Kathy Hilton Explained

Kathy Hilton
Birth Name:Kathleen Elizabeth Avanzino
Birth Date:13 March 1959
Birth Place:New York City, U.S.
Children:4, including Paris and Nicky Hilton
Relatives:Kim Richards (sister)
Kyle Richards (sister)
Hilton family

Kathleen Elizabeth Hilton (Avanzino; born March 13, 1959)[1] [2] is an American socialite, fashion designer, actress, and television personality.[3] [4] [5] She is the mother of socialite Paris Hilton and fashion designer Nicky Hilton[6] and the half-sister of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills stars Kim Richards and Kyle Richards. Since 2011, Hilton has also appeared on that series in regular guest and recurring appearances.

Early life

Hilton is the daughter of Kathleen Mary (née Dugan) and Larry Avanzino. Her father's family comes from Italian ancestry while her mother's side comes from Ireland.[7] Hilton's parents later divorced, and her mother married Kenneth E. Richards (1917–1998), who already had three grown children from a previous marriage. From this marriage Hilton gained two maternal half-sisters: actresses Kim and Kyle Richards. Hilton also has five paternal half-siblings from her father's remarriage. She graduated from Montclair College Preparatory School in Los Angeles, where she became best friends with Michael Jackson. They remained close friends until his death in 2009.[8]

Television and film career

In 1968, Hilton began working as a child actress, retiring in 1979. Notable appearances include Nanny and the Professor, Bewitched, Family Affair, Happy Days, The Rockford Files,[9] and film appearances include The Dark and On the Air Live with Captain Midnight. On the May 13, 2008, episode of The Young and the Restless, she made a cameo appearance as herself.

From 2003 to 2005, Hilton appeared on a few select episodes of The Simple Life (starring her daughter, Paris, and best friend Nicole Richie), mainly on premiere and finale episodes. Also in 2005, she hosted the reality show I Want To Be a Hilton on NBC. She also appeared on The World According to Paris (2011).

In June 2012, Hilton commented that she refuses to watch her half-sisters Kim and Kyle Richards on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, stating they caused her to "break down in tears" over watching their lives "fall apart".[10] In October 2020, it was revealed that Hilton herself would appear as a "friend of the housewives" for the eleventh season of the same show. Her addition to the show was well-received by the cast and viewers, and she soon became a fan-favorite.[11] [12] In June 2021, Diane Cho of People called her "already a Real Housewives of Beverly Hills legend", writing: "Bravo's only mistake in casting Kathy Hilton on the show is that they didn't do it sooner."[13]

In June 2023, Hilton confirmed her departure from the series, after appearing in two seasons in a "friend of" capacity.[14]

In January 2024, it was announced that Hilton would be making a special guest appearance, for the thirteenth season reunion of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.[15]

In May 2024, it was announced that Hilton would be returning to The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills once again as a "friend of the housewives", for the show's upcoming fourteenth season.[16]

Business ventures

In the 1980s and early 1990s, Hilton operated her own gift and antiques store The Staircase on Sunset Plaza in Los Angeles. She debuted with 2002 merchandise sales on cable TV's QVC home shopping network. In 2007, she began selling a signature skincare line on HSN. Hilton launched a perfume called "My Secret" in 2008.[17]

Hilton raised money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation in 2007, by asking celebrities to auction some of their belongings and donating the proceeds to them.[18] In 2011, alongside her two daughters, she received an award from the Starlight Children's Foundation at its 'A Stellar Night' Gala in Century City, Los Angeles.[19]

Since 2012, she has designed the Kathy Hilton Collection of party dresses, sold in four hundred stores worldwide, including Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue and Nordstrom.[20] [21] [22] [23] [24] In December 2020, Hilton and her daughters Paris and Nicky, modeled new Valentino 2021 resort collection in a photo series for Vogue.[25]

In September 2021, Hilton appeared in Oscar de la Renta's New York Fashion Week campaign, hailing a taxi wearing the latest collection on a busy Manhattan street.

Personal life

Hilton married Richard Hilton on November 24, 1979 when she was 20 years old. 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). Hilton has eight grandchildren, three by Nicky[26] [27] [28] three by Barron, and two by Paris.[29] [30]

The couple resides in Bel Air, Los Angeles. Hilton featured her home in Architectural Digest for Christmas 2021.

Filmography

As an actress!Year!Title!Role!Notes
1970Nanny and the ProfessorMelodieEpisode: "The Philosopher's Stone"
1971Family AffairCarolEpisode: "The Joiners"
1971Marcus Welby, M.D. NicoleEpisode: "A Portrait of Debbie"
1971BewitchedRobin SilvertonEpisode: "TV or Not TV"
1972Welcome Home, Johnny BristolVirginiaTelevision film; uncredited
1974Sigmund and the Sea MonstersDianeEpisode: "One Way Whammy to Tahiti"
1976No Deposit, No ReturnGirl at the AirportFilm; uncredited
1977Happy DaysGertieEpisode: "Fonzie, Rock Entrepreneur: Part 1"
1977The CarGirl Marching with FlagFilm; uncredited
1978The Rockford FilesJudyEpisode: "The Prisoner of Rosemont Hall"
1979The DarkShelly WarnerFilm
1979On the Air Live with Captain MidnightCorvette GirlFilm
1992WishmanWoman at Football GameFilm; uncredited
2020BSA LiveA starFilm
As a television personality!Year!Title!Role!Notes
2003–07The Simple LifeHerself6 episodes
2005I Want to Be a HiltonHost
2005The Miss Teen USA PageantJudgeTelevision special
2008The Young and the RestlessHerselfEpisodes: "Episode #1.8932" and "Episode #1.8892"
2009Paris Hilton's British Best FriendEpisode: "Episode #1.1"
2011The World According to Paris4 episodes
2011–2022, 2024–presentThe Real Housewives of Beverly Hills55 episodes; Guest (2011–2020, 2024), Friend of the housewives (seasons 11–12, 14–)
2013–14Life with La Toya9 episodes
2020This Is ParisHerselfDocumentary film
2021Cooking with ParisHerselfGuest
2021–2023Paris in LoveMain Cast

