Kyle Richards has made a lasting mark in Hollywood, not just as an actress but also as a beloved reality TV personality and philanthropist. Born on January 11, 1969, in Hollywood, CA, Kyle Richards grew up in a world of privilege and glamour. Her mother, Kathleen Mary Richards, was a well-known socialite who married four times, which placed Kyle in the spotlight from an early age. Through her mother’s first marriage, Kyle gained a half-sister—none other than Kathy Hilton, the famous hotel magnate and mother to Paris and Nicky Hilton. She also shares a father, Kenneth Edwin Richards, with her older sister Kim, and the two sisters actually began their acting careers at a very young age.
Speaking of her career, Kyle Richards truly stepped into the limelight when she was just 7 years old, landing the role of Alicia Sanderson Edwards on the iconic series Little House on the Prairie (NBC, 1974–1982). She stayed with the show for its entire run, making her a familiar face to audiences across America. But that wasn’t all—Kyle Richards also made appearances in several notable horror films during her youth. She worked with legendary directors like Tobe Hooper in Eaten Alive (1977), John Carpenter in the classic slasher Halloween (1978), and even starred in the eerie cult favorite The Watcher in the Woods (1980).
On the personal front, Kyle Richards married Guraish Aldjufrie in 1988, and they welcomed their first child together, though the couple eventually divorced by 1992. However, life took a more stable turn when, in 1996, Kyle Richards married Mauricio Umansky, a powerful real estate agent. For love, she even converted to Modern Orthodox Judaism—a meaningful step that showed her dedication to family and faith. Together, they had three daughters, building a close-knit household that fans would later get to know through television.
Professionally, Kyle Richards continued to act, scoring a recurring role as Nurse Dori on the hit medical drama ER (NBC, 1994–2009), a part she played intermittently from 1998 until 2006. Still, it was her next chapter that would truly redefine her public image. In 2010, Kyle Richards joined the cast of Bravo’s smash-hit reality series The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills (Bravo, 2010–), where she played none other than herself. This role catapulted her back into the national conversation and opened new doors.
Thanks to her charisma and authenticity, Kyle Richards started appearing as herself on a number of other TV shows, including Betty White’s Off Their Rockers (NBC/Lifetime, 2012–17), the improv comedy Whose Line Is It Anyway? (The CW, 2013–), and the drama series Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce (Bravo, 2014–16). She even showcased her competitive side by participating in The New Celebrity Apprentice (NBC, 2017), where she finished in an impressive 12th place.
Throughout it all, Kyle Richards has remained a fixture in pop culture—not just because of her early work, but because of how she’s reinvented herself over time. Whether she’s navigating family drama, business ventures, or red carpet events, Kyle Richards continues to captivate audiences with her resilience, warmth, and undeniable star power.
When it comes to Kyle Richards’s filmography, one standout performance definitely shines through — her role in Halloween (1978), which happens to be her highest rated movie by far. It’s no surprise that this classic horror film has earned such acclaim over the years. On the other end of the spectrum, Kyle Richards was also part of Eaten Alive (1976), a film that, while interesting in its own right, received much more mixed reactions and is considered her lowest rated project. Over time, fans and critics alike have pointed out just how much of a contrast there is between these two titles in Kyle Richards’s career. Still, both roles showcase different sides of her early work in the industry. Whether you’re diving into her most celebrated appearance or exploring her lesser-known performances, Kyle Richards remains a notable figure from that era of cinema.