[7][8] Kim and Kathy were raised in Lloyd Harbor, New York before their father moved them to Los Angeles, where Kyle was born.

She teamed up once again with Witch Mountain co-star Ike Eisenmann in the made-for-television movie Devil Dog: The Hound of Hell (1978).

In the 1976 film Assault on Precinct 13, she played a young girl who was brutally murdered when a gang member fired a round into her chest.

She later starred in the short-lived television series Hello, Larry (1979-80) and appeared as a guest on numerous episodes of American television shows, including Emergency!, Diff'rent Strokes, Alice, Fantasy Island, The Love Boat, CHiPs, Magnum, P.I., James at 16, The Dukes of Hazzard, The Rockford Files, and Little House on the Prairie as Olga Nordstrom.

[14] Richards appeared in a supporting role as Christina Ricci's estranged mother in the drama film Black Snake Moan (2006).

[9][10][15] In 2010, Richards began appearing as a regular cast member of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, alongside her sister Kyle.

[18] On April 10, 2023, in honor of National Sibling Day, Richards and half-sister Kathy Hilton appeared together on Entertainment Tonight's "Spill the ETea" segment discussing their relationship, their children and being grandparents.

[29] Four months later, on August 2, 2015, Richards was again arrested for allegedly shoplifting at a San Fernando Valley Target department store.

[31] Richards remained close friends with first husband Brinson and helped care for him during his struggle with lung cancer, which eventually caused his death on January 25, 2016, at age 58.