Denise Richards
Richards in 2011, s_bukley / Shutterstock.com
Birth Name: Denise Lee Richards
Place of Birth: Downers Grove, Illinois, U.S.
Date of Birth: February 17, 1971
Ethnicity: German, French-Canadian, Irish, English, Welsh, distant Dutch
Denise Richards is an American actress and model. She became known in the late 1990s, after a string of films that highlighted her sex appeal, including Starship Troopers, Wild Things, The World Is Not Enough, and Valentine, among others.
Denise is the daughter of Joni and Irv Richards. Her family surname was originally Reichert. Her ancestry is German, French-Canadian, Irish, English, Welsh, and distant Dutch.
Several web sites have stated that Denise’s mother was of Croatian descent. This is not accurate.
Denise is married to Aaron Phypers. She has three children, including two with her former husband, actor Charlie Sheen.
Denise’s paternal grandfather was Irving Bernard Richards (the son of Theodore Reichert/Edward Richards and Theresa Cormier). Irving was born in Illinois. Theodore was born in Illinois, the son of Adam Reichert, a German immigrant, and of Frances Mary Breternitz/Preteinitz, who was born in Illinois, of German descent. Denise’s grandfather was born with the surname Reichert; the surname was later changed to Richards. Denise’s great-grandmother Theresa was also born in Illinois, the daughter of Albert Cormier, who was French-Canadian, and of Annie O’Neill, who was born in Illinois, to Irish parents.
Denise’s paternal grandmother was Dorothy M. Herron (the daughter of Fred Wesley Herron and Marguerite/Margaret A. Dando). Dorothy was born in Illinois. Fred was born in Illniois, the son of Simon Wesley Herron and Charlotte Lucretia Sperry, and was of mostly English ancestry, along with some distant Dutch roots. Marguerite was also born in Illinois, the daughter of Albert I. Dando and Margaret Loretta “Maggie” Broderick. Denise’s great-great-grandfather Albert’s parents, Meshack/Meshach Dando and Martha Swanborough, were born in Gloucester, England, and Aberystruth, Monmouthshire, Wales, respectively, while Denise’s great-great-grandmother Margaret’s parents, Richard Broderick and Mary Ann Gallagher, were Irish, with Richard being from Galway.
Denise’s maternal grandfather was James Donald Braden (the son of Robert Ernest Bradin and Rose Maude Baldwin). James was born in Michigan. Robert was the son of Robert F./Y. Bradin/Braden and Mary Welch. Rose was the daughter of Charles Albert “Bert” Baldwin and Lillian Viola Harris.
Denise’s maternal grandmother was Shirley Ann Kirkpatrick (the daughter of Mack/Mac Kirkpatrick and Florence Harriet Verta/Vietta/Vieta Parr). Shirley was born in Michigan. Mack was the son of Ephrim/Ephraim Kirkpatrick and Lydia Ida Graffins, who were from Pennsylvania. Florence was born in Canada, to English parents, James Parr and Mary Ann Cotterell.
Sources: Genealogies of Denise Richards (focusing on her father’s side) – https://gw.geneanet.org
https://www.geni.com
Birth record of Denise’s paternal grandfather, Irving Bernard Reichert/Richards – https://familysearch.org
Genealogies of Denise’s paternal great-great-grandparents, Simon Wesley Herron and Charlotte Lucretia Sperry – https://www.findagrave.com
Obituary of Denise’s maternal grandmother, Shirley Ann (Kirkpatrick) Braden Lehmann – http://www.memorialsolutions.com
Her mother was Croatian/German. She has even confirmed this. Get your information right!
She did say on Twitter that she was of German, Croatian, Welsh, and French descent.
I found the german/ french quote on twitter but not the Croatian part.
Oh, you’re right. Thank you for finding the quote.
Interesting theory.
I thought she would have some italian, she is very tanned!
one of her grandparents has a drop of African American in them. Partly why shes so “tanned”.
No she doesn’t. She’s FRENCH and GERMAN, can you people read. NOT BLACK. ugh.
its called a spray tan, she did it on her television show. Gees have u people ever herd of tanning lol
Most european ppl are tan depends on sun exposure. Ur brainwashed from jersey shore they tan 2 much along with most of new york, new jersey…
And most people in illinois are really tan
sure its not croatian on her mothers side
Lets put her to the test. Let her sit in the hot sun on the beach for 2 hours. If she turns red and blisters, she is white. If she turns a cool dark color than she is black :-)
what the … i have never heard of such a crazy test like that! lol … what exactly does that test prove?
You’re stupid, dude. A few black people get sunburnt, and some people that are white get tanned! It doesn’t work at all!
Black people burn as well. I do and so does my mom.
My mother burns. She cannot be out in the sun for longer than an hour before her skin starts to burn.