Women's History in the Making: Holly Robinson Peete

Actress. Author. Advocate. These are just three of the roles played by the incomparable Holly Robinson Peete. Add to that daughter, wife, and mother of four and you know that without a doubt, she is one busy woman. In a career that has spanned over 20 years, Holly has one of the most recognizable faces in television. But she is more than just a pretty face. Holly has a philanthropic side that parallels her acting career. And her devotion to her family comes second to none. Holly Robinson Peete is dedicated. She is hard working. Simply put, Holly Robinson Peete is women's history in the making.

Holly career path into show business was not completely unexpected. She was born Holly Elizabeth Robinson on September 18, to parents in the entertainment business. Her father is Matthew Robinson Jr., an actor and television producer and her mother is show Hollywood talent manager Delores Robinson. Holly had a few small roles as a child actor but decided to enroll at Sarah Lawrence College to study acting. She had he sights set on a career in entertainment.

Holly's big break came when she was cast as a rock star in the1986 film Howard the Duck (a personal favorite of mine). She sang on the film's soundtrack and seriously thought that music would be her claim to fame. But the universe had other plans.

In 1987, Holly got her big break when she was cast as Officer Judy Hoffs on the popular show 21 Jump Street. On the show, she played a member of an undercover cop unit who, along with Johnny Depp, infiltrated high schools to solve crimes. Holly sang the theme song to the show which ran for five seasons.

Two years after 21 Jump Street was cancelled, Holly was cast in the show Hangin' with Mr. Cooper. She played Vanessa, the roommate of Mark Cooper, played by comedian Mark Curry. Holly participated in the theme song for the show which also featured costar Dawn Lewis and the group En Vogue. It was on the set of the shoot for the opening credits that Holly met her best friend and En Vogue member Terry Ellis (a relationship she talks about in this Oprah.com blog). It was also on the set of Hangin' with Mr. Cooper that Holly received one of the greatest surprises ever. In 1997, her then boyfriend, football star Rodney Peete proposed to her. She accepted and the two wed on June 10, 1995.

Over the following years, Holly balanced full time motherhood with roles on the television series For Your Love and Love Inc. Holly transitioned into her next role in 1997 when she gave birth to fraternal twins Rodney Jackson and Ryan Elizabeth. She would later add sons Robinson and Roman to the bunch in 2002 and 2005.

Holly's role as mother has played a significant and impactful role as an advocate and activist. Her oldest son Rodney was diagnosed with autism at the age of three. In 2008, Holly told Black Enterprise magazine how she felt upon hearing of her son's diagnosis "Wow-not the best day! Devastating and hopelessness are two words that come to mind. There was no "Welcome to Autism" manual. We felt alone and lost. We were told a lot of "nevers," such as he will never be accepted in a mainstream school and he will never say "I love you" unprompted." However, one to back away from a challenge, Holly set out to educate herself and her family on how to best help and support her eldest son.

In 2005, Holly and Rodney formed hollyrod4kids, an organization that focuses on children's issues. Previously in 1996, the couple founded the HollyRod Foundation to "give a voice and a hand to those striving for quality of life when theirs has been diminished due to disease or disorders" (hollyrod.org). HollyRod was founded in part to honor Holly's father Matthew who battled Parkinson's disease until his death in 2002. Holly's philanthropic work has led to many public appearances on television, as well as seats on the board of Autism Speaks, and the Los Angeles Zoo.

Holly is also a talented writer who has published two books to date. In 2005, she published Get Your Own Beer, I'm Watching the Game: A Woman's Guide to Loving Pro Football. The book is informative and entertaining. An early 2010, she coauthored My Brother Charlie with her daughter Ryan. The book that addresses a sister's reaction to her autistic brother.

Holly maintains constant contact with her fans through her blogs on several sites as well as her twitter page. She regularly tweets during football games and Celebrity Apprentice (she's a contestant this season). Affectionately known as "Peete Tweeters," Holly's Twitter followers sometimes get responses from the star.

Holly Robinson Peete can (and continues) to do it all. An amazing actress, singer, writer, activist, and most importantly a loving and supportive friend, wife and mother, Holly is a shining example of womanhood. She makes me proud to spell my name W-O-M-A-N.

Sources:

S. Tia Brown, "Backtalk with Holly Robinson Peete." Black Enterprise Magazine (May 2008)

Holly Robinson Peete, "Terry Lynn Ellis: The Best "Bestie" Ever" Oprah.com (September 25, 2009)

Holly's Bio, www.hollyrod.org.