Bethenny Frankel
Bethenny Frankel (born November 4, 1970)[2] is an American reality television personality, entrepreneur, and author. She was a contestant on the reality TV game show The Apprentice: Martha Stewart, in which she was the runner-up, in 2005. Frankel received wider notice after being cast on the Bravo reality television series The Real Housewives of New York City; she has starred in eight of its twelve seasons since it premiered in 2008. She received her own spin-off series Bethenny Ever After (2010–12), Bethenny & Fredrik (2018), and the talk show Bethenny (2013–14).
Bethenny Frankel | |
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Frankel in April 2009 | |
Born | New York City, New York, U.S. | November 4, 1970
Education | Boston University New York University (BA) |
Occupation |
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Years active | 1993–present |
Spouse(s) |
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Children | 1 |
Parent(s) |
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Website | bethenny |
Outside of her work in reality television, Frankel is the founder of the Skinnygirl, a lifestyle brand, and BStrong, a disaster relief organization. She is also the author of four self-help books.
Early life
Frankel is the only child of Robert J. Frankel, a horse trainer, and Bernadette Birk, an interior designer.[3][4] Her father was Jewish and her mother was a Roman Catholic of Welsh descent.[5][6][7] Her father left her mother when Frankel was four years old. When she was five, her mother married horse trainer, John Parisella, who is of the Catholic faith.[3] Frankel describes her childhood as difficult.[3] Her mother, Frankel says, "was always drinking" and often argued violently with her stepfather.[3]
Frankel said she moved many times and attended multiple schools before going to boarding school. Frankel attended Catholic schools as a girl, and she graduated in 1988 from the Pine Crest School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida,[8] where she lived on campus. She attended the Natural Gourmet Institute in New York City,[9] Boston University for two years, and graduated with a degree in psychology and communications from New York University.[10]
Career
Early career and television
In 1992, Frankel moved to Los Angeles with hopes of being an actress. While she landed some small acting roles, she worked as a nanny to Paris Hilton and a personal assistant to Jerry Bruckheimer and Linda Bruckheimer.[11] During this time, Frankel also worked as a production assistant on the set of Saved by the Bell.[12]
Frankel used these connections to start her first company, called "In Any Event", a party-planning business, which was short-lived.[11] Her next entrepreneurial enterprise was re-selling pashmina scarves that she bought wholesale from an Indian manufacturer.[11]
In 2003, Frankel started a baking business called "BethennyBakes", focusing on "healthy" cookies and meal delivery in New York City, which was featured on The Apprentice: Martha Stewart, a reality competition series, in 2005.[11][13][14] Frankel was one of two finalists on The Apprentice: Martha Stewart.[15][16] The company, BethennyBakes, later went out of business in 2006, but Frankel remained a spokesperson for Pepperidge Farms low-calorie line.[11][14]
In 2008, Frankel was selected for the reality television series The Real Housewives of New York City.[17] In June 2010, Frankel starred in the Bravo reality TV show Bethenny Getting Married?, which documented her engagement and marriage to Jason Hoppy, and the birth of their daughter. At the time of its premiere, the series was the highest rated of any series in Bravo's history.[18][19] In September 2010, Frankel announced that she would not be returning to The Real Housewives of New York City for its fourth season.[20]
