Kyle Richards
Kyle Egan Richards Umansky is an American actress, socialite, and television personality. Since 2010, she has appeared as a main cast member on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, and since 2020, she has been the last remaining original full time cast member on the show. She is also the longest-running consecutive housewife in franchise history.
She began her career as a child actress, appearing in a recurring role on Little House on the Prairie, and in several adventure and horror films, including Tobe Hooper's Eaten Alive, The Car, and Walt Disney’s The Watcher in the Woods, as well as portraying Lindsey Wallace in John Carpenter's Halloween and later Halloween Kills and its sequel, Halloween Ends. In 2017, she was a contestant on The New Celebrity Apprentice, playing for the charity Children's Hospital Los Angeles.
Early life
Richards was born on January 11, 1969, in the Hollywood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. She is the daughter of Kathleen Mary Richards and retired lieutenant colonel Kenneth Edwin Richards. She was named after Kyle Rote, a football player who played for the New York Giants.Richards is the youngest of three sisters, including Kathy Hilton, her older half-sister from her mother's first marriage to Lawrence Avanzino, and Kim Richards. Richards also has three paternal half-siblings from her father's first marriage, all of whom were adults by the time Richards was born. Through Kathy, Richards is the aunt of socialites Paris Hilton and Nicky Hilton Rothschild.
Richards's parents divorced in 1972 after Kathleen discovered that Kenneth had been having an affair. Kathleen became the primary guardian of Richards and her sisters and kept the family estate in Bel Air. Despite not living with him, Richards maintained a close relationship with her father. Her mother remarried twice: to Jack Catain in 1980 and to Richard Fenton in 1999.
Richards described her childhood as "unconventional" due to her status as a child actor. Kathleen worked as her daughters' acting agent and was described as very strict. When Richards was born, her sister Kim was already working on Nanny and the Professor, and her sister Kathy was modeling and acting in commercials. Although Richards was shy as a child, Kathleen pushed her to become an actress like her sisters so that she could get over her shy nature and in the hopes that she wouldn't feel excluded. Even though she had positive relationships with both of her parents, Richards described feeling jealous while going to friends' houses as a child because they had "normal" families where the dad comes home from work and the mom cooks dinner.
Richards's upbringing was shaped by growing up in a household largely consisting of women. Richards described her childhood home as resembling a "big sorority house," stating that it was "filled with women." She was strongly influenced by her mother's assertive outlook, noting that her mother was "opinionated" and "strong" during a period when those traits were often viewed negatively in women.
Richards's mother emphasized the importance of financial independence early in Richards's life. Following her divorce from Kenneth, Kathleen did not have a checkbook and did not know how to manage her finances. To save her children from experiencing the same hardship, Kathleen opened a checking account for Richards at age 10 and allowed her to have her checks from television shows to teach her financial responsibility. Richards also prohibited her children from spending money on certain luxuries like nail appointments, insisting on keeping her daughters "down to earth."
In 1987, Richards graduated from Central Union High School in El Centro, California. She did not go to college.
Career
1974–2009: Career beginnings and success with horror films
Richards began her acting career at age five in 1974, portraying Julia Faulker in a single-episode appearance in the television series Police Woman. She later appeared in 18 episodes of NBC's Western historical drama television series Little House on the Prairie as Alicia Sanderson Edwards. Her sister Kim Richards, also an actress, appeared in one episode of Little House on the Prairie the season before Kyle joined the cast. The sisters later played on-screen sisters in the 1977 thriller film The Car. Throughout the 1970s, Richards continued to appear on several television series, such as Flying High, Vega$, Fantasy Island, Time Express and Carter Country.Richards portrayed Lindsey Wallace in the slasher film Halloween alongside Jamie Lee Curtis. Halloween became a widely influential film within the horror genre; it was largely responsible for the popularization of slasher films in the 1980s and helped develop the slasher genre. The film grossed $70 million at the worldwide box office and subsequently expanded into a Halloween franchise with thirteen sequel films. Following the success of Halloween, Richards portrayed Ellie Curtis in the Disney supernatural horror film The Watcher in the Woods alongside Bette Davis. She also had a main role as teenager Lissy Preston in the fantasy sitcom Down to Earth, which ran for seven seasons.
