Denise Richards marked her youngest daughter Eloise Joni Richards' 15th birthday on Monday with a touching tribute, sharing a video montage of joyful moments on Instagram. The teenager was diagnosed a decade ago with the rare genetic condition Chromosome 8, Monosomy 8p, which causes developmental delays, intellectual disabilities, and physical abnormalities.
Challenges and Joys of Raising a Special Needs Child
In her post, the 55-year-old Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum wrote to her 1.8 million followers: 'Having a special needs child in a lot of ways gets more challenging with me worrying more about her future the older she gets.' She recalled her mother's words: 'A special needs child is an angel from God and Eloise is the biggest angel with the biggest selfless heart. I'm so proud of her strength and kindness.'
Richards expressed gratitude for her older daughters, friends, and her father, who she described as 'the best grandpa and father figure for Eloise.' She concluded: 'We love you girlie! Happy birthday, Weezy.'
A Musical Tribute
The video was set to Eloise's favourite song, Golden by KPop Demon Hunters, a 2025 smash hit that won both an Oscar and a Grammy. Richards originally adopted Eloise in 2011 as a single parent. Although her estranged second husband Aaron Phypers signed adoption papers in 2019, she allegedly failed to file them.
Richards received birthday wishes from her RHOBH castmates Kathy Hilton and Camille Meyer, as well as from her 20-year-old daughter Lola Sheen, who commented: 'This is so cute mom.'
Family and Career Updates
The former Bond Girl also has a 22-year-old daughter, Sami Sheen, from her two-year marriage to Charlie Sheen, which ended acrimoniously in 2006. On Tuesday, Richards reunited with her former Starship Troopers co-star Casper Van Dien on the set of Damian Lee's upcoming film Key To Freedom in Hamilton, Ontario. She exclaimed: 'We are working together for the first time since Starship Troopers!'
Richards, who underwent a facelift last July, added: 'I like THESE Canadians,' alluding to her divorce battle with her unemployed 53-year-old ex-husband. It has been nearly 30 years since the pair starred in Paul Verhoeven's critically acclaimed sci-fi satire based on Robert A. Heinlein's 1959 novel. Both Richards and Van Dien are still grieving the loss of their castmate Patrick Muldoon, who died of a heart attack on April 19 at age 57.
Richards will next reprise her role as Shauna Fulton in this Thursday's episode of the CBS soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful, following a four-year hiatus. She also produces and stars in Denise Richards & Her Wild Things.
