Denise Richards

**Denise Richards** (born February 17, 1971) is an American actress, television personality and model. She is well known for starring in the Bravo reality series The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.

## Early Life

Richards was born in Downers Grove, Illinois to parents Irv and Joni Reichert. She has one younger sister, Michelle Reichert. Her family moved to California when she was aged fifteen. Her mother died of cancer in November 2007.

She attended El Camino High School and was raised Roman Catholic.

## Career

### 1990-2008: Career Beginnings

Richards appeared in several films and television shows in the 1990s, such as Loaded Weapon 1, Tammy and the T-Rex, Lookin' Italian and guest starring in episodes of Saved by the Bell, Married... with Children and Doogie Howser, M.D. In 1993, she portrayed Ben Affleck's character's girlfriend named Jodi Collis, in the short-lived drama series Against the Grain. Richards made guest appearances in several television shows, including Beverly Hills, 90210, Seinfeld, Lois and Clark and a guest-arc in Melrose Place.

Her first starring role in a wide theatrical release was Starship Troopers in 1997 for which she was nominated for the Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Female Newcomer. The film grossed a total of $121.2 million worldwide. In 2012, Slant Magazine ranked the film at number 20 on its list of the 100 Best Films of the 1990s. She followed this with a role in the erotic thriller film Wild Things alongside Kevin Bacon, Matt Dillon and Neve Campbell. Variety praised Richards' transition from good-girl-type to manipulative villainess and the review continued to include her as part of "an ensemble that appears to be enjoying the challenge of offbeat roles and unusual material. There's not a wrong note struck by the name group of players." In 2016, Glamour praised the film's female characters by describing Richards and Neve Campbell as "two of the most well-rounded, fascinating, and exciting characters to ever grace the screen."

Richards was cast as the nuclear physicist Christmas Jones in the James Bond film The World Is Not Enough. Though she considered her role "brainy", "athletic", and having depth of character, she was criticised as not credible in the role. Her outfit, which often comprised a low-cut tank top and tight shorts, elicited unfavorable comments. Richards stated that a lot of viewers "made fun of" the character's attire but that "These Bond girls are so outrageous and if I did really look like a scientist, the Bond fans would have been disappointed." Richards was nominated for the Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favourite Actress - Action, for the film. Later that year, Richards starred alongside Kirsten Dunst in the beauty pageant satire, Drop Dead Gorgeous. The film has gained new fans with time and is regarded as a cult film. Richards, playing a spoiled princess, was praised for her performance by Los Angeles Times for being "as rightly nasty as she is pretty".

In 2001, she guest-starred in Friends as Ross and Monica Geller's cousin, Cassie Geller in the episode "The One with Ross and Monica's Cousin". Later that year she appeared in four episodes of Spin City as Jennifer Duncan, a love interest of Charlie Sheen's character. She starred as Sheen's character's ex-girlfriend two years later in two episodes of Two and a Half Men. Richards appeared in numerous films such as Valentine, Good Advice, Undercover Brother, The Third Wheel and You Stupid Man. She played Annie Logan in the horror comedy film Scary Movie 3, which was a commercial success and grossed $220 million worldwide. The film's plot significantly parodies the films The Ring, Signs, The Matrix Reloaded and 8 Mile. Richards made a brief appearance in the British romantic comedy Love Actually. In 2004, she appeared in two films, Whore and Elvis Has Left the Building.

In 2005, Richards had a lead role as publicist Jolene in the short-lived UPN soap opera Sex, Love & Secrets. The series focused on rich young adults living in Silver Lake, Los Angeles and their secrets involving sex and love.

She starred in the ensemble drama film Edmond alongside William H. Macy and Mena Suvari. In 2008, she reunited with her Wild Things on-screen mother Theresa Russell in the drama film Jolene. Her reality show Denise Richards: It's Complicated debuted on E! on May 26, 2008. The series followed the daily lives of Richards, her daughters Sam and Lola, and her married younger sister Michelle and father Irv. Entertainment Weekly published a review and wrote that "It's Complicated is one of those "celebs, they're just like us!" shows in which we're expected to enjoy watching a famous pampered person doing things we don't want to do either." The series concluded after two seasons on July 26, 2009.

