Kyle Egan Richards is an American actress, socialite, television personality, memoirist and philanthropist. She began her career as a child actress, appearing in a recurring role on Little House on the Prairie, and in several horror films, including The Car, Tobe Hooper's Eaten Alive, and John Carpenter's Halloween, and later Halloween Kills. Since 2010, she has appeared as a main cast member on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, and as of 2020, is the last remaining original cast member on the show. 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 Hollywood. She is the daughter of Kathleen Mary Richards and Kenneth Edwin Richards. The couple separated in 1972 and Kathleen later remarried twice more. Richards' siblings are Kathy Hilton her older half-sister from her mother's first marriage to Lawrence Avanzino and Kim Richards, as well as three paternal half-siblings from her father's first marriage, all of whom were adults by the time Richards was born. Nicky and Paris Hilton are her half-nieces.
Career
Film and television
Richards began her acting career in 1974. She appeared in 18 episodes of the television series Little House on the Prairie as Alicia Sanderson Edwards. Her sister, Kim, was also an actress, who appeared in one episode of Little House on the Prairie, the season before Kyle joined the cast. The two sisters played on-screen sisters in the 1977 the thriller film The Car. Through the 1970s, Richards appeared 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. In 1980, she appeared in the supernatural horror filmThe Watcher in the Woods. 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!. She played Tricia in Lifetime's television film Deadly Sibling Rivalry and Housewife Heather in the comedy film The Hungover Games. She had guest roles in several television shows, including ', 7th Heaven, City Guys, Beverly Hills, 90210, ' and CHiPs. Since 2010, she has appeared as a main cast member on Bravo's reality television showThe Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. In 2012, she graced the magazine cover of The Hollywood Reporter along with other Real Housewives franchise's cast members Vicki Gunvalson, Ramona Singer, Caroline Manzo and NeNe Leakes. She was nominated for "Reality Star of 2019" award at the 2019 People's Choice Awards. In 2013, she portrayed 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 seriesAmerican Woman, which was inspired by her childhood in the 1970s. On August 30, 2019, it was confirmed that Richards is reprising the role of Lindsey Wallace, the role she originated in the original 1978 film, in Halloween Kills, which is set for release in 2021.
Fashion and other ventures
On February 25, 2014, Richards launched a clothing line for shopping network HSN. The eight-piece collection was inspired by her personal style and was priced between $69.90 and $199.90. Richards and Shahida Clayton debuted their clothing collection titled Kyle + Shahida at New York Fashion Week on September 8, 2019. Richards is the owner of Kyle by Alene Too, a chain of boutiques in The Hamptons and New York City. Her boutique in Beverly Hills opened in 2012 and closed in 2018. Her memoir titled Life Is Not a Reality Show: Keeping It Real with the Housewife Who Does It All was published by HarperOne on December 27, 2011. Richards shares tips on relationships, family and beauty in the book.
Philanthropy
With her husband, Richards is listed on the "First Families" of the Children's Hospital Los Angeles which means they have donated US$100,000 or more to the hospital. She also held fundraisers for the CHLA in 2013 and 2019, which were featured on the Real Housewives.
Personal life
In 1988, at age 18, Richards married Guraish Aldjufrie from Indonesia while she was pregnant with their daughter Farrah, but they separated in 1990 and divorced two years later., Hilton's daughter Paris Hilton and Kyle Richards at NBC party, February 2011.Richards met second husband Mauricio Umansky, a Los Angeles real estate agent, in 1994. Umansky is of Russian and Greek Jewish descent. He is the son of Estella Sneider. He was born and raised in Mexico. The couple wed on January 20, 1996 when Kyle was 4 months pregnant. Their daughter Alexia was born on June 18, 1996. The couple have two more daughters, Sophia and Portia. Richards, who is of English, Irish and Welsh descent, converted to Modern Orthodox Judaism when she married Umansky. She also attends events at the Kabbalah Centre in Los Angeles. She resides in Encino, Los Angeles with her husband and children.
