Actor Leah Remini is joining the cast of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills for its 16th season, Bravo confirmed to E! News.
Production for the 16th season began earlier this summer. Remini will be joined by returning full-time cast members Kyle Richards, Erika "Jayne" Girardi, Dorit Kemsley, Bozoma Saint John, Rachel Zoe, and Sutton Stracke, according to Variety. Former cast members Kathy Hilton and Jennifer Tilly will also return as friends of the cast.
The 56-year-old Emmy winner is best known for her acting roles on television series including The King of Queens and Kevin Can Wait. She has previous experience in reality television, having starred in TLC's 2014 series Leah Remini: It's All Relative and the docuseries Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath, which documented her investigation into the Church of Scientology after leaving the organization in 2013.
Remini shares a 22-year-old daughter, Sofia, with her ex-husband Angelo Pagán and is a longtime friend of Jennifer Lopez. E! News reached out to representatives for Remini for comment, but did not immediately receive a response.
New Cast Members and Departure
Remini is not the only new addition joining the show for season 16. Tracy Tutor, a former cast member of Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles, announced on Instagram on Aug. 19 that she is joining the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills cast.
The 51-year-old California native posted a diamond emoji alongside her announcement, writing that Beverly Hills is home where she raised her daughters Juliet, 20, and Scarlett, 17, with ex Jason Maltas. Tutor admitted to feeling both nervous and excited about the new role, stating she was ready to get into trouble and writing, "Let's f--king go."
The upcoming season was already marked by cast changes before filming began, following Amanda Frances's announcement that she would not return. The 40-year-old author, financial advisor, and self-described "Money Queen" spent only one season on the series before releasing an Instagram statement on Aug. 5 announcing her departure.
Frances described joining the show as one of the boldest, wildest, and most clarifying things she had ever done. She expressed gratitude to viewers who watched her try to explain metaphysics in a room full of diamonds and side-eyes during her single season on the show.
Franchise Rankings Bottom Tier
The casting announcements coincide with an official ranking of Real Housewives cast members published by E! News, which evaluated personalities across the franchise's history. The bottom of the list featured The Real Housewives of D.C. at ranks 175 through 178, including Mary Amons, Lynda Erkiletian, Cat Ommanney, Stacie Scott Turner, and a cast member known for gate-crashing a White House party.
Other low-ranking early departures include Kimberly Bryant at 174 and Tammy Knickerbocker at 173 from Orange County. DeShawn Snow of Atlanta, who appeared alongside NeNe Leakes, ranked 172, while one-season Orange County cast member Elizabeth Lyn Vargas was placed at 171.
Jennie Nguyen of Salt Lake City landed at rank 170 after being fired in January 2022 when racially insensitive Facebook posts resurfaced, for which she later apologized. Quinn Fry of Orange County ranked 169, while Dr. Jen Armstrong of Orange County took rank 168 following a season 16 run that featured marriage troubles with her husband Ryne and a wine-filled dinner party hosted by Heather and Terry Dubrow.
Nurse anesthetist Annemarie Wiley of Beverly Hills placed at rank 167 after a debut season marked by a dispute dubbed Esophagus-gate. Potomac cast members Katie Rost and Charrisse Jackson Jordan took ranks 166 and 165 respectively, with Rost departing a cast trip early and Jackson Jordan noted for her champagne room and marriage struggles.
Mid-Ranked Franchise Exits
Shamari DeVoe of Atlanta ranked 164, while Peggy Sulahian of Orange County placed 163 after a season 12 run where she hid in her room for an entire day during a cast trip to Iceland. Nneka Ihim of Potomac landed at 162 following an eighth season storyline involving allegations against co-star Wendy Osefo's mother.
Noella Bergener of Orange County ranked 161 after a season 16 run involving friction with Heather Dubrow and a divorce request from her husband James. Siggy Flicker of New Jersey placed 160 over complaints regarding a thrown cake and claims of anti-Semitism, while Amber Marchese and her husband Jim ranked 159. Miami cast members Karent Sierra, a dentist, and Cristy Rice took ranks 158 and 157, with New York City cast member Jules Wainstein at 156.
Departing Beverly Hills cast member Amanda Frances was ranked 155 due to conflict with costars, material obsession, and a refusal to engage in confrontation. New Jersey cast members Teresa Aprea and Nicole Napolitano shared ranks 153 and 154 without individual taglines, while Nina Ali and Taleen Marie of Dubai took ranks 152 and 151.
Notable Franchise Veterans
Angel Massie of Potomac ranked 150 after a season 10 glamping trip in Colorado ended with the cast lost in the wilderness eating gas station fast food. Former America's Next Top Model contestant Eva Marcille of Atlanta placed 149 after appearing in seasons 11 and 12, where she delivered a notable read of Marlo Hampton in Tokyo. Katie Ginella of Orange County took rank 148 after challenging Heather Dubrow in season 18.
Stephanie Shojaee of Miami ranked 147 after using her private jet as leverage during season seven, while tech entrepreneur Sara Al Madani of Dubai placed 146 following a disagreement over parenting advice with Caroline Brooks. New Jersey cast members Rachel Fuda and Danielle Cabral rounded out ranks 144 and 145 after a season-long feud that host Andy Cohen called pointless during a reunion special.