### 2009-2019: Memoir and Television Roles

Richards appeared on the 8th season of dance competition television series Dancing with the Stars, paired with Maksim Chmerkovskiy. She was the second contestant eliminated on March 24, 2009. She landed the role of Autumn Bliss in the romantic comedy film Deep in the Valley alongside Kim Kardashian and Chris Pratt. In 2010, she joined Paramount Network's sitcom Blue Mountain State as Debra Simon. The series is about a fictional university, Blue Mountain State, and its football team, the "Mountain Goats". It portrays certain aspects of American university life, including American football, sex, drinking, and partying. In February 2012, it was reported that Blue Mountain State would not be renewed for a fourth season. Over the years, due in large part to being streamable on Netflix, the series has developed a cult following. In July 2011, Richards published a memoir The Real Girl Next Door, a New York Times Best Seller. Richards decided to write a book because she "wanted to do something inspirational for other people going through challenging times," she told HuffPost in 2011. In September 2011, Richards reportedly turned down $100,000 to appear as an ex-girlfriend at Charlie Sheen's funeral in Two and a Half Men. A month later, she began filming a guest spot for an episode for the sixth season of NBC comedy series 30 Rock. Richards was part of TV Guide Network's show, Hollywood Moms' Club, which aired in November 2011.

Richards played Kate Needleman in the comedy film Madea's Witness Protection, which grossed $67 million at the box office. Madea's Witness Protection was filmed in Atlanta in early 2012 and was released through 34th Street Films and Lionsgate. In 2012, Richards joined the cast of ABC Family's mystery-thriller television series Twisted. In 2015, she appeared in two films, Operation: Neighborhood Watch! and Christmas Trade. In 2016, she made a guest appearance as herself in The CW's Jane the Virgin, in the episode "Chapter Fifty-One." She portrayed Kat Faust in the musical thriller film American Satan, for which Richards was nominated for the Festival Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Feature Film at the Northeast Film Festival. Later that year, Richards portrayed Temple Hampton in an episode of Bravo's comedy-drama series Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce. She starred in the supernatural horror film The Toybox opposite Mischa Barton. The film is about a family who go on a summer road trip in a used RV and get stranded in the desert by a supernatural force that is slowly killing them off. She portrayed Karen in the faith-based film The Prayer Box, released on October 20, 2018.

In 2019, she joined the cast of CBS' soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful as Shauna Fulton. "Shauna is a fun-loving, hard-working single mother from Las Vegas who aspires to live life to its absolute fullest," executive producer and headwriter Bradley Bell told People magazine. In July 2019, it was announced that Richards had joined the cast of Fox Broadcasting's comedy-drama television series BH90210 in a guest role, playing a fictionalized version of herself. She portrayed overly-ambitious mother Candice in Lifetime television film The Secret Lives of Cheerleaders, released on September 2, 2019. "I think the story's about this girl that's trying to fit in and makes some bad choices and then, knowing right from wrong, decided to make a better choice," Richards told Parade. On November 4, 2019, Richards appeared as a guest model on the game show The Price Is Right. Richards played Valerie in the Christmas film My Adventures with Santa opposite Patrick Muldoon. The film was released in limited theaters on November 15, 2019.

### Modelling and Other Ventures

Richards has graced the covers of numerous magazines, including Cosmopolitan (Poland, Greece, U.S. and Germany), Redbook, Details, Esquire, Self, Shape, GQ, Bella and Empire. In December 2004, she posed for a nude pictorial in Playboy magazine, five months after giving birth. Richards posed semi-nude for the July 2006 issue of Jane magazine to raise money for the Clothes Off Our Back Foundation. She has appeared in television commercials for Pepsi, Head & Shoulders, Secret, J.C. Penney and Librero. Richards walked the runway at the "Max Factor Salutes Hollywood" fashion show on March 14, 2007 in Hollywood. She has previously appeared in Max Factor's Premiere 2K advertising campaign. In 2010, Richards walked the runway for Ali Landry and Annie Kate Pons' fashion line, Belle Parish's fashion show. In September 2019, she walked the runway for Kyle Richards' and Shahida Clayton's new clothing brand at New York Fashion Week.

Richards launched her self-titled fragrance in spring 2012. In 2012, Richards appeared in an infomercial for abdominal muscle toner "The Flex Belt" alongside Adrianne Curry, Lisa Rinna and Janet Evans. In 2013, she became the brand ambassador for Oro Gold Cosmetics. She has appeared in print ads for Bonne Bell cosmetics. In 2017, she appeared in furniture brand Urban Home's commercials and advertising campaigns. She has appeared in rock band Blues Traveler's music video for the song "Canadian Rose" and rapper Snoop Dogg's music video for "Undercova Funk".