Subsequent roles included nurse Dori Kerns in 21 episodes of NBC's medical drama series ER and Lisa, a supporting character in the comedy film National Lampoon's Pledge This! starring her niece Paris Hilton. She also had guest roles in several television shows, including C.S.I., 7th Heaven, City Guys, Beverly Hills, 90210, Love Boat: The Next Wave, and CHiPs.
2010–2021: ''Real Housewives'' and ''Halloween'' films
Since 2010, she has appeared as a main cast member on Bravo's reality television show The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, making her the longest-serving cast member in franchise history. Richards joined the series with her sister, Kim Richards. Richards's other sister, Kathy Hilton, made recurring cameo appearances before joining in an official capacity as a friend of Richards in season 11. Richards's personal life and relationships with her sisters are a focal point for the series. In 2012, she was featured on the cover of The Hollywood Reporter along with other cast members from The Real Housewives franchise, including Vicki Gunvalson, Ramona Singer, Caroline Manzo and NeNe Leakes. Richards was nominated for "Reality Star of 2019" award at the 2019 People's Choice Awards.While starring on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Richards continued acting. She played Tricia in Lifetime's television film Deadly Sibling Rivalry and Housewife Heather in the comedy film The Hungover Games. In 2013, she portrayed modeling agent Casey McGraw in three episodes of NBC's soap opera Days of Our Lives. In 2017, Richards appeared as a contestant on The New Celebrity Apprentice and earned $25,000 for her charity of choice, Children's Hospital Los Angeles. She was the 5th contestant fired, finishing in 12th place.
Richards co-executive produced Paramount Network's comedy television series American Woman, which was inspired by her childhood in the 1970s. The series was cancelled after one season due to declining ratings.
On August 30, 2019, it was confirmed that Richards would reprise the role of Lindsey Wallace, the role she originated in the original 1978 film, in Halloween Kills. Following a year delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Halloween Kills had its world premiere at the 78th Venice International Film Festival on September 8, 2021 and was theatrically released in the United States on October 15, 2021 by Universal Pictures. The film made $4.85 million from Thursday night previews, the highest for both an R-rated title and a horror film amid the pandemic. The film has grossed a total of $131 million at the worldwide box office and stands as one of the year's highest grossing horror movies behind A Quiet Place Part II. Richards was confirmed to return for the 2021 sequel, Halloween Ends, after her performance in Halloween Kills attracted positive reactions from fans.
In August 2021, Richards started filming the Christmas movie The Real Housewives of the North Pole alongside actress Betsy Brandt. The film, which aired on Peacock on December 9, 2021 features a variety of cameos from fellow cast members of The Real Housewives franchise, including Sonja Morgan, Karen Huger, Cynthia Bailey, and Lisa Barlow. Richards, a Christmas enthusiast, called filming for the movie a "dream come true."
Richards starred in The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip, a spin-off featuring various women from The Real Housewives franchise, that premiered on November 16, 2021, on Peacock. Richards was the only representative from the Beverly Hills series, joining Bailey and Kenya Moore from the Atlanta series, Teresa Giudice and Melissa Gorga from the New Jersey series, and Luann de Lesseps and Ramona Singer from the New York series.
2022–present: Continued acting roles
In 2022, Richards was nominated for the second time in the category "The Reality TV Star of 2022" at the People's Choice Awards, alongside The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills costar Garcelle Beauvais. Richards was one of the women included on VarietyOn April 3, 2023, Richards was announced as part of the cast of the Christmas romance film The Holiday Exchange alongside Rick Cosnett and Taylor Frey. The film, which was an LGBTQ reimaginging of the 2006 movie The Holiday, features Richards in the role of overly involved mother Lola. The film premiered on October 1, 2024 on streaming services Amazon Prime Video and Peacock.
