figure.

Profile

• Full name: Holly Elizabeth Robinson Peete
• Date of birth: September 18, 1964
• Age: 61 years old
• Gender: Female
• Place of birth: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
• State of origin: Pennsylvania
• Nationality: American
• Profession: Actress, author, singer, television personality, activist
• Height: 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)
• Eye color: Brown
• Parents: Father: Matthew “Matt” Robinson; Mother: Dolores Robinson
• Siblings: Brother: Matthew Thomas Robinson III
• Spouse: Rodney Peete (married June 10, 1995)
• Children: Ryan Elizabeth Peete; Rodney Jackson “R.J.” Peete, Jr.; Robinson James Peete; Roman Matthew Peete
• Relationship status: Married
• Ethnicity: African American
• Net worth: approx. USD $4 million

Early Life and Education

Holly Robinson Peete is now 61 years old and was born on September 18, 1964, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, into a family deeply connected to the entertainment and education worlds.

Her parents are Dolores Robinson, who was a schoolteacher and later worked in public relations and talent management, and Matthew “Matt” Robinson, an actor, producer, and writer who was known for being the original Gordon on Sesame Street. She has an older brother named Matthew Thomas Robinson III, and the siblings grew up in a household that valued both education and the arts.

At about age ten, in 1974, the family moved to California, which opened new opportunities for the young Holly Robinson Peete in the entertainment industry. Holly Robinson Peete attended Greene Street Friends School in Germantown, Philadelphia, before moving to the West Coast with her family.

She graduated from Santa Monica High School in California, where she continued to develop her interests in performing and academics. After high school, she attended Sarah Lawrence College, graduating in 1986 with degrees in psychology and French, demonstrating her intellectual versatility beyond acting.

She also studied for a year in Paris at the Sorbonne, and is fluent in French, a skill that has enriched her personal and professional life. While in Paris she performed singing in nightclubs, including a performance with jazz musician Lionel Hampton, which gave her early experience as a vocalist and performer on international stages.

Personal Life

Holly Robinson Peete married Rodney Peete, a former NFL quarterback, on June 10, 1995, beginning a partnership that has lasted nearly three decades. The couple have four children together who have been central to their lives and advocacy work over the years. Their children are twins Ryan Elizabeth and Rodney Jackson “R.J.” Peete Jr., born in 1997, a son Robinson James born in 2002, and a son Roman Matthew born in 2005.

One of the twins, Rodney Jr., was diagnosed with autism at age three, which became a turning point for the family and shaped much of Holly Robinson Peete’s advocacy work.

Her father was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, another health challenge that profoundly affected the family and motivated their charitable efforts. After his diagnosis, Holly and her husband co-founded the HollyRod Foundation, which supports individuals with Parkinson’s and families living with autism, providing resources, awareness, and compassionate care to those facing similar challenges.

Career

Holly Robinson Peete began her screen appearances as a child, showing early promise in the entertainment industry from a very young age. One of her earliest appearances was on Sesame Street at age 5 or so, alongside her father Matthew “Matt” Robinson, which introduced her to television production. She later worked on Kidsworld at around age 11, continuing to build her on-camera experience throughout her childhood and adolescent years.

Her more significant breakthrough came with 21 Jump Street (1987-1991), in which she played Officer Judy Hoffs, a role that made her a household name and established her as a talented young actress.

Following that success, she had main roles in Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper (1992-1997) as Vanessa Russell, and For Your Love (1998-2002) as Dr. Malena Ellis, both of which cemented her reputation in television comedy. She also played Diana Ross in The Jacksons: An American Dream in 1992, a challenging role that showcased her ability to portray real-life icons.

Beyond acting, she has worked as a television host, notably as one of the original co-hosts of The Talk, and competed on reality TV including The Celebrity Apprentice. She has appeared in reality series starring her family, including For Peete’s Sake and Meet the Peetes, which gave audiences an intimate look at her life.

She has written books including Get Your Own Damn Beer, I’m Watching the Game!: A Woman’s Guide to Loving Pro Football, My Brother Charlie, and Same but Different: Teen Life on the Autism Express, all of which reflect her diverse interests and commitment to advocacy.

Awards and Nominations

Wins:

• NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work – Children (for My Brother Charlie) in 2011
• Quill Literacy Award in 2006 (for Get Your Own Damn Beer, I’m Watching the Game!)

Nominations:

• NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series (for For Your Love) in multiple years (1999, 2000, 2001, 2002)
• NAACP Image Award nominations for Love, Inc. in 2006
• Kids’ Choice Award – Favorite TV Actress in 1989
• People’s Choice Award – Favorite Hallmark Star in 2022

Net Worth

Holly Robinson Peete’s net worth is approximately USD $4 million, accumulated through her diverse career spanning multiple decades in entertainment and media.

She has earned this through her acting work on television and film spanning from the 1980s to the present day. Her income sources also include her books, hosting and reality TV appearances, as well as advocacy and foundation work that has brought speaking engagements and related opportunities.

Social Media

• Instagram: @hollyrpeete

Filmography

• Sesame Street (TV) 1969
• Dummy (TV movie) 1979
• Howard the Duck (1986)
• 21 Jump Street (1987-1991)
• Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper (1992-1997)
• The Jacksons: An American Dream (1992)
• For Your Love (1998-2002)
• Like Family (2003-2004)
• Love, Inc. (2005-2006)
• Mike & Molly (recurring)
• For Peete’s Sake (2016-2017)
• Meet the Peetes (2018-2019)
• The Masked Singer (2023)

Books

• Get Your Own Damn Beer, I’m Watching the Game!: A Woman’s Guide to Loving Pro Football
• My Brother Charlie
• Same but Different: Teen Life on the Autism Express