A Look Back at Denise Richards’ Career in Reality Television

A look back at Denise Richards' career in reality television.
Photo Credit: Matt Winkelmeyer/WireImage via Getty Images

Before Denise Richards yelled “Bravo, Bravo, f*cking Bravo,” she was the blonde bombshell taking Hollywood and the big screen by storm. The actress is most recognized for her roles as Carmen Ibanez in Starship Troopers, Kelly Van Ryan in Wild Things, and Bond Girl Christmas Jones in The World Is Not Enough. And our Denise has made quite a name for herself. The other interesting tidbit she is known for is being Charlie Sheen’s former wife. The two married in 2002 but were separated by 2005. Denise has a long list of movies under her belt. But sometimes it is easy to forget she also has made a name for herself in television. 

Denise Richards: It’s Complicated

In 2008, Denise made her reality TV debut with Denise Richards: It’s Complicated. The series, which aired for two seasons on E!, Showcased her home life, which included her extended family. I can’t lie. I watched it and really enjoyed the dynamic between Denise and her father, Irv Richards. In the wake of her headline-making divorcer, Denise allowed cameras to film her life as a single mother raising two pre-teen daughters. 

The actress showed fans what juggling her acting career and parenting was like. Throughout the two seasons, Denise tried dating and navigating the tabloids with little luck. The first season was perhaps the most interesting for Denise, as she also had to come to terms with her mother’s death from cancer. The series was the first time Denise openly talked about her family and marital issues. 

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

In a move that surprised most Bravo followers, Denise joined the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills for Season 9, which aired in 2019. Introduced by her former close friend, Lisa Rinna, Denise made quite an impact on the 90210 ladies. For one, she was perhaps the biggest star of the series, and her freshman season didn’t make much waves. Season 9 also introduced fans to Denise’s new husband, Aaron Phypers, who wasn’t well-liked. 

However, in Season 10 of RHOBH, Denise gained some traction. Rumors began to swirl that Denise and former co-star Brandi Glanville had an affair while the Wild Things star was married. Even though Denise denied the allegations Brandi stood strong in her story. The bruhaha caused such a disruption that Denise chose not to come back for another season. She has, however, popped up as a guest during the most recent season. 

Denise Richards and the Wild Things

News just broke that Denise will be reentering the reality TV world in 2025. The new show, Denise Richards and the Wild Things comes 16 years after her first family series. E! announced on June 10th that they would be welcoming back the actress to the network with this fun project. Cameras will show the 53-year-old in 30-minute episodes with her husband, Aaron, and her three children. Denise shared a statement via People saying, “My family and I are thrilled to return home to E!.” 

Denise is also the executive producer of the new series and added, “Sami and Lola were just 3 and 4 years old when we first shared our story, and now we’ve come full circle. This is the perfect partnership for our family’s series as our lives are full of fun, love, and unpredictability, and we can’t wait for the audience to share this adventure with us.”

Rachel Smith, EVP of Unscripted Content, Lifestyle, and Documentary at NBCUniversal Entertainment, said in a separate statement that “Denise Richards is a pop culture force and no stranger to capturing the public’s attention. With her return to E!, we look forward to Denise and her family sharing their beautifully chaotic world with our audience, who will appreciate their candor and relatability as much as we do.”

So I guess that pretty much confirms to Bravo fans that she won’t be making a comeback on the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Bummer! I was hoping for another round of Erika Jayne vs. Denise. But I’ll settle for a new series, too!

TELL US – WILL YOU BE WATCHING DENISE RICHARDS’ NEW SERIES WHEN IT AIRS? 

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