Denise Richards facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Denise Richards
Richards in 2009
Born	Denise Lee Richards (1971-02-17) February 17, 1971 (age 54) Downers Grove, Illinois, U.S.
Occupation	Actress television personality model
Years active	1989–present
Spouse(s)	Charlie Sheen ​ ​ (m. 2002; div. 2006)​ Aaron Phypers ​ ​ (m. 2018)​
Children	3

Denise Lee Richards (born February 17, 1971) is an American actress, TV star, and model. She became famous for her roles in movies like the science fiction film Starship Troopers (1997) and the thriller Wild Things (1998). She also played a Bond girl named Christmas Jones in the James Bond film The World Is Not Enough (1999). This role helped her become widely known.

Richards has appeared in many other films. These include comedies like Drop Dead Gorgeous (1999), Scary Movie 3 (2003), and Love Actually (2003). She has also been in TV shows such as the sitcom Blue Mountain State (2010–2011) and the mystery series Twisted (2013–2014). From 2019 to 2022, she starred in the soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful.

Denise Richards has also been on reality TV shows. These include Denise Richards: It's Complicated (2008–2009) and The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills (2019–2020, 2023–2024). In 2011, she wrote a book about her life called The Real Girl Next Door. It became a New York Times Best Seller.

Early Life and Start in Modeling

Denise Richards was born in Downers Grove, Illinois. Her mom, Joni, owned a coffee shop, and her dad, Irv, was a telephone engineer. Denise has a younger sister named Michelle. She grew up in Downers Grove and Mokena, Illinois. When she was a kid, she was the only girl on her baseball team!

When Denise was 15, her family moved to Oceanside, California. She finished high school at El Camino High School in 1989. Her classmates even voted her "best looking" in their yearbook. After high school, she started working as a model. She traveled to big cities like Paris, New York, and Tokyo for photo shoots and commercials.

Career Highlights

Early Roles in the 1990s

Denise Richards started her career as a model when she was a teenager. She appeared in ads for Bonne Bell makeup in 1991. She was also on the cover of Teen magazine.

In the 1990s, Richards appeared in several movies and TV shows. She had guest roles in popular shows like Saved by the Bell, Married... with Children, and Doogie Howser, M.D.. In 1993, she played Jodi Collins, the girlfriend of Ben Affleck's character, in the TV show Against the Grain. She also appeared in Beverly Hills, 90210 (1992), Seinfeld (1993), and Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1994).

Richards at the premiere of The World Is Not Enough in 1999

Her first main role in a big movie was Starship Troopers in 1997. For this role, she was nominated for an award. The movie earned over $121 million around the world. After that, she starred in the thriller Wild Things (1998) with actors like Kevin Bacon and Neve Campbell.

In 1999, Richards played a nuclear physicist named Christmas Jones in the James Bond film The World Is Not Enough. She thought her character was smart and athletic. Even though some people criticized her role, she was nominated for an award for her performance. Later that year, Richards starred with Kirsten Dunst in the comedy Drop Dead Gorgeous. She played a spoiled character, and critics praised her acting. This movie later became a cult film, meaning it gained many fans over time.

From 2000s to Today

In 2001, Denise Richards made a guest appearance on the TV show Friends. She played Ross and Monica Geller's cousin, Cassie Geller. She also appeared in Spin City and Two and a Half Men with Charlie Sheen. Richards was in many films, including the horror comedy Scary Movie 3 (2003), which made $220 million worldwide. She also had a small role in the British romantic comedy Love Actually (2003).

In 2008, her reality show Denise Richards: It's Complicated started on E! The show followed Denise, her daughters, her sister, and her dad. It ran for two seasons. In 2009, she competed on Dancing with the Stars.

In 2010, she joined the TV show Blue Mountain State, a sitcom about a college football team. The show became very popular later on, especially after being available on Netflix. In 2011, Richards published her book, The Real Girl Next Door, which became a best-seller. She wrote it to inspire others going through tough times.

Richards played Kate Needleman in the comedy film Madea's Witness Protection (2012), which earned $67 million. In 2012, she also joined the cast of the mystery-thriller TV series Twisted. In 2016, she appeared as herself in an episode of Jane the Virgin. She also starred in the musical thriller American Satan (2017).

Richards in 2019

In 2018, Richards joined the reality series The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Many people were excited about her joining the show because she was already a well-known celebrity. Critics said she brought a "refreshing" and "real" feeling to the series. In 2019, she also joined the cast of the soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful as Shauna Fulton. She played an ambitious mom in the TV movie The Secret Lives of Cheerleaders (2019).

In 2020, Richards left The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills after two seasons. She continued to appear in films like Money Plane (2020) and Killer Cheer Mom (2021). In 2024, it was announced that she would be a contestant on the reality show Special Forces: World's Toughest Test. She is also set to star in a new reality show about her family life called Denise Richards and the Wild Things, which will premiere in 2025.

Other Activities

Business Ventures

In 2012, Denise Richards launched her own perfume. In 2019, she also announced that she created a skincare line called CBme Beauty.

Modeling and Commercials

Throughout her career, Richards has been on the cover of many magazines, including Cosmopolitan, Redbook, and GQ. She has also appeared in TV commercials for brands like Pepsi, Head & Shoulders, and J.C. Penney. She has walked the runway in fashion shows for designers and charities. In 2013, she became a brand ambassador for Oro Gold Cosmetics. She has also appeared in music videos for Blues Traveler and Snoop Dogg.

Helping Others

Richards (left) and Kellie Martin (right) at the American Humane Association 2012 Hero Dog Awards

Denise Richards spends a lot of her time helping charities. She has supported many organizations, including the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation and Feeding America. She is also a big supporter of animal rescue groups like Best Friends Animal Society. She has worked with them to help transport dogs from crowded shelters to places where they can find homes. She even adopted a puppy herself after helping with relief efforts for Hurricane Sandy.

Richards has also walked in charity fashion shows to raise money for causes like Susan G. Komen for the Cure (for breast cancer awareness). In 2012, she designed shoes for ShoeDazzle, and the money raised went to the Kidney Cancer Association. She dedicates her time to this cause because her mother passed away from kidney cancer. In 2015, Richards and her daughters volunteered to serve food to homeless families on Thanksgiving.

Personal Life

Denise Richards married actor Charlie Sheen on June 15, 2002. They have two daughters together. In 2005, Richards filed for divorce, and their divorce was finalized in 2006.

In June 2011, Richards adopted a third daughter, Eloise Joni Richards, as a single parent. Eloise's middle name honors Denise's mother. Eloise has a rare condition that affects her speech. Denise has been learning sign language to help communicate with her daughter.

In December 2017, Richards started dating Aaron Phypers. They got married on September 8, 2018, in Malibu, California. In 2019, Richards announced that Aaron Phypers was adopting her youngest daughter, Eloise.

Filmography

Film

Television

Music videos

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Denise Richards para niños