Short Biography

Raven-Symoné Christina Pearman (born December 10, 1985 in Atlanta, Georgia) is an American actress, R&B and pop singer, songwriter, dancer, chef, and television producer, best known for her roles as Olivia Kendall on The Cosby Show and her own show That`s So Raven as Raven Baxter. She is professionally known by her stage name as Raven, though also known as Raven-Symoné. Despite the spelling of the second part of her name, she pronounces "Symoné" as though the acute accent were not there. Also, Raven owns a "how-to" video website, Raven-Symoné Presents, that being her official site.

As an infant, Raven worked for Atlanta`s Young Faces Inc. Modeling Agency and was featured in local print advertisements. At age two, she worked with Ford Models, Inc. in New York City and appeared in ads for Ritz crackers, Jell-O, Fisher-Price, and Cool Whip. At age three, she auditioned for the film Ghost Dad. She was considered too young for the role, but was recommended for a part in The Cosby Show and was eventually cast as Olivia in February 1989. The character was the precocious three-year-old stepdaughter of Denise Huxtable, the main character`s daughter. Raven played the part until the series was cancelled in 1992.

In 1993, Raven joined the cast of ABC`s sitcom Hangin` with Mr. Cooper as Nicole, the daughter of Mark Curry`s character Mark Cooper`s cousin.

Raven went on to have roles in 1998 Dr. Dolittle (film) and 1999 Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century. In between her acting roles, Raven attended the North Springs High School, an Arts and Science high school in Sandy Springs, Georgia, where she graduated in 2005.

In 2003, Raven began her role as Raven Baxter, a teenager with psychic abilities, in the Disney Channel Original Series That`s So Raven; it became Disney Channel`s highest-rated and longest-running series and spawned successful product spinoffs, including soundtracks (featuring songs by Raven), episode DVDs, and video games. In 2005, the show was nominated for an Emmy Award for "Outstanding Children`s Program." In 2003, Raven was featured on The Cheetah Girls and its popular soundtrack.

In 2003, Raven was scheduled to star in two films. The first was Sparkle, which was a remake of the 1976 film. Raven got the part after R&B-Pop songstress Aaliyah was tragically killed in a plane crash in 2001. The film was scheduled to be produced by Whitney Houston and Debra Martin Chase who produced The Cheetah Girls. The second film was titled "All American Girl", based on the book written by Meg Cabot. Both films have now been cancelled.

In 2004, Raven cut a six-figure deal with Disney for another series on ABC in Fall 2005. It was originally designed to be a college spinoff of That`s So Raven called Raven Too!, following Raven and her friends in college. However, Raven eventually declined the role and the sitcom instead turned into another TSR spinoff for Disney, called Cory In The House.

In 2004, Raven cut a six-figure deal with Disney for another series on ABC in Fall 2005. It was originally designed to be a college spinoff of That`s So Raven called Raven Too!, following Raven and her friends in college. However, Raven eventually declined the role and the sitcom instead turned into another TSR spinoff for Disney, called Cory In The House.

Recently, she has starred in a sequel to the original Cheetah Girls film, The Cheetah Girls 2, which has become Disney Channel`s second most-viewed and second hi

Miscellaneous Information

Distinctive Features

Shouts the phrase "Oh Snap!" in every episode of her show.

Friends and Family

Josh Peck [Friend]

Drake Bell [Friend]

Lindsay Lohan [Friend]

Lydia Gaulden [Mother]

Christopher B. Pearman [Father]

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