If you’re a fan of reality TV or early 2000s pop culture, you know the tangled webs woven by the stars of “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” are legendary. Yet, few connections are as wild—or as persistently fascinating—as the love triangle (or perhaps quadrangle?) that is Nicolette Sheridan, Lisa Rinna, Denise Richards, Harry Hamlin, and Aaron Phypers.
It’s the kind of revelation that, once you know it, you can never un-know. I, for one, still can’t get over Nicolette Sheridan being the ex-wife of not one, but two current or former husbands of “Real Housewives” icons Lisa Rinna and Denise Richards. It’s like a Kevin Bacon game for Hollywood exes—except the degrees of separation are barely one.
Let’s break it all down, shall we?
The Nicolette Sheridan Connection
Nicolette Sheridan, best known for her role as Edie Britt on “Desperate Housewives,” has her own real-life soap opera history. Sheridan’s love life has often been the subject of tabloid fascination, but even by Hollywood standards, her connections to the Real Housewives universe are next-level.
She was, once upon a time, married to Harry Hamlin—yes, that Harry Hamlin, the very same actor beloved for his roles in “L.A. Law” and “Clash of the Titans.” And Harry Hamlin is, as even casual Housewives fans know, the longtime husband of Lisa Rinna.
But that’s not where it ends. Years after her marriage to Hamlin ended, Nicolette Sheridan went on to marry Aaron Phypers. Who is Aaron Phypers? None other than Denise Richards’ now ex-husband, and a memorable side character in his own right on “RHOBH.” So, Nicolette was married to both Harry Hamlin and Aaron Phypers—meaning she was married to both Lisa Rinna’s and Denise Richards’ husbands, just at different points in time.
The Harry Hamlin Chapter
Let’s start with Harry. Nicolette and Harry Hamlin tied the knot in 1991. The marriage didn’t last long—less than a year, in fact. Their split was reportedly dramatic and left a lingering awkwardness that has occasionally resurfaced on “Real Housewives,” thanks to Rinna’s legendary ability to stir the pot.
Lisa Rinna has openly talked about the fact that Harry’s ex-wife is none other than Nicolette Sheridan. The story reached peak meme status in Season 9 of “RHOBH,” when Rinna claimed that Nicolette cheated on Hamlin with Michael Bolton. Sheridan, for her part, has always denied this. The back-and-forth was messy and gloriously entertaining for fans who love a good behind-the-scenes Hollywood feud.
The Aaron Phypers Era
Fast forward more than two decades, and Nicolette Sheridan is once again in the Housewives orbit. This time, she marries Aaron Phypers in 2015. Their marriage, like her first, is short-lived—just a year or so—before Aaron moves on and eventually marries Denise Richards.
Denise and Aaron became “that couple” on “RHOBH”—the crystal-wielding, slightly mystical, deeply passionate pair who always seemed a little out of sync with the rest of the cast. Once again, Nicolette Sheridan’s name popped up, especially as fans realized the jaw-dropping coincidence: Denise Richards and Lisa Rinna, co-stars and occasional frenemies, both had husbands who were, at different times, married to the same woman.
Why This Connection Won’t Die
In the world of “Housewives,” connections are everything. The idea that two of the show’s most iconic stars are tied together by a single woman—one who never even appeared on the show—feels almost Shakespearean in its drama.
Maybe that’s why, years later, fans (myself included) still can’t get over it. It’s a piece of trivia so deliciously bizarre that it’s brought up in interviews, on Twitter, and at every “RHOBH” reunion. Even the stars themselves seem a little haunted by it. Lisa Rinna, with her trademark sass, has never let it go—and who can blame her?
The entire saga is emblematic of the surreal, small-world energy that defines Hollywood. Relationships overlap, histories collide, and the most unexpected connections become meme-worthy cultural moments.
The Lasting Impact
At the end of the day, the Nicolette Sheridan connection is more than just a wild coincidence. It’s a perfect encapsulation of why we love celebrity gossip and reality TV in the first place. The interwoven histories, the outsized personalities, the messy, dramatic breakups and makeups—it’s all there.
So, yes, I still can’t get over Nicolette Sheridan being the ex of both Lisa Rinna and Denise Richards’ husbands. And honestly? I hope I never do.
Because in a world where so much is unpredictable, it’s oddly comforting to know that the real drama will always be stranger—and more entertaining—than fiction.
