Holly Elizabeth Robinson Peete (born September 18, 1964) is an
American actress, model and singer. She is perhaps best known for her roles as Judy Hoffs on the
Fox TV police drama 21 Jump Street, Vanessa Russell on the
ABC sitcom
Hangin' with Mr. Cooper, and Dr. Malena Ellis on the
NBC/
WB sitcom
For Your Love. After graduating from high school, Peete entered
Sarah Lawrence College in New York. She majored in Psychology and French and can speak four languages. During her time as an undergraduate, she spent a year at the
Sorbonne in
Paris, France. After she graduated in 1986, she considered attending graduate school and perhaps working in languages for the
U.S. State Department. However, her love of acting contributed to her decision to give an acting career a chance for a few months first. Within a short time, Peete found roles on a television series and in two films, and thoughts of graduate school were left behind.