Kim Richards: A Look Back at the Life of 'The Real Housewives' Star

Kim Richards has been in the spotlight nearly her whole life. According to the book 'House of Hilton', she landed a First Carpet commercial as a baby. By age 6, she made her TV debut on the 1970s series 'Nanny and the Professor'. Kim then appeared on various TV shows like 'Here We Go Again' and 'Little House on the Prairie'. She also became one of the original Disney stars, featuring in movies such as the classic 'Escape to Witch Mountain.'

Although it may seem like an ideal life for most kids, Kim’s reality was different. According to 'House of Hilton', Kim and her sisters were often made to compete with each other by their mother, who was obsessed with making them famous and was difficult as a 'stage mom.' This pressure robbed Kim of a normal childhood, and she later said she felt like she was 'treated like a show pony'

In 1985, at 20, Kim Richards married supermarket heir Monty Brinson. They met on a blind date and quickly became inseparable. However, Monty revealed that Kim wasn’t always faithful, as her mother pushed her to find a wealthier man. Despite this, they got married after Kim became pregnant with their daughter, Brooke. Monty said, 'It was Kim’s choice to have the baby

Although Kim and Monty divorced in 1988, they stayed close for the sake of their daughter, Brooke. Kim shared on Instagram that Monty was 'a great father' and often expressed their lasting bond, calling him her 'best friend.' She kept her promise to stay by his side, caring for him during his battle with cancer until he passed away in 2016.

1991 started off well for Kim Richards, who welcomed her third child, Chad, in May. In an Instagram post, she fondly recalled, "I gave birth to this amazing human." That same year, she divorced her second husband, Gregg Davis, and quickly began dating salesman John Collett, her longtime fan.

Kim Richards' life took a major turn at age 45 when she joined the cast of Bravo's 'The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' in 2010. She was a full-time cast member for the first five seasons and later appeared as a guest. Her time on the show was filled with drama, especially her explosive fights with her sister Kyle, who accused Kim of being an alcoholic

Kim's struggles with substance abuse became a focus on 'The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills', leading her to check into rehab during Season 2 in 2011. It wasn't her first time in rehab, with sources saying her issues with alcohol and other substances had been clear for a while. Producer Andy Cohen revealed in 'Not All Diamonds and Rosé' that Bravo covered her rehab costs, wanting to handle the situation responsibly. In a later interview, Kim admitted to being an alcoholic, though her challenges continued afterward.

2015 was a tough year for Kim Richards, as she was arrested twice and returned to rehab. In April, she was arrested at the Beverly Hills Hotel for public intoxication, resisting arrest, trespassing, and battery on a police officer.

Kim later explained on 'Watch What Happens Live' that she had been drinking at her daughter’s house and decided to go to the hotel to avoid driving drunk. When an employee refused to seat her, the situation escalated, leading to the police being called.

Kim Richards began dating businessman Wynn Katz, but they kept their relationship private for six years. Kim later told 'ET', "We just managed to keep it kind of private." In 2018, they made their romance public by appearing on 'Marriage Boot Camp: Reality Stars'.