Discussions of Frankel as a host for a talk show were conducted in 2011 and 2012.[21][22][23] The Bethenny show premiered on September 9, 2013,[24] and was canceled on February 14, 2014, airing repeats until the end of the television season.[25] It was announced in October 2014 that Frankel would return as a cast member for the seventh season of The Real Housewives of New York City.[26][27] In March 2019, Deadline Hollywood reported that Frankel had signed a deal with MGM Television and the company's chairman, Mark Burnett, to produce and star in future unscripted television projects.[28] In August of the same year, Frankel announced her departure from The Real Housewives of New York City.[29] The following year, it was announced that Frankel will star in an upcoming HBO Max reality competition series titled The Big Shot with Bethenny, which she will also produce alongside Burnett. The series is set to feature "aspiring business moguls compete for a job on Frankel's executive team."[30]
Skinnygirl
In March 2009, Frankel's book, Naturally Thin: Unleash Your SkinnyGirl and Free Yourself from a Lifetime of Dieting, was published and The SkinnyGirl Dish: Easy Recipes for Your Naturally Thin Life, was published in December. She created an exercise DVD, Body by Bethenny, in spring 2010 and an audiobook, The Skinnygirl Rules, which summarized her two prior books.[31] In 2011, Frankel published, A Place of Yes: 10 Rules for Getting Everything You Want Out of Life and in December 2012, published the novel Skinnydipping.[32][33]
Frankel created the Skinnygirl cocktail company in April 2011.[34] She later sold the company to Fortune Brands' Beam Global (now a part of Suntory) for an estimated $100 million.[10][35][36]
In May 2017, Bethenny celebrated the Midwest launch of Skinnygirl Market Fresh Deli. It is a line of pre-packaged lunch meat that is free from preservatives and certified[37] by the American Heart Association for containing lower levels of sodium and fat.[38] Skinnygirl Market Fresh Deli is also a supporter of Bethenny's program, B-Strong: Find Your Yes, which is a division of Dress for Success. The program provides a "multi-layered support system, resources and financial assistance for women coping with crisis situations."[38]
Philanthropy and activism
Frankel is the founder of BStrong, a disaster relief organization.[39] In 2017, the organization raised $300,000 in donations and supplies for the victims of Hurricane Harvey,[40] after which Frankel visited Houston, Texas to distribute these items.[41] In the same year, Frankel traveled to Mexico City and Jojutla, Mexico following the Puebla earthquake to raise awareness for the disaster's recovery efforts, for which BStrong also raised $150,000.[40][42] Also in the same year, Frankel chartered four planes to Puerto Rico and distributed medical supplies, food, water, and hygiene products in assisting with Hurricane Maria relief efforts.[43] In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, BStrong raised funds and delivered personal protective equipment such as masks, goggles, gowns, and sheets to hospitals in the U.S.[44]
Frankel posed nude for a PETA billboard in September 2009.[45]
Personal life
Frankel married entertainment industry executive Peter Sussman in 1996 and divorced him in 1997.[9][46] She married pharmaceutical sales executive Jason Hoppy in March 2010. They have one daughter.[47][48] Frankel separated from Hoppy in December 2012[49] and filed for divorce in January 2013.[50] A custody agreement was finalized in June 2014, but property division negotiations were still ongoing.[51] The divorce was finalized in July 2016, nearly four years after the couple separated.[52] In December 2017, she sued for full custody of their daughter.[53] In August 2019, Page Six revealed that Frankel and Hoppy are still legally married.[1]
Frankel has a severe fish allergy and was hospitalized in December 2018 after consuming soup that contained fish.[54] She has since demanded that airlines stop serving fish stating that it is a hazard to passengers with fish allergies to be in the presence of cooked seafood in an enclosed commercial airline jet.[55]
Filmography
As herself
Year | Title | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
2005 | The Apprentice: Martha Stewart | Runner-up; 13 episodes | |
2008–10, 2015–19 |
The Real Housewives of New York City | Main cast; seasons 1–3, 7–11 | |
2009 | Z Rock | Episode: "I Wanna Be Z-dated" | |
2010–12 | Chelsea Lately | Guest; various episodes | |
2010 | Skating with the Stars | Runner-up; 6 episodes | |
2010–15 | The Ellen DeGeneres Show | Guest; various episodes | |
2010–12 | Bethenny Ever After | Main cast | |
2013–14 | Bethenny | Host | |
