HILTON
Kathleen

• 1. Television and film career

Kathleen Elizabeth Hilton is an American socialite, fashion designer, actress, and television personality. She is the mother of socialite Paris Hilton and fashion designer Nicky Hilton 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.

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, 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". 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. 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."

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

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.

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 fourteenth season.