Denise Richards (born Denise Lee Richards) is a prominent American actress, former fashion model, and television personality.
She rose to fame in the late 1990s with memorable roles in Starship Troopers, Wild Things, and as a Bond girl in The World Is Not Enough. She has continued her career through reality television, soap operas, and independent films while maintaining a strong public presence.
Essential Data
- Full Name: Denise Lee Richards
- Stage Name: Denise Richards
- Born: February 17, 1971
- Age: 55 years old
- Birthplace: Downers Grove, Illinois, United States
- Nationality: American
- Ethnicity: White
- Occupation: Actress, Model, Television Personality
- Height: 168 cm
- Religion: Christianity (Catholic)
- Parents: Irv Richards and Joni Richards
- Siblings: Michelle Richards
- Spouse: Aaron Phypers
- Children: Sami Sheen, Lola Rose Sheen, Eloise Joni Richards
- Relationship: Divorced
- Net Worth: $6 million USD
Early Life and Education
Denise Richards was born on February 17, 1971, in Downers Grove, Illinois, United States. She was raised by her parents, Irv Richards, a telephone engineer, and Joni Richards, a coffee shop owner. Her ethnicity is White with German, French-Canadian, Irish, English, and Welsh ancestry.
She has one younger sister named Michelle Richards. Her religion is Christianity (Catholic). She grew up in Downers Grove and Mokena, Illinois, and was the only girl on her baseball team as a child.
Her family moved to Oceanside, California, when she was 15. She graduated from El Camino High School in 1989.
Career
Denise Richards began her career as a model after moving to California as a teenager. She signed with a modeling agency after high school and transitioned into acting, landing small roles in television and film.
Her big breakthrough arrived in the late 1990s with starring roles in major movies like Starship Troopers (1997) and the erotic thriller Wild Things (1998), alongside Neve Campbell and Kevin Bacon..
Her mainstream recognition came in 1999 when she was cast as nuclear scientist alongside Pierce Brosnan in The World Is Not Enough. The high-profile role solidified her status in Hollywood and led to a string of diverse projects throughout the 2000s.
She also took on dramatic and horror roles in films such as Valentine (2001), Edmond (2005), and Jolene (2008), demonstrating a willingness to tackle varied characters beyond her early glamorous image.
Denise expanded into television with recurring and guest roles, including appearances on the college football comedy series Blue Mountain State (2010–2011), mystery drama Twisted (2013–2014), and later joined the soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful (2019–2022).
Her reality television presence grew significantly when she joined The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills for two seasons, starting in 2019, bringing her personal life into the spotlight while continuing to act in independent films and thrillers, including American Satan (2017) and Madea’s Witness Protection (2012).
In recent years, Richards has balanced acting with reality TV and other ventures. She has appeared in projects such as The Line (2023), Hunting Housewives (2024), and Dirty Hands (upcoming).
She launched her own reality series, Denise Richards & Her Wild Things, and has remained active in producing and branding.
Despite personal challenges, including a 2025 divorce, she has focused on career momentum, signing with new representation in 2026 and undergoing a public transformation to support fresh opportunities in film and television.
Awards and Nominations
- Razzie Award nominations for certain film roles
- Blockbuster Entertainment Awards recognitions
- MTV Movie Awards nominations
Social Media
- Instagram: @deniserichards
Personal Life
Denise Richards, 55, is currently divorced. She was married to actor Charlie Sheen from 2002 to 2006; they share two daughters, Sami Sheen and Lola Rose Sheen. She later married Aaron Phypers in 2018; they adopted a daughter, Eloise Joni Richards, together and separated in 2025.
She has had other past relationships, including brief links to figures like John Stamos and Patrick Muldoon earlier in her career. She prioritizes family and co-parenting while maintaining an active public life. Her height is 168 cm.
Net Worth
Denise Richards’ net worth is estimated at $6 million USD. She generates income from acting roles in television and film, reality television appearances, brand endorsements, modeling residuals, and production work.
Filmography
- Starship Troopers
- Wild Things
- Drop Dead Gorgeous
- The World Is Not Enough
- Valentine
- Undercover Brother
- Love Actually
- Scary Movie 3
- Madea’s Witness Protection
- American Satan
- Edmond
- Jolene
- The Line
- Hunting Housewives
- Dirty Hands