Kathy Hilton

About

Kathleen Elizabeth Hilton (née Avanzino; born March 13, 1959) 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.

Kathy Hilton was born on March 13, 1959, in Manhattan, New York City. She is the daughter of Kathleen Mary (née Dugan) and Larry Avanzino. Her father’s family comes from Italian ancestry while her mother’s side comes from Ireland. Hilton’s parents later divorced, and her mother married Kenneth E. Richards (1917–1998), From this marriage Hilton has two maternal half-sisters: actresses Kim and Kyle Richards. Hilton also has five paternal half-siblings from her father’s remarriage. She graduated from Montclair College Preparatory School in Los Angeles, where she became best friends with Michael Jackson. They remained close friends until his death in 2009.

In 1968, Hilton began working as a child actress, retiring in 1979. Notable…