Photo courtesy of IMbD. The Cast of ‘The Parent ‘Hood.’
If you grew up watching ’90s television, chances are the Peterson family felt a little like your own extended family, only with better one-liners. The Parent ‘Hood debuted on The WB in January 1995 and quickly became one of the network’s signature family sitcoms. The series followed Robert and Jerri Peterson as they tried to raise four children in their Manhattan brownstone while juggling work, school, relationships and all the chaos that comes with parenting. The show ran for five seasons and 90 episodes before saying goodbye in 1999.
So where is the cast of The Parent ‘Hood today and the memorable neighbors who kept the household interesting? As it turns out, the cast took some very different paths after leaving the Peterson brownstone. Let’s find out together.
Robert Townsend — Robert Peterson
Of course, there was Robert Peterson, the well-meaning but sometimes hilariously exasperated dad played by Robert Townsend.
Townsend was much more than the star of the show. He was also a co-creator, filmmaker, writer and producer, and his career behind the camera has remained just as busy as his career in front of it.
The man behind Hollywood Shuffle and The Five Heartbeats has continued directing and acting well into the 2020s. More recently, Townsend appeared as Emmanuel Adamu on FX’s The Bear and has directed episodes of The Chi, according to his website. He also directed multiple episodes of Poppa’s House in 2024 and 2025, as well as episodes of Power Book IV: Force.
So, while Robert Peterson may have spent his sitcom years trying to keep his kids in line, Townsend has spent the decades since helping shape stories from behind the camera.
Not a bad second act.
Suzzanne Douglas — Jerri Peterson
Suzzanne Douglas brought warmth, intelligence and plenty of attitude to the role of Jerri Peterson, Robert’s wife and the mother of their four children.
After The Parent ‘Hood, Douglas continued building an impressive résumé across television, film and theater. She appeared in projects including The Parkers, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, How Stella Got Her Groove Back and the 2015 television movie Whitney, in which she portrayed Cissy Houston.
Off screen, Douglas had an award-winning career in theater, earning an NAACP Image Award for Best Ensemble thanks to her stage work in the theatrical production Crowns. Before joining the sitcom, she also starred as Amy Simms in the 1989 dance-drama film Tap, a breakout feature film role that earned her an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture.
Her final screen role was in Ava DuVernay’s 2019 Netflix miniseries When They See Us.
Sadly, Douglas died in July 2021 at age 64 following a tough battle with cancer. Her loss was felt throughout the entertainment community, with many colleagues remembering her as a gifted and deeply respected performer.
For longtime Parent ‘Hood fans, Jerri remains one of the show’s most memorable characters — the mom who could give you a life lesson and shut down an argument with one look.
Reagan Gomez-Preston — Zaria Peterson
Reagan Gomez-Preston was just a teenager when she stepped into the role of Zaria Peterson, but she went on to build one of the most recognizable careers among the show’s younger cast members.
After being on the cast of The Parent ‘Hood, Gomez-Preston continued acting while also becoming a prominent voice performer. Fans may recognize her from The Cleveland Show, where she voiced Roberta Tubbs, as well as Steven Universe, Rick and Morty and Queen Sugar. She’s also appeared in music videos, like her short cameo in the visual for T.I.’s 2008 classic “Whatever You Like.”
And she’s still working.
In recent years, Gomez-Preston appeared in The Chi, and in 2025 she appeared in the films Unexpected Christmas and Absolute Dominion.
Kenny Blank — Michael Peterson
Kenny Blank played Michael Peterson, the eldest son of the Peterson family, during the show’s early seasons.
Blank’s career eventually moved well beyond acting. He has worked as a composer, voice-over artist, editor, director, producer and cinematographer, taking on a variety of behind-the-scenes roles, according to his IMdB page.
He’s also continued doing voice work. Under the name Kenn Michael, his credits include the animated series Cannon Busters and an appearance on Teen Titans Go! in 2023. The actor also voiced the President of the U.S. in the 2013 game Saints Row IV.
And one particularly interesting part of Blank’s post-Parent ‘Hood career? Music and filmmaking.
His recent credits include Love the Skin You’re In (2025), where he is credited with directing and composing.
What Happened to the Cast of The Parent ‘Hood‘? Here’s What the Peterson Family Is Up to Now.
Curtis Williams — Nicholas Peterson
Curtis Williams played Nicholas Peterson, the youngest Peterson son.
Unlike some of his former co-stars, Williams largely stepped away from the mainstream Hollywood spotlight after his childhood acting years. He had several acting credits during and after The Parent ‘Hood, but his entertainment career did not develop along the same highly visible path as Townsend or Gomez-Preston.
But he’s doing his thing in the independent film world. In August, the 39-year-old actor launched Season 3 of his YouTube series The Tales Of Theo & Eli.
His son, Landon Williams, appears to be following in his footsteps. A post shared to his Instagram in 2022 showed Landon on set with the late great Dolly Parton for her film Dolly Parton’s Mountain Magic Christmas.
Keeping it in the family — we love to see it!
Ashli Adams — CeCe Peterson
Ashli Adams played CeCe Peterson, the youngest daughter of the family.
Adams was another young performer whose biggest claim to fame came early. Along with The Parent ‘Hood, her credits include appearances in projects such as Baby Geniuses and Girlfriends.
Unlike many former child actors, Adams ultimately stepped away from the entertainment industry’s constant spotlight and has kept a relatively private life, but she appears to be enjoying life off camera as a mother of two.
She just turned 35 on Sept. 6 and recently celebrated on Instagram, simply captioning her photo carousel:
“Virgo. Level 35.”
For fans hoping for a major Hollywood comeback, there’s not much publicly available to point to — and that may be exactly the point. Sometimes the biggest “where are they now?” story is simply that someone chose a life outside of Hollywood.
Faizon Love — Wendell Wilcox
And then there was Wendell Wilcox.
Played by comedian and actor Faizon Love, Wendell brought a completely different energy to the Peterson family’s world. Love went on to become one of the most recognizable comedy performers from the show’s cast.
After The Parent ‘Hood, he appeared in movies including Friday, Elf, Couples Retreat, The Replacements and Made. More recently, he appeared in films such as The Last Stop in Yuma County and Back on the Strip.
Things haven’t always been smooth for Love. The actor and comedian was arrested in Florida on June 16, 2026, and booked on two counts of contempt of court in connection with an ongoing Hillsborough County child support case, according to ABC News. His attorney said the case involves allegations that Love failed to make court-ordered child support payments.
Despite the rocky situation, Love has continued performing stand-up. He has an upcoming comedy appearance scheduled for Oct. 31 at the Brea Improv alongside Tiffany Haddish.
So if you ever wondered whether Wendell would still be making people laugh decades later, the answer is a pretty solid yes.
A ’90s Family That Never Really Left Us.
What makes The Parent ‘Hood so nostalgic isn’t just the fashion, the brownstone or the unmistakable sound of a classic ’90s sitcom.
It’s the fact that so many of its stars continued creating in completely different ways.
Townsend became an established director and filmmaker. Gomez-Preston built an extensive career across television and animation. Love became a familiar face in comedy and film. And Douglas left behind a body of work that extended far beyond the sitcom that made her a household name.
The Peterson family may have left television in 1999, but three decades later, the cast of The Parent ‘Hood still has plenty of stories to tell.
RELATED CONTENT: What to Watch: 10 Black Sitcoms With The Best Halloween-Themed Episodes
