Modeling was where Denise’s professional life got its start in the fashion industry. In the 1990s, she started making frequent appearances in movies as well as on television. Her acting credits include, but are not limited to, roles in “Starship Troopers,” “The World Is Not Enough,” and “Wild Things,” to name just a few. In a poll conducted by Maxim magazine to determine the world’s 50 sexiest women, Richards came in at number nine on the list.
In addition to this, she is also known for her turbulent marriage to the actor Charlie Sheen.
In the Beginning
Denise Richards was born on February 17, 1971, in Downers Grove, Illinois, to parents Joni and Irv Richards. Her parents named her Denise Richards. Her family relocated to Oceanside, California, when she was 15 years old, and it was there that she completed her high school education at El Camino. Soon after she received her diploma, she started a career as a model and went on to perform photoshoots and commercials in cities all over the world, including New York, Paris, London, and Tokyo.
Early Years in Career and Breakthrough
Richards had roles as a guest star in episodes of “Saved by the Bell,” “Married with Children,” and “Doogie Howser” throughout the decade of the 1990s. One of his most notable appearances was in the film “Loaded Weapon,” which was released in 1993. She has also appeared as a guest star on several well-known television shows, such as “Seinfeld” and “Beverly Hills, 90210.”
Denise’s big break came when she was cast in the lead part in the film “Starship Troopers,” which was released in 1997. The picture earned a total of $121.2 million around the world, and she was nominated for a Blockbuster Entertainment Award in the category of Favorite Female Newcomer. The next year, in 1998, she co-starred in the titillating suspense film “Wild Things” alongside Neve Campbell, Kevin Bacon, and Matt Dillion. Her transformation from the “girl next door” trope into a villain earned her much appreciation from the audience.
The next year, Richards was cast in the James Bond movie “The World Is Not Enough,” which was released in 1999. She received a lot of backlash for her portrayal in the movie, and Entertainment Weekly magazine labeled her “the worst Bond girl of all time” because of how she carried herself in the role. She was also given the Razzie Award for “Worst Supporting Actress” in 1999, which she “won.”
Despite this, she continued her career and remained a favorite with moviegoers throughout her career. In the latter part of that year, Denise played opposite Kirsten Dunst in the film “Drop Dead Gorgeous,” which helped her make a comeback and win over new fans. The movie has, for a very long time, been considered to be a cult masterpiece.
She played Ross and Monica’s cousin in an episode of Friends that aired in 2001 and was a notable guest appearance for the show. During the same year, Richards played the character of Charlie Sheen’s love interest in four episodes of the hit NBC show “Spin City.” These episodes aired in the same year.
She continued to work steadily in the film industry, making appearances in films such as “Valentine,” “Good Advice,” “Undercover Brother,” “The Third Wheel,” and “Scary Movie 3.” She also had a little part in the movie “Love Actually,” which was released in 2003, and she had roles in two films released in 2004, namely “Whore” and “Elvis Has Left the Building.”
Later in Career
During the 2005 season of the television show “Sex, Love & Secrets,” Richards portrayed Jolene Butler in the lead role. Richards participated as a contestant on the reality television show “Dancing with the Stars” in the year 2009. She had a recurring role on the television series “Blue Mountain State” as Debra from 2010 to 2011. In the comedy “Madea’s Witness Protection,” which was released in 2012, Richards portrayed the role of Kate Needleman.
The film made more than $67 million at the box office. During the 2013–2014 seasons of the ABC Family mystery series “Twisted,” Richards portrayed the lead character, Karen Desai.
During the 2015 season of the television show Vanity, she played the role of Marion Bellerose. Denise played one of the lead roles in the 2018 supernatural horror thriller “The Toybox,” which also starred Mischa Barton. Richards became a member of “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” cast in February 2019, as the ninth season of the Bravo show was beginning production.
In the latter part of that year, she made her debut on the CBS serial opera “The Bold and the Beautiful,” playing the role of Shauna Fulton. In the movie “The Secret Lives of Cheerleaders,” which aired on Lifetime in September of 2019, Denise plays the role of an overly ambitious mother. The tenth season of “Real Housewives,” which began airing in April of 2020, saw her make a comeback to the show.
Denise soon became a fan favorite and is highly well-liked among audiences, who love her more down-to-earth attitude compared to that of her other castmates. Denise is a member of the cast of “Denise from Friends.”
Various Other Enterprises
Richards began her career as a model and has appeared on the cover of thousands of magazines all over the world. Some of these magazines include Cosmo, Redbook, GQ, and Self, among many others. She has been seen in advertisements for well-known companies like Pepsi, as well as print ads for a variety of other cosmetics. In addition to that, she has been a spokesperson for Oro Gold Cosmetics and has appeared in informational commercials for The Flex Belt. In the spring of 2012, Richards introduced her own fragrance to the market. Denise said in 2019 that she had collaborated with CBme Beauty on the creation of a skincare line.
Personal Life
In June of 2002, Richards tied the knot with Charlie Sheen. They are the parents of two daughters as a couple. In March of 2005, Richards initiated the divorce process against Sheen, who was pregnant with the couple’s second daughter at the time. She also tried to get a restraining order against Sheen, claiming that he had threatened her life and was trying to kill her.
In November of 2006, the divorce between them was finalized. In May of 2010, Sheen agreed to give Richards sole legal custody of their two girls, effectively ending their co-parenting arrangement. Richards had filed a petition for sole custody from the beginning, claiming problems with Sheen’s sobriety and the strife that had occurred during their previous marriage. Following the removal of Sheen and Mueller’s twin sons from their home by child protective services in May 2013, the court decided that Richards should have temporary custody of the boys. The boys were born in 2009 to Sheen and his new wife Brooke Mueller. Richards was awarded temporary custody of the boys in May 2013. Following a process that lasted for two years, Richards became a single parent and was able to adopt a third daughter in June of 2011.
In December of 2017, Richards started a romantic relationship with Aaron Phypers. They exchanged wedding vows in September of 2018. Prior to their divorce, Andrew was married to the actress Nicollette Sheridan.
Real Estate
Following the conclusion of her marriage to Charlie Sheen in 2007, Denise purchased a sizable home in the Los Angeles suburb of Hidden Hills for the price of $4.4 million. She then went on to make modifications that cost at least one million dollars. In 2015, she placed this residence on the market with an asking price of 7.75 million dollars. Unfortunately, she did not find any buyers, and in 2018, she settled for $4.6 million, which was certainly a large loss when one considers the costs of her renovations.
Philanthropy
Denise spends a significant portion of her time away from her acting career volunteering for various causes. She is an advocate for the welfare of animals and has worked with both the Best Friends Animal Society and the Much Love Animal Rescue since 2009. She is also an animal rights activist. She is a supporter of numerous charitable organizations, including the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Feeding America, and the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption.
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She was a participant in the NOH8 Campaign and has shown her support for gay marriage as well as LGBTQ rights. Over the course of her career, Richards has participated in a variety of charitable fashion shows, including Susan G. Komen’s Fashion for the Cure, among others. Since Denise’s mother passed away from kidney cancer, she feels compelled to devote some of her time and energy to the cause of bringing attention to the Kidney Cancer Association.
Net Worth
Denise Richards is a well-known name in the entertainment industry in the United States, having achieved success in the fields of acting, modeling, and reality television.