Suzzanne Douglas facts for kids

Suzzanne Douglas (born April 12, 1957 – died July 6, 2021) was a talented American actress. She was most famous for playing Geraldine "Jerri" Peterson, a mom on The Parent 'Hood. This TV show aired on The WB network from 1995 to 1999.

Douglas also starred as Amy Simms in the 1989 movie Tap. In this film, she acted alongside famous dancers Gregory Hines and Sammy Davis Jr. For her role in Tap, she won an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture.

Besides Tap, Suzzanne Douglas appeared in many other films. These include How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998) and Jason's Lyric (1994). She was also in The Inkwell (1994). In 2003, she starred in the Disney/ABC version of Sounder.

Douglas was also known for playing Cissy Houston in the 2015 Lifetime TV movie Whitney. In 2019, she appeared in the Netflix miniseries When They See Us. This series was directed by Ava DuVernay and produced by Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Films.

Early Life and Education

Suzzanne Douglas was born in Chicago, Illinois, on April 12, 1957. She was one of four children. Her mother, Lois Mae Thompson, raised her and her siblings. Suzzanne grew up in the Altgeld Gardens Homes public housing area in Chicago.

She became interested in acting when she was a child. The 1965 movie The Sound of Music inspired her to become an actress. Douglas went to Thornton Township High School and graduated in 1975.

After high school, she studied at Illinois State University. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree there. Later, she got a Master's degree in music from the Manhattan School of Music. She specialized in Jazz Vocals.

Acting Career Highlights

Suzzanne Douglas made many guest appearances on popular TV shows. These included Bull, Bones, and The Good Wife. She also appeared on The Parkers, The Cosby Show, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, NYPD Blue, and Touched by an Angel.

On stage, Douglas performed in plays like The Threepenny Opera with Sting. She also played Dr. Bearing in Wit. She was the first African American actress to play this role. Douglas won two NAACP Image Awards. She also received a Black Oscar, a Reel Award, and the Mary Martin Award. In 2011, she appeared in the film Changing the Game.

Community Involvement

Douglas was an honorary member of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority. She served on their national executive board for 13 years. She was the Honorary Co-chair of their Arts and Letters Commission.

She was also a lifetime member of several community groups. These included Girl Scouts of the USA and The National Council of Negro Women. She was also part of Sigma Alpha Lambda and Jack and Jill of America.

Personal Life and Passing

In February 1989, Suzzanne Douglas married Roy Jonathan Cobb. He is a neuro-radiologist. They were married until her passing. Together, they had one daughter.

Suzzanne Douglas passed away on July 6, 2021. She was 64 years old. She died at her home in Martha's Vineyard after an illness.

Filmography

Film Roles

Television Roles

Theatre Roles