In May 2023, Richards had a guest role as socialite Missy Moritz in the Hulu sitcom How I Met Your Father. She played also Vivian Hayes in the romantic comedy film Beautiful Wedding, released in limited theaters on January 24, 2024.
At 2024 Emmy Awards red carpet, actress Reese Witherspoon teased an upcoming project with an unnamed Real Housewife who she had recently sat beside on a plane. Richards identified herself as the mystery housewife and revealed that she was working with Witherspoon's company Hello Sunshine.
Business ventures
Fashion
Through a partnership with Alene Too, Richards previously owned a series of boutiques under the brand Kyle by Alene Too, which had locations in Beverly Hills, in Southampton, New York, and in Palm Beach, Florida. The boutique carried a variety of luxury labels, including Matthew Williamson, What Goes Around Comes Around, Vintage Chanel, Haute Hippie, Camilla, and Ramy Brook. In 2019, Richards announced that her partnership with Alene Too had ended and that her original boutique in Beverly Hills had closed, though she also revealed plans to open a new boutique offering items for men.On February 25, 2014, Richards launched a clothing line for shopping network HSN. The eight-piece collection, inspired by her personal style, was priced between $69.90 and $199.90.
In 2019, Richards began a collaboration with designer Shahida Clayton. Richards and Clayton debuted their clothing collection titled "Kyle x Shahida" at New York Fashion Week on September 8, 2019. The entire cast of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills were featured as models in the show, including Erika Jayne, Lisa Rinna, Denise Richards, Teddi Mellencamp Arroyave, and Dorit Kemsley.
In November 2021, Richards opened a luxury resort and loungewear boutique Kyle x Shahida in Palm Desert, California. The opening of her store was attended by the cast of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. The Agency, which is owned by Richards' husband Mauricio Umansky, is located across the street.
| Year | Title | Brand | Notes |
| 2014 | "Kyle by Kyle Richards" | HSN | Clothing collection for shopping network HSN. |
| 2019 | "Kyle x Shahida" | Kyle Richards Shahida Clayton | Clothing collection by Richards and Shahida Clayton. |
Memoir
On December 27, 2011, Richards released a memoir published by HarperOne about her life, family, and career. The book, titled Life Is Not a Reality Show: Keeping It Real with the Housewife Who Does It All, details Richards' views on relationships, family, and beauty. Richards described the book as a manual for her daughters and other women to learn confidence.Philanthropy
Children's Hospital Los Angeles
Richards is a longtime supporter of the Children's Hospital Los Angeles. Richards and her husband, Mauricio Umansky, are listed as "First Families" of the CHLA, meaning they have donated at least $100,000 to the hospital. She held fundraisers for the CHLA in 2013 and 2019, with the 2019 fundraiser generating over $100,000 in donations for CHLA. Both fundraisers were featured on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.In 2017, Richards competed to earn money for CHLA on The New Celebrity Apprentice. Although she was eliminated, Richards raised $25,000 for CHLA after a donation from Kawasaki following her appearance on the show.
