How Old Is Denise Richards and What Is She Doing Now?

What is the beloved ’90s star up to now — and why is she back in the headlines?

From time to time, every cinephile looks back at their favorite titles from the past. Whether it is nostalgia or a real shift in how films used to be made, many of us feel that the movies of the ’80s and ’90s simply had a different texture to them. The same goes for the stars — they just don’t make them like that anymore.

One of the absolute fan favorites of the ’90s was Denise Richards. Best known for her roles in Starship Troopers and Wild Things, she went on to play Bond girl Christmas Jones in 1999’s The World Is Not Enough — and then, for a while, many casual viewers lost track of her projects. In 2026 she is very much back in the spotlight, both for her work and for a turbulent chapter in her personal life. Here is a full, up-to-date look at where she is today.

How Old Is Denise Richards?

Denise Richards was born on February 17, 1971, in Downers Grove, Illinois, according to her biography. As of 2026, that makes her 55 years old. More than three decades into her career, she is still working steadily across film, television and reality TV.

Denise Richards’ Career: From ’90s Icon to TV Regular

Richards broke through in the late ’90s with a run of now-iconic roles: the sci-fi hit Starship Troopers (1997), the erotic thriller Wild Things (1998), and the James Bond film The World Is Not Enough (1999), where she played nuclear physicist Christmas Jones.

Through the early 2000s she leaned into comedy and genre films, including Undercover Brother (2002), Scary Movie 3 (2003) and a brief appearance as Carla in the ensemble romance Love Actually (2003). From there she pivoted increasingly to television.

Starting in 2010, she appeared in Paramount’s Blue Mountain State as Debra Simon. In 2013, she joined the mystery-thriller series Twisted as Karen Desai, the devoted mother of the main character. But it was daytime TV that gave her one of her most enduring roles: from 2019 to 2022 she played Shauna Fulton on the CBS soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful. Around the same time, fans got to know the real Denise through reality television, including her own show Denise Richards: It’s Complicated and Bravo’s The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.

What Is Denise Richards Doing Now? (2026)

Far from slowing down, Richards has had one of her most active stretches in years.

Back on The Bold and the Beautiful. In May 2026, Richards reprised her recurring role as Shauna Fulton on The Bold and the Beautiful, returning to the CBS soap beginning with the May 28 episode. She has spoken about how much she enjoys being back on set and how the schedule leaves her room to take on other projects.

A new thriller, and a heartbreaking farewell. In April 2026 she starred in the gritty crime thriller Dirty Hands, which reunited her with her Starship Troopers co-star Patrick Muldoon. The film — about the Denton brothers fighting for survival after a drug deal goes wrong — was released on VOD and digital on April 24, 2026. Tragically, it became Muldoon’s final on-screen project: the actor, also known for Days of Our Lives and Melrose Place, died on April 19, 2026, at the age of 57. Richards has since paid tribute to him and spoken candidly about how difficult it was to promote the film after his sudden passing.

New representation and new recognition. In February 2026, Richards signed with Innovative Artists Entertainment for representation across all areas, a sign that more projects are on the way. She also continued her Bravo docuseries Denise Richards & Her Wild Things, which followed her family life. In an unusual honor, an asteroid — 212501 Deniserichards — was named after her.

Denise Richards’ Divorce From Aaron Phypers

Richards’ personal life has drawn as much attention as her work in 2025 and 2026.

She married her second husband, Aaron Phypers — previously married to actress Nicollette Sheridan — in 2018. In July 2025, Phypers filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences and seeking spousal support.

The split quickly turned contentious. Richards was granted a temporary restraining order against Phypers in July 2025, followed by a permanent restraining order that runs through November 7, 2030. In court filings, she accused Phypers of repeated physical abuse during their marriage and of sharing private messages and photos of her online. Phypers was arrested on spousal-abuse charges tied to alleged incidents in 2017 and 2022. He has denied all allegations, stating that any suggestion of abuse is “categorically untrue.” As of mid-2026, the divorce proceedings are ongoing.

Denise Richards’ Marriages and Children

Richards’ first marriage, to actor Charlie Sheen, ended in a highly publicized divorce in 2006. The former couple share two daughters, Sam and Lola. In 2011, Richards adopted a third daughter, Eloise, as a single parent, raising all three children together.

Her 2018 marriage to Aaron Phypers appeared stable for years before the 2025 split described above. Through it all, Richards has remained open about the ups and downs of her family life — much of it now playing out on her Bravo series.

The Bottom Line

At 55, Denise Richards is neither a nostalgia act nor out of the picture. Between a soap-opera return, a poignant final film with an old co-star, fresh representation and a divorce that has kept her in the headlines, 2026 has been one of the most eventful years of her career — proof that the ’90s favorite is still very much a working, in-demand star.

Image credit: Legion-Media

Sources

• Denise Richards — Wikipedia (biography, age, filmography)
• Love Actually (2003), Denise Richards as Carla — IMDb
• Denise Richards returns to The Bold and the Beautiful — Soap Opera Network
• Dirty Hands (2026) — IMDb
• Patrick Muldoon dead at 57 — Variety
• Denise Richards signs with Innovative Artists — Deadline
• Temporary restraining order against Aaron Phypers — CNN
• Permanent restraining order granted — Fox News