The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills has featured many cast members since 2010, and many of them had close friends and family who passed away. The hit reality TV show began airing over a decade ago on Bravo and soon became one of the most popular series in the franchise. RHOBH showcased the lives of women living in Beverly Hills alongside their ups and downs. As of 2023, the show has 12 seasons and 268 episodes, with a thirteenth season to air sometime later this year.
Over the years, RHOBH has featured some of the most interesting cast members. One of those cast members includes The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' Kyle Richards, who began her journey on the show during the very first season. She acted like a good sister to Kim Richards and did her best to help her through Kim's tough moments on the show. Taylor Armstrong then became the standout star in RHOBH season 2 after she opened up about her husband's abusive behavior bringing light to the issue of domestic abuse in their relationship. Other women who became popular on the show included Lisa Vanderpump, Adrienne Maloof, Lisa Rinna, Yolanda Hadid, Erika Girardi, and many more.
5 The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' Russell Armstrong
Taylor's ex-husband, Russell Armstrong, is a former reality star who passed away in 2011, after an apparent suicide. He was a major part of RHOBH season 2 as he was spoken about a lot but did not appear alongside his wife, Taylor, as they were going through a rough time in their marriage. While RHOBH's Taylor and Russell appeared to have a great marriage in the first season, it was soon discovered that their relationship was not as it seemed. Taylor and Russell had separated and were planning on getting a divorce. Taylor would later open up about it and reveal that her ex-husband abused her.
While Russell thrived at his job and seemed to have maintained a rich lifestyle, he eventually found himself in financial trouble. In 2011, Russell committed suicide by hanging himself in a house he shared with a roommate on Mulholland Drive. Most signs suggest that Russell's death may have been due to his life falling apart, but there is no real evidence. As for Taylor, she remarried John Bluher, in 2014 and has been with him since.
4 Kim Richards' Former Husband, Monty Brinson
Monty Brinson had a minor role in RHOBH. He was the ex-husband and best friend of Kim and the father of their daughter, Brooke Brinson. Monty tied the knot with Kim in the 80s, but their marriage lasted only three years before they eventually got divorced. However, they didn't emotionally break up and remained close. As a result, the North Carolina-based actor and writer appeared in various episodes alongside his ex-wife and became a huge point of discussion on the show before he tragically passed away in 2016.
Monty's IMDB profile reveals his birth name was George Montgomery Hutchens Brinson. He hasn't only been featured on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills but is also known for the 1990's movie, Escape. Monty had cancer when he appeared on RHOBH, and due to the nature of his disease, he passed away at 58. Kim's brother-in-law, Rick Hilton, announced Monty's passing on Instagram. He wrote (ABC), "His heart was as big as the moon and he was loved by all he met." Even Kim's niece Paris Hilton showed her grievances after losing her uncle and shared photos she had of him.
3 Lisa Vanderpump's Dogs, Daddio & Giggy
Lisa Vanderpump was the most loved RHOBH cast member for the longest time, especially due to her interesting lifestyle and unique personality. Even her family's relatives and pets have been an iconic part of the show and have become fan-favorite stars. Lisa and her husband, Ken Todd, have formed a beautiful family with two children and multiple pets, including their adorable Pomeranian pup, Giggy. The dogs have appeared in various videos alongside the Bravo star, and she has proudly shown her love for them in front of cameras.
Unfortunately, Lisa and her husband had lost their loving dogs in the past few years. In 2020, the reality star heartbreakingly announced that Giggy had passed away. It was painful for all RHOBH fans who had seen him on the show since RHOBH season 1. In her farewell Instagram post, Lisa wrote a loving tribute to her dog. She wrote, "Giggy's legacy will live on, through every dog @vanderpumpdogs saves."
2 Lisa Vanderpump’s Brother Mark Vanderpump
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Lisa's brother Mark Vanderpump passed away in 2018. The London native had been one of the main cast members for nine seasons, showcasing her luxurious life and family on the show. One of Lisa's closest family members was her brother Mark, a popular DJ and businessman. The mid-aged man had found a successful career and built a good life. However, People reports that everything fell apart in 2018 after he got into some "intense" financial issues that he could not control. Alongside other problems, Mark also suffered a divorce, impacting his mental state.
Mark committed suicide sometime before RHOBH season 9 started filming in 2018. The cause of his death was drug toxicity. Mark had sent text messages saying goodbye and pictures of the pills that led to his death. Due to Mark's passing, Lisa suffered serious emotional damage in RHOBH season 9 and was visibly distraught. She didn't appear on the show after that and claimed (via Distractify), "I made the decision to leave. It was a very difficult year for me, personally and professionally."
1 Lisa Rinna's Mom Lois Rinna
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Lisa Rinna has been the main cast member of the show since season 5. Hence, many of her family members have also been part of TV. One such star was her mom, Lois Rinna, who tragically passed away in 2021. Lisa and her mom had a sweet relationship, and the reality star had previously been open about how much she valued her and her dad.
Lisa's mom, Lois, was 93 years old when she passed away in November 2021. According to NBCDFW, Lois suffered a stroke and was unable to overcome it. Lisa’s daughter Amelia Hamlin announced Lois’ tragic death on her Instagram, stating, “My guardian angel for the rest of time..I love you so much my Lolo.” Most of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills cast members honored Lois and cherished her after her passing. The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills stars had many losses, and hopefully they will find peace and comfort.
Sources: Monty Brinson/IMDB, ABC, Lisa Vanderpump/Instagram, People, Distractify, NBCDFW, Amelia Hamlin/Instagram