Notes and References

  1. Book: House of Hilton. Oppenheimer . Jerry. . 2006 . 9780307351951 . On March 13, 1959, almost seven months after the church wedding, Kathleen Dugan Avanzino, a month away from turning twenty-one, gave birth to a healthy and beautiful baby girl whom they named Kathleen Elizabeth Avanzino.
  2. Book: Sandra . Gurvis . Paris Hilton: A Biography . 2011 . Their daughter and Paris's mother, 'little' Kathleen Elizabeth Avanzino, was born seven months after the impromptu wedding, on March 13, 1959..
  3. http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2007/12/kathy_hilton_to_invade_fashion.html New York Magazine
  4. http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2008/08/kathy_hilton_to_mccain_no_your.html New York Magazine
  5. Web site: Ophrah Winfrey Network: Life With La Toya . September 16, 2013 . July 14, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140714213610/http://www.oprah.com/own-life-with-latoya/Life-With-La-Toya-Kathy-Hilton . dead .
  6. Booth Moore, Special occasion calls for a twist with Kathy Hilton, The Los Angeles Times, December 9, 2012
  7. Oppenheimer, House of Hilton
  8. http://nymag.com/news/features/childhood/paris-nicky-hilton-2013-4/ "The Hilton Sisters"
  9. Web site: Marlowe. Rachel. Kathy Hilton on Swerving Drama on 'Real Housewives,' Upping Her Style Game, and Paris's Upcoming Wedding. 2021-06-07. Vogue. May 27, 2021 . en-US.
  10. http://blog.sfgate.com/dailydish/2012/06/06/kathy-hilton-cant-watch-sisters-lives-fall-apart-on-real-housewives/ Kathy Hilton can't watch sisters' lives 'fall apart' on 'Real Housewives'
  11. Web site: 2021-06-06. RHOBH: Why Fans Have Fallen In Love With Kathy Hilton. 2021-06-07. ScreenRant. en-US.
  12. Web site: Boren. Jade. 2021-06-04. Kathy Hilton Goes Viral After She Asks Kyle Richards What Channel 'RHOBH' Airs On — Watch. 2021-06-07. Hollywood Life. en-US.
  13. Web site: Cho . Diane . 2021-06-16 . Kathy Hilton Is Already a Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Legend: Her Best Moments on the Show So Far . 2021-06-17 . PEOPLE.com . en.
  14. Web site: Kathy Hilton Confirms Exit from 'RHOBH' After 2 Seasons. People. Dory. Jackson. Stephanie. Wagner. June 5, 2023. June 5, 2023.
  15. Web site: See the Surprise Guest Making a Special Appearance at the RHOBH Season 13 Reunion (PHOTO) . Bravo). Allison. Crist. January 27, 2024. January 27, 2024.
  16. Web site: The RHOBH Season 14 Cast Is Confirmed with New (!) and Returning Ladies (DETAILS) . Bravo). Jocelyn. Vena. May 22, 2024. May 22, 2024.
  17. Web site: KATHY HILTON MY SECRET BY KATHY HILTON FOR WOMEN - Eau De Parfum SPRAY. 2021-06-07. Perfumania. en.
  18. https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1454&dat=20071222&id=YilPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=-R8EAAAAIBAJ&pg=4066,2449225 'Kathy Hilton calls on pals to help charity
  19. http://radaronline.com/photos/the-hilton-ladies-step-out-for-the-starlight-childrens-foundation/photo/304155/ The Hilton Ladies Step Out for the Starlight Children's Foundation
  20. http://kathyhilton.com/?page_id=24 Official website
  21. Haein Jung, Natalie Stone, Kathy Hilton Showcases Dress Collection at Intimate Cocktail Reception, The Hollywood Reporter, November 30, 2012
  22. Jennifer Chan, Kathy Hilton Can Dress You for the Holidays, E!, November 30, 2012
  23. Marshall Heyman, Celebrating the Holidays With the Hiltons, The Wall Street Journal, December 2, 2012
  24. Maria Martin, Kathy Hilton is 54, fabulous – and frugal, The Charlotte Observer, August 7, 2013
  25. Web site: Allaire. Christian. What Kathy Hilton Learned About Style From Paris and Nicky. 2021-06-07. Vogue. December 15, 2020 . en-US.
  26. http://celebritybabies.people.com/2016/07/08/nicky-hilton-rothschild-welcomes-daughter-lily-grace-victoria/ "Nicky Hilton Rothschild Welcomes Daughter Lily Grace Victoria"
  27. http://people.com/babies/nicky-hilton-rothschild-welcomes-daughter-teddy-marilyn/ "Nicky Hilton Rothschild Welcomes Daughter Teddy Marilyn
  28. https://people.com/parents/nicky-hilton-shares-first-photos-newborn-son-baby-bliss/ "Nicky Hilton Shares First Photos of Newborn Son: 'Baby Bliss'"
  29. https://people.com/parents/barron-hilton-welcomes-daughter-milou-alizee-wife-tessa/ "It's a Girl! Barron Hilton and Wife Tessa Welcome Daughter Milou Alizee"
  30. https://people.com/parents/barron-hilton-wife-tessa-welcome-second-baby-son-exclusive/ "Barron Hilton and Wife Tessa Welcome Second Baby, Son Caspian: 'Over the Moon'