Breast cancer awareness
Richards has also supported breast cancer initiatives to support funding and early detection. Richards's passion for breast cancer awareness was inspired by her mother, who died from breast cancer in 2002 at the age of 51. In 2020, Richards partnered with her breast surgeon, Dr. Heather Richardson, to promote Annual Mammogram Day at the Bedford Breast Center in Beverly Hills. In 2024, Richards and country music singer Morgan Wade served as special guest speakers for Mission Plastico's annual gala, which aims to support individuals impacted by cancer.Mental health and suicide prevention
Richards has been open about her struggles with mental health, including severe anxiety. Richards had her first panic attack at age 12 and has struggled with anxiety since. On May 1, 2022, Richards's childhood best friend Lorene Shea died by suicide. Richards partnered with the National Alliance on Mental Illness for Shea's celebration of life ceremony, which was featured in the thirteenth season of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.Personal life
Richards resides in Encino, Los Angeles. She has ten small tattoos, including two butterflies, a cowboy hat and a four-leaf clover.Family and relationships
Richards's relationships with her mother and sisters are extremely important to her. In 2018, Richards released American Woman, a limited series loosely based on her mother's life in the 1970s. Richards described the series as a "love letter" to her mom, with Kathleen portrayed by actress Alicia Silverstone. Richards has publicly feuded with both of her sisters, Kim Richards and Kathy Hilton, while filming The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. However, she emphasized that she and her sisters "always come back together."In the 1980s, Richards dated actor C. Thomas Howell. Richards attributed their breakup to their youth. In 1988, at the age of 19, Richards married Guraish Aldjufrie, an Indonesian, while she was pregnant with their daughter Farrah Brittany. Richards and Aldjufrie had met at a Tina Turner concert, where Richards lied about her age and hid her braces. They separated in 1990 and divorced two years later in 1992.
Richards met her second husband, Mauricio Umansky, a Los Angeles real estate agent, in 1994. The couple wed on January 20, 1996, when Richards was four months pregnant. Their daughter, Alexia Simone, was born on June 18, 1996. The couple have two more daughters, Sophia Kylie and Portia. Richards converted to Modern Orthodox Judaism when she married Umansky. She attends events at the Kabbalah Centre in Los Angeles.
On July 3, 2023, People magazine reported that Richards and Umansky had separated after 27 years of marriage. The couple later released a joint statement which denied they were divorcing, but admitted that they were going through a difficult period in their marriage. Subsequently, the couple separated and Umansky moved out of their home in the Beverly Hills.
After her separation from Umansky, Richards was the subject of online rumors that she was dating country musician Morgan Wade, particularly after Richards starred as the love interest in Wade's "Fall in Love With Me" music video. Although Wade appeared with Richards as a guest on the thirteenth season of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, she was reportedly uncomfortable with the public attention on their relationship. Richards never confirmed that she was romantically involved with Wade, but she revealed in a 2025 episode of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills that she had been involved in a romantic relationship after her separation that ended because of "gossip," seemingly referencing Wade.
Burglary
In December 2017, Richards's family home in Encino, Los Angeles, was burglarized while she and her family were on vacation in Aspen, Colorado. The burglar was able to get into the house by breaking a window; the family's alarm system was not armed. Jewelry and other personal items valued at over $1 million were stolen, as well as countless items of significant sentimental value to Richards, such as family heirlooms inherited from her mother and baby bracelets from her daughter. Richards shared that it took her six months to feel safe in her own house again after the incident.Health
Richards privately battled anorexia nervosa beginning when she was 17 after feeling insecure during a television appearance. Before recovery, Richards reached a low of 99 pounds, often surviving only on V8 juice and almonds. Richards shared her journey with disordered eating for the first time in 2019 after Amelia Gray Hamlin, daughter of costar Lisa Rinna, was open about her own struggles.In December 2020, Richards tested positive for COVID-19 while filming for The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, along with her daughter Sophia Umansky, co-star Dorit Kemsley and sister Kathy Hilton. Production for season 11 of the series was temporarily suspended.
Richards is allergic to bees. In July 2021, she was rushed to the hospital after accidentally walking into a hive and being stung multiple times. Although she attempted to use an Epi-Pen, she was unable to do so successfully and urged fans to learn how to safely administer the medication in case of emergency.
In July 2022, following her separation from Mauricio Umansky and the suicide of her childhood best friend Lorene Shea, Richards stopped drinking alcohol and began to focus more on fitness and exercising. Richards stated that she stopped drinking because it was "no longer serving physically, mentally, or spiritually." She discussed her fitness journey in a cover story for Us Weekly magazine in December 2023. Richards has maintained her sobriety since 2022 and celebrated over three years of sobriety in 2025.