Suzzanne Douglas


Suzzanne Douglas is an American actress. She is best known for her role as matriarch Jerri Peterson on The WB sitcom The Parent 'Hood, starring Robert Townsend which ran from 1995–1999. Douglas portrayed Amy Simms in the 1989 dance/drama film Tap alongside Gregory Hines and Sammy Davis, Jr; for which she received an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture. In addition to Tap, Douglas has starred in several other motion pictures, among them How Stella Got Her Groove Back, Jason's Lyric, The Inkwell as well as the 2003 Disney/ABC version of Sounder with Carl Lumbly. Douglas is also best known for her portrayal as Cissy Houston in the Lifetime TV movie Whitney in 2015. In 2019 she appeared as the mother of one of the main characters in When They See Us, directed by Ava Duvernay, produced by Oprah Winfrey and Robert De Niro.

Early life and education

Born in Chicago, Illinois, Douglas was one of four children born to Lois Mae Thompson and Donald Douglas, Sr. Raised by a single mother, Douglas grew up in a public housing complex on the city's south side. Douglas became interested in the arts as a child, citing 1965's The Sound of Music as her inspiration for acting. Douglas attended Thornton Township High School, graduating in 1975. After high school, Douglas studied at Illinois State University; graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree. During her adult life, Douglas was a student in the Master’s Program in Jazz Vocals at the prestigious Manhattan School of Music; later earning a Master in Music degree.

Career

Douglas has numerous television guest star appearances. Douglas has also appeared on The Parkers, The Cosby Show, , NYPD Blue, and Touched by an Angel. On stage, Douglas performed the role of Jenny Diver in The Threepenny Opera starring Sting and Dr. Bearing in Wit, where she was the first African American to perform the role. Douglas is an Award winning actress: a two time Image Award winner, a Black Oscar, a Reel Award and the Mary Martin Award which was awarded to Douglas by Mary Martin. Douglas appears in the Rel Dowdell film, Changing the Game in 2011.

Personal

Douglas has been married to neuro-radiologist Roy Jonathan Cobb since February 1989 and they have one daughter. Douglas is an honorary member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority where she served on its board as the Honorary Co-Chair of the Commission on Arts and Letters for thirteen years. In the community, she is a lifetime member of Girl Scouts of the USA, The National Council of Negro Women, Sigma Alpha Lambda and Jack and Jill of America.

Filmography

Film

Television