Raven Symone Biography American actress, singer, and television personality Raven Symone is best known for her work on the popular series The Cosby Show, Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper, and That’s So Raven. Her film career has also been successful, however, appearing in everything from Doctor Doolittle to her most recent work College Road Trip. Raven Symone Christina Pearman, known popularly as Raven Symone, was born December 10, 1985 in Atlanta, Georgia. Her parents are Lydia Gaulden and Christopher B Pearman. Beginning her entertainment career as early as possible, Symone’s modeling began when she was only a baby. Under Young Faces Inc. Modeling Agency, her likeness was featured on numerous ads. By the age of two, she had moved over to Ford Models, Inc. with whom she started earning higher profile ads. Just one year later, however, she and her family had already set their sights on film. She tried out for the movie Ghost Dad but was rejected because she was too young. Noticing raw talent, though, the producers directed her to the highly popular series The Cosby Show. In 1989, Symone tried out for and landed the role of Olivia Kendall. She shared the screen with Bill Cosby, Phylicia Rashad, Malcolm Jamal Warner, Lisa Bonet, and many others until the show’s conclusion in 1992.
With considerable exposure under her young acting belt, Symone lost no time finding another sitcom job. By 1993, she was cast in the new series Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper. Symone portrayed Nicole Lee opposite Mark Curry and Holly Robinson Peete. The show came to an end in 1997, and Symone once again set her sights on film. With no promising television engagements, her first major film role came in 1998’s comedy Doctor Doolittle. She appeared with Eddie Murphy, Ossie Davis, Oliver Platt, and Peter Boyle. The following year, she began ingratiating her way into the pre-teen demographic with Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century. The sci-fi comedy co-starred Kirsten Storms. 2001 brought the Doctor Doolittle sequel, and 2003 increased her visibility with a lead in The Cheetah Girls. But 2003 was a big year for another reason. It marked the beginning of her four year run with her own television show That’s So Raven. Her costars included Orlando Brown, Kyle Massey, and Anneliese van der Pol. From 2002 to 2007, Symone also lent her voice to the popular cartoon Kim Possible. Other voice stars include Christy Carlson Romano, Will Friedle, Nancy Cartwright, Jean Smart, and Nicole Sullivan. Others may recognize Symone for her work with The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement. She had a small role alongside leads Anne Hathaway, Julie Andrews, and Hector Elizondo.
Most recently, she landed a starring role in the tepidly received comedy College Road Trip with Martin Lawrence. In addition to acting, Symone has had a fruitful singing career. Her first album, Here’s to New Dreams, debuted in 1993. Since then, she has released Undeniable (1999), This is my Time (2004), and Raven-Symoné (2008). She has also taken her singing career on the road twice, touring once in 2006 and again in 2008. In her personal life, she has been romantically linked to Corbin Bleu and Lil Wayne. | 
