WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO: KIM RICHARDS

If you were a male who grew up in the 1970’s, chances are you had a crush on Kim Richards. She was one of the decade's most popular younger actresses.

Born in 1964, she began acting in the sitcom NANNY AND THE PROFESSOR in 1970. The show lasted three seasons and played in syndication long after.

She starred in many more TV series, including another series, HERE WE GO AGAIN in 1973. There were episodes of THE F.B.I., EMERGENCY, LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE and THE STREETS OF SAN FRANCISCO.


In 1975, she would be essentially adopted by Disney and become their star. That was the year ESCAPE TO WITCH MOUNTAIN was released. It was a very popular film, playing for years after on TV. She also starred in the 1976 Disney film NO DEPOSIT, NO RETURN (which seemed to play 24 hours a day in the early days of cable). There was also the 1978 sequel, RETURN FROM WITCH MOUNTAIN for the studio.

In between the Disney films, there were episodes of FAMILY, THE ROCKFORD FILES, JAMES AT 15 and POLICE STORY. She was also killed off early on in John Carpenter’s ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13.


In 1977’s THE CAR, the James Brolin and killer car film, she starred with her sister Kyle Richards. In 1978 there was the killer dog film DEVIL DOG: HOUND OF HELL in which she appeared with her WITCH MOUNTAIN co-star Ike Eisenmann.



Since I never saw the WITCH MOUNTAIN films theatrically, I believe that I first saw Kim as Ruthie Adler, McLean Stevenson’s daughter in the 1979-1980 sitcom HELLO, LARRY. While it was not popular in the ratings, I never missed it because of her. There were tie in episodes with DIFF'RENT STROKES. (You can read my Forgotten TV story on HELLO, LARRY here).

After the show went off the air, she continued in TV with episodes of ALICE, CHiPS, THE LOVE BOAT, MAGNUM P.I., and THE DUKES OF HAZZARD.


In 1984 she starred in MEATBALLS PART 2. It was a pretty terrible sequel. Better was her next film, 1985’s TUFF TURF with James Spader and Robert Downey Jr. She was the best known of the three at the time.

She took a few years off before starring in a 1988 film written by her then husband called ESCAPE. Her sister Kyle also starred. The film was barely released in 1990 and even today is nearly impossible to find on VHS. (You can read my Forgotten Film story on ESCAPE here.)

And that was pretty much it.


So, What Ever Happened To Her?

Kim took time off to be with her family. She had her first child in 1986, during her first hiatus. Today, she has four children.

There is one interesting bit of trivia about her.

Her sister, Kathy Richards married Rick Hilton. She had a few children, one of them named Paris.

Yes, Paris Hilton is Kim’s niece.

After hearing that, I’ve found it hard to criticize Paris. I liked Kim so much I felt bad about making Paris jokes.

Now that her kids have grown, Kim has started to return to acting (which is one of the reasons why I am only writing this column now, since she hasn't disappeared).


She played Christina Ricci’s mom in BLACK SNAKE MOAN. As the director said on the commentary track, he was also a big fan of hers growing up and wanted her for the role. She agreed.

Kim will also appear in the upcoming RACE TO WITCH MOUNTAIN as a waitress.



Here is a very good interview with Kim from 2007.


Kim Richards on DVD



Kim Richards on Blu Ray



Kim Richards on VHS