Background:

“Making a difference in the world includes being a good person. Not being judgmental. Be a listener. Stop and smell the roses. Be grateful and positive and thank God for your blessings.” Kathy Richards

Kathy Richards, also known as Kathy Hilton, is an American socialite, lifestyle entrepreneur and television personality. She was the host of the short lived NBC reality series “I Want To Be a Hilton” (2005). Prior to her marriage to the entrepreneur and hotelier Richard Hilton, Kathy appeared in television series such as “Nanny and the Professor,” “Marcus Welby, M.D.,” “Happy Days” and “The Rockford Files” as well as in the films “The Dark” and “On the Air Live with Captain Midnight” (both 1979) before she retired from acting.    
 
Kathy has supported many charity organizations, including the Los Angeles Mission, House of Ruth, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, S.H.A.R.E. and Race to Erase MS. She is co-chair for the Hearst Castle Preservation.

Kathy has four children with her husband Richard Hilton: Paris Hilton, Nicky HiltonBarron Hilton and Conrad Hilton. Commenting about her daughter Paris going to jail, she stated, “Those days when Paris was in jail were some of the most difficult of my life - it is hard for any parent to deal with.”

Kathy was a lifelong friend of Michael Jackson, whom she met while she attending private school. She attended  his funeral in 2009. Her hobbies include traveling, hunting for treasures at antique shows, estate sales, entertaining, flower arranging, skiing and tennis.


Kathleen Elizabeth Avanzino

Childhood and Family:

Kathleen Elizabeth Avanzino was born on March 13, 1959, in Whittier, California, to Sharon Kathleen Dugan (1933-2002) and Laurence K. Avanzino (1917-1998). Her parents divorced in 1973, when she was 14 years old. Her mother then was married to Kenneth E. Richards. Shortly thereafter, she adopted the last name of his stepfather. Through the marriage, Kathy has two half sisters, Kim Richards (born September 19, 1964) and Kyle Richards (born January 11, 1969), who are both actresses. She also has 5 half siblings from her father's remarriage.

At age 15, Kathy met Hilton Hotel heir Richard Howard “Rick” Hilton (born August 17, 1955). They married on November 24, 1979. The couple have four children: Paris Hilton (born February 17, 1981), Nicholai “Nicky” Hilton (born October 5, 1983), Barron Hilton II (born November 7, 1989) and Conrad Hughes Hilton III (born March 3, 1994).


The Dark

Career:

Kathy Richards started her career as an actress when she was 11 years old. Billed as Kathleen Richards, she made her television debut as Melodie in an episode of “Nanny and the Professor” called “The Philosopher's Stone” (1970). She went on to appear in episodes of “Family Affair” (1971, as Carol), “Marcus Welby, M.D.” (1971, as Nicole) and “Bewitched” (1971, as Robin Silverton) before starting to use the name Kathy Richards in the Garry Marshall created sitcom “Happy Days,”  where she portrayed Gertie in the episodes “Fonzie, Rock Entrepreneur: Part 1 & Part 2” (both 1977).

In 1976, a then 16 year old Kathy became one of two finalists, out of 1,500 girls who auditioned, to replace Eve Plumb as Jan Brady on “The Brady Bunch Variety Hour.” The role eventually went to Geri Reischl.

In 1978, Kathy played the role of Judy in the episode “The Prisoner of Rosemont Hall” of the Stephen J. Cannell crime drama/mystery series “The Rockford Files.” She went on to make her big screen debut in “The Dark” (1979), a horror/science fiction movie starring William Devane, Cathy Lee Crosby and Richard Jaeckel. There she portrayed Shelly Warner. It was followed by a turn as Corvette Girl in     the comedy/drama film “On the Air Live with Captain Midnight” (also 1979). The film became her last acting job before she retired.

Between 2003 and 2007, Kathy appeared as herself in several episodes of the reality television series “The Simple Life,” starring her daughter Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie.

In 2005, Kathy headlined in her own reality series on NBC called “I Want To Be a Hilton.” Featuring people who “Wanted to be like a Hilton,” the game show ran for a season from June 21 until August 9, 2005.

2005 also saw Kathy appear in various television shows like “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” “Today,” “Larry King Live” and “The View” as well as serve as judge in “The Miss Teen USA Pageant.” In 2007, she appeared in four episodes of “Entertainment Tonight.”  She continued to appear as herself in “The Young and the Restless” (2 episodes, 2008), “Paris Hilton's British Best Friend” (1 episodes, 2009), “The World According to Paris” (4 episodes, 2011) and “Piers Morgan Tonight” (2 episodes, 2011).    


Awards:

--- Show Less