Love for 'The Jacksons' has contined to be shared over three decades after the miniseries's release
Credit: Walt Disney Television Photo Archives/Walt Disney Television via Getty
NEED TO KNOW
- Holly Robinson Peete was one of countless stars to portray the Jackson family and those in their orbit in 1992’s The Jacksons: An American Dream
- Peete opened up about playing Diana Ross in the beloved miniseries, as people shared their thoughts on the new Michael Jackson biopic, Michael
- The role of Diana Ross in Michael was notably cut out of the film’s final edit, Kat Graham revealed
Holly Robinson Peete has fond memories of her time filming The Jacksons: An American Dream.
The actress, 61, reminisced about her time playing Diana Ross in the five-hour miniseries, which first aired in November 1992.
"I really love how folks still appreciate and remember The Jacksons: An American Dream 34 years later! It was an excellent miniseries that allowed the story to breathe," she began her tweet.
"Michael was still here then and had final say about casting/ Portraying Diana Ross and doing my own singing was a gift back in 1992 that I will never not cherish. Jason Weaver was 🔥. The entire cast was iconic #michaeljackson."
I really love how folks still appreciate and remember The Jacksons: An American Dream 34 years later! It was an excellent miniseries that allowed the story to breathe.
Michael was still here then and had final say about casting
Portraying Diana Ross and doing my own singing was… pic.twitter.com/3FO6HkIbwJ
— Holly Robinson Peete 💃🏾♍️ (@hollyrpeete) April 25, 2026
The miniseries featured a star-studded lineup portraying the Jackson family. Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs and Angela Bassett helmed the family as Joe and Katherine Jackson. Abolade David Olatunde, Alex Burrall, Jason Weaver, and Wylie Draper, who died just a year after the film, played Michael Jackson at different times in his life.
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Bumper Robinson and Terrence Howard portrayed Jackie Jackson at different ages. Shakiem Jamar Evans and Angel Vargas did the same as Tito Jackson. Billy Dee Williams played Berry Gordy, and Vanessa Williams played Suzanne De Passe.
The miniseries went on to be one of the most successful and memorable biopics of the 1990s. Over 38 million viewers tuned in throughout the airing to follow the story of the Jackson family.
Credit: Walt Disney Television Photo Archives/Walt Disney Television via Getty
Last week, Kat Graham, who was cast as Diana Ross in Michael, addressed why she does not appear in the new biopic, more than two years after reports surfaced that she would portray the "I'm Coming Out" singer in the movie.
"Ahead of the April 24 release of the Michael Jackson film, I want to share that certain legal considerations affected a few scenes, including the ones I filmed with an incredible cast," Graham shared in a statement posted to X and her Instagram Stories.
"Unfortunately, those moments are no longer part of the Final Cut," she continued, "though the team worked hard to preserve as much of the story as possible."
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