In November 2019, Richards announced that she has developed a skincare line with CBme Beauty.

### The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

In 2019, Denise joined the cast of the Bravo reality television series for the ninth season. She then appeared in Season 10 before announcing her departure from the show.

#### **RHOBH Taglines**

* Season 9 - "My problem with the tabloids? My real like is so much juicier."
* Season 10 - "My life may not be a fairytale but I'll always get a happy ending."

## Personal Life

### Marriages and Children

Richards has been married twice. She married her first husband, actor Charlie Sheen on December 26, 2001 and together they have two daughters: Sam (born March 9, 2004) and Lola Rose (born June 1, 2005). The couple divorced in 2006 after she sought a restraining order against him, alleging death threats againt her. Sheen was ordered to stay 300 feet away from his ex-wife and their daughters, except during supervised visits. By mid-2012, they were on good terms, often spending time together with their children. In a move supported by Sheen, in May 2013, she was awarded temporary custody of his twin sons born in 2009 to his wife Brooke Mueller after they were removed from Mueller's home by child protective services due to concerns over drug use.

In June 2011, she adopted a third daughter, Eloise Joni Richards. Eloise has a rare chromosomal disorder, Chromosome 8, Monosomy 8p, which affects her speech.

She married her second husband, Aaron Phypers on September 8, 2018. Their wedding was shown on The Real Housewives.

### Public Image

Richard's appearance has often been the subject of media attention. In 1999, she was ranked #9 in Maxim's 50 Sexiest Women. In 2001, she was voted #2 in FHM's 100 Sexiest Women, #5 in FHM's 100 Sexiest Women and #19 in AskMen.com's 50 Most Beautiful Women. She was named one of the "100 Hottest Women of All-Tme" by Men's Health. In 2002, she was ranked at number 21 in Stuff magazine's "102 Sexiest Women in the World." In 2011, Men's Health ranked her at number 61 on their list of "100 Hottest Women of All Time". Shape magazine ranked her at number 7 on their list of "10 of Our Fave Bond Girls: Then and Now."

### Philanthropy

Outside of work, she dedicates much of her time to philanthropy. She has supported numerous charities, including Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Feeding America, Much Love Animal Rescue, Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes, Best Friends Animal Society and Children's Hospital Los Angeles. She has also appeared in the NOH8 Campaign and has spoken in support of gay marriage.

Richards has worked with Best Friends Animal Society on several projects, including its Pup My Ride program, which transports small dogs from high-kill animal shelters to other parts of the U.S. where there is a greater demand for small dogs. She promoted Best Friends Animal Society's Save Them All campaign in 2014. "I've been involved with Best Friends Animal Society since 2009 and I've seen firsthand the differences they've made and the countless lives they've saved," Richards said. She has regularly appeared on Access Hollywood's monthly pet segment showcasing shelter dogs rescued by Best Friends and available for adoption. While assisting with relief efforts in New York following Hurricane Sandy, she worked together with North Shore Animal League, and adopted a puppy from a Long Island shelter.

She has walked the runway for charity fashion shows, such as Susan G. Komen's 8th Annual Fashion For The Cure, Clothes Off Your Back Benefit and The Heart Truth's Red Dress Fall 2011 Collections. In January 2012, she launched her first collaboration with fashion subscription service ShoeDazzle to design the "Eloise" heel and raised over $15,000 for the Kidney Cancer Association. In December 2012, she designed two shoes for ShoeDazzle as part of their Celebrity Show Design Program for Charity. Profits from the shoe sales went to the Kidney Cancer Association. After Richards lost her mother to kidney cancer, she dedicated her time to raising awareness and helping the Kidney Cancer Association. In November 2015, Richards and her daughters spend Thanksgiving volunteering and serving food for homeless families.

In June 2018, she joined The Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation's summer theatrical PSA campaign to benefit Brave Beginnings, which funds vital neonatal equipment to U.S. hospitals. Richards filmed a public service announcement that was played at movie theaters nationwide.

## Family

**Husbands and Partners**

* Charlie Sheen (Ex-husband; 2001-2006)
* Aaron Phypers (Husband; 2018-present)

**Children**

* Sam Sheen
* Lola Sheen
* Eloise Richards

**Parents**

* Irv Reichert
* Joni Reichert

**Siblings**

* Michelle Reichert