Occupation: Actress, Model
Date of Birth: February 17, 1972
Place of Birth: Downers Grove, Ill.
Sign: Sun in Aquarius, Moon in Aries
Relations: Companion: Patrick Muldoon
Education: High school
DENISE LEE RICHARDS was born in Downers Grove, Illinois, a middle-class Chicago suburb. When she was a sophomore in high school, her parents moved the family to the San Diego area, where they opened a chain of coffee shops called Jitters – apparently, the whole family has good a sense of humor. Denise graduated from El Camino High School in the class of '89 and quickly landed a modeling contract. Soon, the brunette-in-a-sea-of-blondes was traveling between Tokyo, Paris and New York for various shoots, including numerous magazines' "swimsuit editions." After a brief stint as a Bonne Bell girl; and a few too many people telling her she was too short to be a model (5'6"); Denise decided to parlay her looks into acting. She made her debut on the drama Life Goes On, then quickly landed guest spots on shows ranging from Doogie Howser, MD to Melrose Place.
Denise made her feature debut in the 1993 film National Lampoon's Loaded Weapon One..
Richards cites Susan Sarandon along Jessica Lange, Kim Basinger and Michelle Pfeiffer as her favorite actresses who she says are "strong women who have made brilliant choices with their careers." Although she could probably have a career built on playing bitchy sex pots (a la Wild Things and Drop Dead Gorgeous), she says she would like to do a period piece or a romantic comedy, to avoid being stereotyped.
In the long run, Denise has said, she would like to be able to create her own projects, whether as a director or through her own production company.
Movies:
2000 The Third Wheel
1999 The World is Not Enough
1999 Drop Dead Gorgeous (working title: Dairy Queens)
1999 Tail Lights Fade
1998 Wild Things
1997 Starship Troopers
1997 Nowhere
1996 Melrose Place
1995 919 Fifth Avenue
1994 Lookin' Italian
1994 Tammy and the T-Rex
1993 Loaded Weapon 1
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
