Suffered from Parkinsons Disease for more than 20 years.
He began his show-business career in 1963 as a writer, producer and
performer at the Philadelphia television station WCAU.
Grandfather of daughter Holly and Rodney's 4 children: fraternal twins (boy and girl) Rodney James "R.J." Peete and Ryan Elizabeth Peete (b. October 19, 1997), son Robinson James Peete (b. August 11, 2002) and son Roman Peete (b. February 25, 2005).