Eileen Davidson

**Eileen Marie Davidson** (born June 15, 1959) is an American television personality, actress and author. She is best known for starring in the Bravo reality series The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.

## Early Life

Davidson was born in Artesia, California to parents Richard and Charlotte Davidson. She is the youngest of seven children.

She attended St. Paul High School in Santa Fe Springs, California. She was raised Roman Catholic.

## Career

Davidson originated the role of Ashley Abbott on The Young and the Restless in March 1982, beating out more than 100 candidates. The character of Ashley became a front-burner character, and Davidson became an integral part of the show. She quit the show in December 1988 and the producers took her recommendation of hiring a look-alike actress named Brenda Epperson Doumani, whom she had discovered waiting tabels at a charity function. Davidson also appeared in several films during the 1980s, including a main role in the slasher film The House on Sorority Row and Easy Wheels opposite Ted Raimi.

She then appeared in primetime television, but her show, Broken Badges was cancelled. She returned to daytime when she assumed her role of Kelly Capwell on Santa Barbara from November 1991 until the soap's cancellation in January 1993. She next appeared as Kristen Blake on Days of Our Lives beginning in May 1993. As originally conceived, Kristen was a heroine, who had an Achilles' heel in that the show's supervillain, Stefano, had raised her after the death of her parents. James E. Reilly, who assumed head writing reins in 1993, began to make Kristen more of a villainess. Reilly eventually developed an outrageous second role for Davidson, having her play Susan Banks, a Kristen look-alike. Reilly eventually penned three more roles for Davidson. Her character, Kristen, intended to keep her other character, Susan, prisoner on an island, but Susan ultimate prevailed and Kristen remained on the island until she returned to Salem in 2012. All other related characters were last seen in May 1998. Davidson's five roles earned her a Daytime Emmy nomination in Outstanding Lead Actress in 1998.

After a year-long vacation from acting, she returned to her role on The Young and the Restless in March 1999. After a successful return as Ashley Abbott, which included her second Daytime Emmy nomation, she was fired from the show. In December 2006, Davidson told TV Guide that she was fired from the show due to lack of storyline. Her last airdate as Ashley was January 2007. According to co-star Melody Thomas Scott, the firing was protested behind the scenes and was seen as unfair. Scott said: "That was so heartbreaking. We're still upset about that. That was a blow. Terrible. Eileen Davidson was such a part of the core of the show and such a brilliant actress; beautiful and always prepared. It was crazy. I'm not the only one who feels that way." In a surprise move a few months later, Davidson signed a three-year contact with The Young and the Restless' sister soap The Bold and the Beautiful to once again play her character Ashley Abbott at the request of The Bold and the Beautiful executive producer Bradley Ball. She first aired on March 9, 2007. Ken Corday called Davidson about a week before she was fired from The Young and the Restless to get permission to use a picture of her on Days of Our Lives. The picture, was featured Davidson as Susan, was shown in December 2006. After she was fired from The Young and the Restless but before being cast in The Bold and the Beautiful, her niece Devon Martt, a fasion designer, approached her about designing clothes together.

### Writing and Acting

Davidson co-wrote her first novel with author Robert J. Randisi, a mystery set in the soap opera world titled Death in Daytime, released in October 2008. She followed it up with three sequels: Dial Emmy for Murder, Diva Las Vegas and Swinging in the Rain.

In July 2008, she was downgraded to recurring status at The Bold and the Beautiful. She returned to The Young and the Restless full-time as Ashley on September 26, 2008. In 2012, Nelson Branco announced that Sony Pictures Entertainment wanted Davidson on both The Young and the Restless and Days of Our Lives, but that Y&R would not share the actress, leading Sony to terminate her contract with them. Thus, it was announced that she would reprise her role as Kristen Blake DiMera on Days of Our Lives.

Davidson made a brief appearance on The Young and the Restless in February 2013 for the soap's 40th anniversary. In July 2013, it was announced that Davidson made the decision to leave Days of Our Lives after a year as Kristen. She exited the role on-screen on November 13, 2013. In late November, it was confirmed that she would return for an episode scheduled to air on December 3, 2013.

On January 28, 2014, it was announced that Davidson would return to the role of Kristen DiMera in the summer of 2014. On May 1, 2014, it was formaly announced that Davidson was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award in the category of Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for Days of Our Lives. It was her third nomination and her second for Days.

On June 17, 2014, it was announced that Davidson had signed a contract to return to The Young and the Restless. Subsequently, she revealed that her Y&R contract was for two years and that it included a stipulation that she could continue doing Days of Our Lives in the future, as well as having the option of taking a break if work became too hectic. On November 17, 2014, it was announced that she was back on-set of Days of Our Lives, with a stint set to air in spring 2015. On June 12, 2017, it was announced that Davidson would return to Days of Our Lives. She was cast in the Christmas film Middleton Christmas as Alana D'Angelo, the dean of a prestigious high school.

### The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

In 2014, Eileen joined the cast of the Bravo reality television series for the fifth season. She then appeared in Season 6 and 7 before returning as a 'guest' in Season 8 and 10.

#### **RHOBH Taglines**

* Season 5 - "I'm not a bitch but I've played one on TV."
* Season 6 - "I may be an actress but that doesn't mean that I'll stick to your script."
* Season 7 - "I speak no evil but I see and hear everything."

## Personal Life

### Marriages and Children

Davidson has been married three times. She married her first husband, actor Christopher Mayer in 1985 but the couple divorced in 1986.

She married her second husband, actor Jon Lindstrom in 1997 but they too divorced in 2000.

She married her third husband, tennis professional Vince Van Patten in 2003 and together they have one son, Jesse Thomas (born May 20, 2003). She is also the stepmother to his two older sons, Richard and Vince Jr (born September 3, 1995).

## Family

**Husbands and Partners**

* Christopher Mayer (Ex-husband; 1985-1986)
* Jon Lindstrom (Ex-husband; 1997-2000)
* Vince Van Patten (Husband; 2003-present)

**Children**

* Jesse Van Patten
* Richard Van Patten (Stepson)
* Vince Van Patten Jr. (Stepson)

**Parents**

* Richard Davidson
* Charlotte Davidson

**Siblings**

* 6 Unknown Siblings

## Bibliography

* Death In Daytime - (October 7, 2008)
* Dial Emmy For Murder - (June 2, 2009)
* Diva Las Vegas - (July 6, 2010)
* Swinging In The Rain - (June 13, 2011)