Denise Richards
Denise Lee Richards (born February 17, 1971)[1] is an American actress and television personality.[2] Her most recognized roles are Carmen Ibanez in Starship Troopers (1997), Kelly Van Ryan in Wild Things (1998) and Bond girl Christmas Jones in The World Is Not Enough (1999). She has also appeared in films Drop Dead Gorgeous (1999), Valentine (2001), Undercover Brother (2002), Scary Movie 3 (2003), Love Actually (2003), and Madea's Witness Protection (2012).
Denise Richards
Actress, television personality, former model
1989–present
3
Her television roles include Paramount Network's sitcom Blue Mountain State (2010–2011), ABC Family's mystery-thriller series Twisted (2013–2014) and CBS' soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful (2019–present).[3] Richards starred on the E! reality show Denise Richards: It's Complicated (2008–2009) and Bravo's reality television series The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills (2019–2020, 2023–24).[4] In 2011, Richards published a memoir, The Real Girl Next Door, which became a New York Times Best Seller.[5][6]
Early life[edit]
Richards was born in Downers Grove, Illinois,[1] to Joni (née Braden), a coffee shop owner, and Irv Richards, a telephone engineer[7] whose father's surname was Reichert. Her mother died of cancer in November 2007.[8] She has said that her ancestry includes German and French heritage.[9] Richards has a younger sister, Michelle.[1] She grew up in both Downers Grove and Mokena, Illinois. As a child, she was the "only girl on the baseball team".[10]
When Richards was 15 years old, her family moved to Oceanside, California. In 1989, she graduated from El Camino High School.[1] She was voted best looking in her high school yearbook.[11] Richards was raised Catholic.[12] After her high school graduation, she began working as a model and traveled to cities such as Paris, New York, and Tokyo to do photo shoots and commercials.[1]
Career[edit]
1990–2008: Career beginnings and breakthrough[edit]
Richards began her career as a teenager in modeling and appeared in print ads for Bonne Bell cosmetics in 1991.[13][14] She also appeared on the cover of Teen magazine, instructional video "Modeling: What It Takes" and later went on to appear in Max Factor's Premiere 2K advertising campaign.[15][16]
In the 1990s, Richards appeared in several films and television shows such as Loaded Weapon 1 (1993), Tammy and the T-Rex (1994), Lookin' Italian (1994), 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 Collins, in the short-lived drama series Against the Grain. Richards made guest appearances in several television shows, including Beverly Hills, 90210 (1992), Seinfeld (1993), Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1994), and a guest-arc in Melrose Place (1996).
In 1995, Richards appeared in a made-for-TV movie In the Blink of an Eye, alongside Veronica Hamel and Mimi Rogers.
Public image[edit]
Richards'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-Time" by Men's Health.[112] In 2002, Richards 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."[113]
Personal life[edit]
Richards became engaged to actor Charlie Sheen on December 26, 2001, and married him on June 15, 2002, at the estate of Spin City creator Gary David Goldberg.[114] They have two children together.[115][116] In March 2005, while pregnant with their second child, Richards filed for divorce from Sheen.[117] She sought a restraining order against Sheen, alleging death threats against her.[118] On April 19, 2006, Richards filed formal legal papers seeking a divorce from Sheen under the laws of the state of California.[119] The divorce was finalized on November 30, 2006; Sheen was ordered to stay 300 feet away from his ex-wife and their daughters, except during supervised visits.[120] In May 2010, Sheen surrendered legal custody of Sam and Lola to Richards. They previously had joint legal custody of their daughters. According to a source, Richards wanted sole legal custody, given Sheen's "marital turmoil, sobriety issues, and criminal problems" and he did not put up a fight about it. Under their divorce agreement, she had primary physical custody and he had visitation rights.[121][122]
By mid 2012, Richards and Sheen were on good terms,[123] often spending time together with their children. In 2012, Sheen made a cameo appearance in her movie Madea's Witness Protection, while Richards appeared in Sheen's television series Anger Management.[124] In a move supported by Sheen, in May 2013, Richards was awarded temporary custody of the twin sons born in 2009 to Sheen and his wife Brooke Mueller, after the children were removed from Mueller's home by child protective services due to concerns over drug use.[125]
In June 2011, Richards adopted a third daughter, Eloise Joni Richards,[126] as a single parent.[127] Her middle name honors Richards’ deceased mother.[128] Richards adopted her at birth, following a two-year adoption process.[129][130] Eloise has a rare chromosomal disorder, Chromosome 8, Monosomy 8p, which affects her speech.[131] Richards has worked on learning sign language to communicate with her daughter.[132]
In December 2017, Richards began dating Aaron Phypers before his divorce with Nicolette Sheridan was finalized.[133] On September 8, 2018, Richards and Phypers were wed in Malibu, California.[134] In May 2019, Richards announced that Phypers was adopting her youngest daughter, Eloise.[135]