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 TV personality model
Years active	1989–present
Spouse(s)	Charlie Sheen ​ ​ (m. 2002; div. 2006)​ Aaron Phypers ​ ​ (m. 2018; sep 2025)​
Children	3

Denise Lee Richards (born February 17, 1971) is an American actress, TV personality, and former model. She became famous for her roles in movies like the science fiction film Starship Troopers (1997), the thriller Wild Things (1998), and the James Bond movie The World Is Not Enough (1999). Her role as the scientist Christmas Jones in the James Bond film made her a major star.

Richards has also appeared in many other films. These include the comedies Drop Dead Gorgeous (1999), Undercover Brother (2002), Scary Movie 3 (2003), and Madea's Witness Protection (2012). She also acted in the horror movie Valentine (2001).

Her television roles include the comedy series Blue Mountain State (2010–2011), the mystery series Twisted (2013–2014), and the soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful (2019–2022). Richards has also starred in reality shows like 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, which became a New York Times Best Seller.

Early life

Richards was born in Downers Grove, Illinois. Her mother, Joni, owned a coffee shop, and her father, Irv, was a telephone engineer. Her mother passed away from cancer in 2007. Richards has German and French ancestry and a younger sister named Michelle. She grew up in Downers Grove and Mokena, Illinois. As a child, she said she was the "only girl on the baseball team."

When Richards was 15, her family moved to Oceanside, California. She graduated from El Camino High School in 1989. After graduating, she started working as a model. This job took her to big cities like Paris, New York, and Tokyo for photo shoots and commercials.

Career

1990s: Rise to Fame

Richards started her career with small roles in TV shows like Saved by the Bell, Married... with Children, and Beverly Hills, 90210. She also appeared in a few movies.

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

Her first big role was in the 1997 science fiction movie Starship Troopers. The movie was a success and earned her a nomination for a Blockbuster Entertainment Award. In 1998, she starred in the thriller Wild Things with Kevin Bacon and Neve Campbell. Critics praised her for playing a complex and surprising character.

In 1999, Richards was cast as nuclear physicist Dr. Christmas Jones in the James Bond film The World Is Not Enough. While some people had mixed opinions about her character, the movie was a huge success and made her famous around the world. That same year, she also starred in the comedy Drop Dead Gorgeous, which has become a fan favorite over time.

2000s: Comedy and Television

In the 2000s, Richards continued to act in movies and on TV. In 2001, she had a memorable guest role on the show Friends as Ross and Monica's cousin. She also appeared on Spin City and later on Two and a Half Men with Charlie Sheen.

She starred in several movies, including the horror-comedy Scary Movie 3 (2003), which was a big box office hit. She also had a small part in the popular romantic comedy Love Actually (2003).

From 2008 to 2009, she had her own reality TV show on E! called Denise Richards: It's Complicated. The show followed her daily life with her daughters and family. In 2009, she competed on the popular TV show Dancing with the Stars.

2010s: Continued Acting and Reality TV

In 2010, Richards joined the cast of the comedy series Blue Mountain State. The show is about a fictional university's football team and the adventures of its players. In 2011, she published her book, The Real Girl Next Door, which became a bestseller.

She appeared in the successful comedy film Madea's Witness Protection in 2012. From 2013 to 2014, she starred in the mystery series Twisted.

Richards in 2019

In 2018, Richards joined the cast of the reality show The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. She quickly became a fan favorite for being down-to-earth and a loving parent. In 2019, she also began playing the role of Shauna Fulton on the long-running soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful.

2020s: Recent Work

Richards appeared on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills for two seasons, leaving in 2020. Since then, she has acted in several movies and TV shows, including the adventure series Glow & Darkness.

In 2024, she was a contestant on the reality competition series Special Forces: World's Toughest Test. In 2025, she starred in a new reality show called Denise Richards & Her Wild Things, which focused on her family life.

Other Activities

Business and Modeling

Richards has been on the cover of many magazines, such as Cosmopolitan, Shape, and Esquire. She has also appeared in commercials for brands like Pepsi and J.C. Penney.

In 2012, she launched her own perfume. In 2019, she also developed a skincare line with CBme Beauty.

Charity Work

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

Richards spends a lot of her time helping charities. She is a big animal lover and has worked with Best Friends Animal Society for many years. She helps with their "Pup My Ride" program, which saves small dogs from shelters and finds them new homes. She often appears on TV to help shelter dogs get adopted.

She has also supported many other causes, including the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, and Feeding America. After her mother passed away from kidney cancer, Richards has worked to raise awareness and money for the Kidney Cancer Association.

Personal life

Richards married actor Charlie Sheen on June 15, 2002. They have two daughters together. The couple divorced in 2006. Over the years, they became friends again and focused on raising their children together.

In June 2011, Richards adopted a third daughter, Eloise Joni Richards, as a single parent. She named her after her mother, Joni. Eloise has a rare genetic condition that affects her speech. Richards is learning sign language to communicate better with her daughter.

On September 8, 2018, Richards married Aaron Phypers. In 2019, Phypers began the process of adopting Eloise. The couple separated in July 2025.

Selected Filmography

Film

Television

Music videos

Awards and nominations

See also

In Spanish: Denise Richards para niños