Kathy Hilton
Kathy Hilton | |
|---|---|
| Born | Kathleen Elizabeth Avanzino March 13, 1959 Manhattan, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Socialite, fashion designer, actress, television personality |
| Years active | 1968–1979 (acting), 2003–present (television appearances) |
| Known for | The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, The Simple Life |
| Notable work | The Dark, On the Air Live with Captain Midnight |
Kathleen Elizabeth Hilton (born Avanzino; March 13, 1959) is an American figure known for her roles as a socialite, fashion designer, actress, and television personality. She is the mother of socialite Paris Hilton and fashion designer Nicky Hilton, and also the half-sister of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills cast members Kim Richards and Kyle Richards. Since 2011, Hilton has made recurring and regular guest appearances on that reality series.
Early life
Born in Manhattan, New York, Kathy Hilton is the daughter of Kathleen Mary (née Dugan) and Larry Avanzino. Her paternal lineage is Italian, while her maternal heritage is Irish. Following her parents' divorce, her mother remarried Kenneth E. Richards, adding two maternal half-sisters to Hilton’s family: actresses Kim and Kyle Richards. Additionally, she has five paternal half-siblings from her father’s subsequent marriage. Hilton completed her education at Montclair College Preparatory School in Los Angeles, where she formed a close friendship with Michael Jackson that lasted until his passing in 2009.
Television and film career
Hilton launched her acting career as a child in 1968 and retired by 1979. Her television credits include appearances on Nanny and the Professor, Bewitched, Family Affair, Happy Days, and The Rockford Files. Her film work features roles in The Dark and On the Air Live with Captain Midnight. In 2008, she made a brief appearance portraying herself on the soap opera The Young and the Restless.
Between 2003 and 2005, Hilton appeared intermittently on The Simple Life, which starred her daughter Paris Hilton alongside Nicole Richie. In 2005, she hosted the reality competition I Want To Be a Hilton on NBC, followed by a role on The World According to Paris in 2011.
In June 2012, Hilton revealed she refrains from watching her half-sisters Kim and Kyle Richards on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills because it causes her emotional upset. Nevertheless, in October 2020, she joined the show’s eleventh season as a "friend of the housewives," quickly gaining popularity among both viewers and fellow cast members. By June 2021, media outlets recognized her as a "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills legend," highlighting her significant influence on the series.
After two seasons serving as a "friend of" cast member, Hilton exited the show in June 2023. She returned briefly for a special guest role during the thirteenth season reunion in January 2024. In May 2024, it was announced that she would rejoin the series once again as a "friend of the housewives" for its fourteenth season.
Business ventures
During the 1980s and early 1990s, Hilton managed The Staircase, a gift and antiques boutique located on Sunset Plaza in Los Angeles. She began selling products via cable television through QVC in 2002 and launched a signature skincare collection on HSN in 2007. In 2008, she introduced her fragrance called "My Secret."
In 2007, Hilton organized celebrity auctions to raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, donating all proceeds to the charity. Later, in 2011, she along with her daughters were honored by the Starlight Children's Foundation at its 'A Stellar Night' Gala held in Los Angeles.
Since 2012, Hilton has designed party dresses under the Kathy Hilton Collection, which are sold in approximately 400 retail locations worldwide including prestigious stores such as Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Nordstrom. In December 2020, Hilton appeared alongside Paris and Nicky modeling Valentino’s 2021 resort collection for Vogue.
In September 2021, she featured in Oscar de la Renta’s campaign during New York Fashion Week, showcasing their latest line on a bustling street in Manhattan.
Personal life
Hilton is married to Richard Hilton, and together they have four children: Paris Hilton (born 1981), Nicky Hilton (born 1983), Barron Nicholas Hilton II (born 1989), and Conrad Hughes Hilton III (born 1994). She is a grandmother to eight grandchildren—three from Nicky, three from Barron, and two from Paris. The family lives in Bel Air, Los Angeles, where Hilton featured her residence in the December 2021 issue of Architectural Digest for the holiday season.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Additional information |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Nanny and the Professor | Melodie | Episode: "The Philosopher's Stone" |
| 1971 | Family Affair | Carol | Episode: "The Joiners" |
| Marcus Welby, M.D. | Nicole | Episode: "A Portrait of Debbie" | |
| Bewitched | Robin Silverton | Episode: "TV or Not TV" | |
| 1972 | Welcome Home, Johnny Bristol | Virginia | TV movie; uncredited |
| 1974 | Sigmund and the Sea Monsters | Diane | Episode: "One Way Whammy to Tahiti" |
| 1976 | No Deposit, No Return | Girl at the Airport | Feature film; uncredited |
| 1977 | Happy Days | Gertie | Episode: "Fonzie, Rock Entrepreneur: Part 1" |
| The Car | Girl Marching with Flag | Feature film; uncredited | |
| 1978 | The Rockford Files | Judy | Episode: "The Prisoner of Rosemont Hall" |
| 1979 | "The Dark" | Shelly Warner | Feature film |
| On the Air Live with Captain Midnight | Corvette Girl | ||
| 1992 | "Wishman" | Woman at Football Game | Feature film; uncredited |
| 2020 | "BSA Live" | A star | Film |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003–07 | "The Simple Life" | Herself | Appeared in 6 episodes |
| 2005 | "I Want To Be a Hilton" | ||
| "Miss Teen USA#The Miss Teen USA Pageant" | |||
| 2008–present+ | "The Young and the Restless", Paris Hilton's British Best Friend, The World According to Paris, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Life with La Toya, This Is Paris, Cooking with Paris, Paris in Love, Denise Richards & Her Wild Things |