Holly Robinson Peete

Holly Robinson Peete, actress, author, talk show host, activist and philanthropist, has been touched by the entertainment industry almost all of her life. Her career as an actress dates back more than three decades, and has led her to becoming a voice for her father, son, and community. Robinson Peete can be seen in the docu-series “For Peete’s Sake” on the OWN network. She is also currently appearing in a recurring role on NBC’s “Chicago Fire.” Previously, Robinson Peete appeared in 13 episodes of season two of “Mike & Molly” as Christina, Carl’s fiancée, all of which came after successfully launching the CBS talk show “The Talk” as one of the original co-hosts. “The Talk” came on the heels of the enormous success Robinson Peete had on the third season of NBC’s “Celebrity Apprentice.” Making it all the way to the finals, Robinson Peete set a fundraising record of $600,000 for her charity, HollyRod Foundation, shedding a national spotlight on two causes very personal to the Peete Family: autism and Parkinson’s disease.

In 1997, Robinson Peete and her husband, former NFL quarterback Rodney Peete, formed the HollyRod Foundation, inspired by her father’s courageous battle with Parkinson’s disease, with the mission to help improve the quality of life of people with Parkinson’s. Then in 2005, inspired by their eldest son’s autism diagnosis, HollyRod Foundation’s mission expanded to provide support and resources to those affected by an autism diagnosis. Through the HollyRod Foundation and her family’s personal experiences, Robinson Peete has become one of the most trusted advocates for consistent and reliable education, outreach, and support for both Parkinson’s and autism. Her autism advocacy also extends to her book co-written with daughter, Ryan Elizabeth Peete, “My Brother Charlie”: a best-selling, NAACP Image award-winning children’s book about autism from the sibling’s perspective. With her first book: “Get Your Own Damn Beer, I’m Watching the Game: A Women’s Guide to Loving Pro Football.” Robinson Peete won the 2006 Quill Literacy Award. Her newest book as of March 2016, co-authored by her twins Ryan Elizabeth and RJ, is entitled “Same But Different: Teen Life On The Autism Express”.

Team: Family Advisors