American actress Suzzanne Douglas, who gained recognition for her role as matriarch Jerri Peterson on the Warner Bros. sitcom The Parent ‘Hood dies at the age of 64. The actress died on Tuesday, July 6.
Her cousin Angie Tee announced her death on Facebook on Tuesday. The actress took her last breath at her Martha’s Vineyard home in Massachusetts. She was said to be suffering from cancer and died due to complications of cancer as reported by The New York Times.
Actress Suzzanne Douglas Dies at 64
The actress became a household name after her appearance on the long-running WB sitcom The Parent ‘Hood as matriarch Jerri Peterson. The show which also featured Robert Townsend continued for five seasons (1995-99).
Townsend took to his Twitter handle and shared a heart left message for Douglas. He wrote, “My heart is full because yesterday I lost my amazing dancing partner on TV for five years, Suzanne Douglas.” He added, “I just remember a lot of laughter and a lot of tears … her regal bright light will be missed.”
My heart is full ,because yesterday I lost, my amazing dancing partner on TV for 5 years Suzanne Douglas. We did “Work”on THE PARENT’HOOD.I just remember a lot of laughter and a lot of tears… her regal bright light will be missed…. pic.twitter.com/RHT0rrd4zb
— Robert Townsend (@Robert_Townsend) July 7, 2021
The actress was also seen in other television shows Bones, The Good Wife, Law & Order: SVU, NYPD Blue, Touched by an Angel, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, I’ll Fly Away, and The Parkers.
Her recent appearance was as Grace Cuffee on Ava DuVernay’s limited Netflix series, ‘When They See Us’. Ava DuVernay also shared her condolence message by heading to her Twitter handle. She tweeted, “Suzzanne Douglas was a quiet, elegant force as we made WHEN THEY SEE US. A gentlewoman. A gem of a lady. A confident, caring actor who breathed life into the words and made them shimmer. I’m grateful that our paths in this life crossed. May she journey on in peace and love.”
Suzzanne Douglas was a quiet, elegant force as we made WHEN THEY SEE US. A gentlewoman. A gem of a lady. A confident, caring actor who breathed life into the words and made them shimmer. I’m grateful that our paths in this life crossed. May she journey on in peace and love. pic.twitter.com/1ZhaucGEiK
— Ava DuVernay (@ava) July 7, 2021
Coming to her appearances in the films, Douglas made her debut in the 1989 film ‘Tap’. We also saw the beautiful actress in other films – The Inkwell (1994), Jason’s Lyric (1994), and How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998). She was seen in ABC’s 2003 remake of Sounder and Changing the Game (2011). Douglas also appeared in the 2015 Lifetime movie Whitney as Cissy Houston.
Jada Pinkett Smith, her co-star in “Inkwell” also took to Twitter on Wednesday to share her condolence message. Below is her tweet:
I woke up this morning to the news that Suzzanne Douglas has passed away. I worked with Suzzanne in the film Inkwell. She was an elegant, gentle warm spirit. My deepest condolences to her family and loved ones. May she rest in love. pic.twitter.com/fBUf3coIVb
— Jada Pinkett Smith (@jadapsmith) July 7, 2021
Douglas was born in Chicago. She received her bachelor’s degree at Illinois State University and completed her master’s in music at the Manhattan School of Music.
Suzzanne Douglas also tried her luck in production by producing ‘The Last Weekend’ which bagged the best short film at the Hollywood Black Film Festival. The actress also co-produced Theresa Rebeck’s ‘Love on the Rocks’. Not simply an actress and a producer, Douglas was also a singer and a composer. She used to share her music on her website.
Additionally, Douglas served as a lifetime member of Girl Scouts of America, Sigma Alpha Lambda, The National Council of Negro Women as well as Jack and Jill of America.
