Who are Raven Symone's parents? That's So Raven star mourns the death of her father

Raven Symone, a well-known actress and star of Disney Channel's That's So Raven, recently shared the heartbreaking news of her father's death, less than a year after losing her younger brother, Blaize Pearman.

The actress, who has spoken about her parents' significant role in shaping her career, posted a childhood photo to commemorate her late father, Christopher B. Pearman, expressing her gratitude for the path he helped her create.

Lydia Gaulden and Christopher Pearman welcomed their daughter, Raven Symone, on December 10, 1985, and supported her acting aspirations from an early age. Christopher Pearman mentioned in a June 2010 interview with NPR that Raven expressed interest in acting when she was just two years old.

He recalled, "I saw the seriousness in her eyes and then gave her the understanding [of] what it would take, and she agreed to what it would take."

Pearman took her to a talent agency in Atlanta, which signed her that same day.

Raven Symone gained fame as a child star on The Cosby Show and eventually, That's So Raven while avoiding much of the negative publicity often associated with young celebrities. During an interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2014, Symoné credited her parents for teaching her to keep her personal life private, which helped her stay out of the tabloids.

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Raven Symone's family background

Gaulden and Pearman were parents to two children: Raven Symone and her younger brother, Blaize Pearman, who was born six years after her. In a May 2023 interview on the Howie Mandel Does Stuff podcast, Raven shared that her brother was not involved in the entertainment industry like her but had worked behind the scenes as a production assistant.

Christopher Pearman had a long career in the media industry. After attending Georgia State University, he worked in public relations, advertising, and Atlanta's nightclub scene. Pearman transitioned into directing and producing, even directing a few episodes of That's So Raven.

He also authored the motivational book Dream So Big: A Parents Guide to Helping Your Child Believe and Achieve and worked as a motivational speaker.

Pearman was Raven Symone's manager in the early years of her career. He eventually stepped aside to allow her to take control of her career.

"She got to a point, you know, she said, 'Daddy, I can run my own company. I can run my own thing,'" Pearman shared during his NPR interview.

On October 1, 2024, Raven Symone shared the heartbreaking news of her father's passing through an Instagram post featuring a childhood photo of herself in her father's arms.

She wrote, "My life has been long and abundant. And the path I'm on started with a dream. Hope he is watching with a smile on his face… 🕊️#christopherbpearman."

The That's So Raven star did not provide details about her father's death but confirmed the news in response to a follower's comment.

The post received an outpouring of love and support from fans and celebrities alike. Actor Kenan Thompson offered his condolences, saying, "Condolences to you and your family!!! Sending love!!!!" Fellow Disney Channel alum Kimberly J. Brown, who also recently lost her father, shared,

"I'm so sorry I just lost my dad too. Sending you love and prayers."

Christopher Pearman's death comes almost a year after the passing of Raven Symone's brother, Blaize, who died in December 2023 after battling colon cancer for two years. Raven confirmed the news of Blaize's passing on Instagram shortly after her birthday. She shared her emotions, saying,

"It was a little bittersweet for me to be honest because last month I lost my brother, Blaize. He was battling colon cancer for about two years, and he is in a better place now."

On the Howie Mandel Does Stuff podcast when asked whether her parents were still together, Raven replied, "We don't talk about personal business." She acknowledged that her relationship with her parents has been complex but emphasized that they played a crucial role in her upbringing.

Raven Symone also shared how her parents taught her to manage her finances. Despite earning millions as a child star, Raven lived below her means, with her parents instilling the importance of saving for the future.

"My parents didn't really come from money," she noted, "so I learned how to save."

As of 2024, she remains actively involved in the entertainment industry, co-hosting The View and reprising her role in the That's So Raven spinoff, Raven Symone's Home.