2016, 2018 | The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills | Guest; seasons 6 and 8 | |
2016 | Beat Bobby Flay | Guest judge; season 10 | |
2017 | Million Dollar Listing New York | Guest | |
2017–19 | Shark Tank | Guest Shark; 5 episodes | |
2017 | Bethenny & Fredrik | Main cast | |
2018 | Bar Rescue | Episode: "Operation: Puerto Rico" | |
As actress
Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
1993 | Soiree Sans Hors D'oeuvres | Woman | Minor role | |
1994 | Hollywood Hills 90028 | Laura Drake | Lead role | |
1995 | Wish Me Luck | Bridgette | ||
2013 | The Neighbors | Jill | Episode 21: "Mo Purses Mo Money Mo Problems" |
Bibliography
- Naturally Thin: Unleash Your SkinnyGirl and Free Yourself from a Lifetime of Dieting (ISBN 978-1416597988, 2009)
- The Skinnygirl Dish: Easy Recipes for Your Naturally Thin Life (ISBN 978-1416597995, 2009)
- Body by Bethenny: Body-sculpting Workouts to Unleash Your SkinnyGirl (ISBN 978-1-59828-440-9, 2010)
- A Place of Yes: 10 Rules for Getting Everything You Want Out of Life (ISBN 978-1439186916, 2011)
- Skinnydipping: A Novel (ISBN 978-1451667387, 2012)
- Skinnygirl Solutions: Simple Ideas, Extraordinary Results (ISBN 978-1451667400, 2014)
- Cookie Meets Peanut (ISBN 978-0316368438, 2014)
- Skinnygirl Cocktails : 100 Fabulous and Flirty Cocktail Recipes and Party Foods for Any Occasion, Without the Guilt (ISBN 1476773025, 2014)
- I Suck at Relationships So You Don't Have To: 10 Rules for Not Screwing Up Your Happily Ever After (ISBN 978-1451667424, 2016)
References
- Marsh, Julia (August 23, 2019). "Bethenny Frankel and Jason Hoppy are still legally married". Page Six. New York Post.
- "Bethenny Frankel". TVGuide.com. Archived from the original on June 8, 2016. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
- McNeil, Liz (July 19, 2010). "Bethenny Frankel: Love Saved My Life". People. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
- New York Daily News: "'Real Housewives of New York City' star Bethenny Frankel and husband Jason Hoppy separating" By Bill Hutchinson December 23, 2012
- "After Show: All About Baby". bravotv.com. October 28, 2014. Retrieved July 29, 2017.
- Video Interview on BravoTV: "After Show: All About Baby – Part V: Bethenny talks about her religious background and the most important thing Baby Bryn has taught her" Retrieved July 4, 2012 "My father was Jewish. The story goes – because you know I am not that close to my family, I am not there for the real history lessons – He married my mother and she converted to Judaism for him. She was Catholic but then she was with my stepfather for all those years. I went to Catholic school and I know more about that.",
- Bethenny Frankel (March 22, 2011). A Place of Yes: 10 Rules for Getting Everything You Want Out of Life. p. 56. ISBN 9781439186923.
My mother had gone off to Wales for several months...her family is from Wales – very poor people who lived in shacks and raised pigeons
- Pinecrest Alumni newsletter Archived September 4, 2012, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved July 12, 2012
- "Bethenny Frankel". People. Archived from the original on September 10, 2016. Retrieved July 29, 2017.
- Casserly, Meghan (October 13, 2011). "Bethenny Frankel's Skinnygirl Deal: The Numbers Still Hold Up". Forbes.
- Casserly, Meghan (May 18, 2011). "Can Bethenny Crack A Billion?". Forbes.
- "Bethenny Frankel Shares Photo From 'Saved By The Bell' Set". HuffPost. June 26, 2012. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
- Fallon, Kevin (April 7, 2015). "The Second Coming of Bethenny Frankel". The Daily Beast.
- Sun, By John-John Williams IV, The Baltimore. "Bethenny Frankel: The Healthy 'Housewife'". Baltimore Sun.
- Jacki Garfinkel (August 24, 2006). "Bethenny Frankel: A Reality Star One Year Later". Media Village. Archived from the original on October 23, 2006. Retrieved July 29, 2017.
Interview with Bethenny Frankel of The Apprentice: Martha Stewart
- Martha Stewart selects Dawna Stone as her 'The Apprentice' winner Reality TV World
- Huguenin, Patrick (January 14, 2008). "Bravo spinoff 'Real Housewives of New York City' debuts in March". Daily News. New York.
- "Ratings: Bethenny Getting Married? the Most-Watched Series Debut in Bravo History". TVGuide.com.
- "Bethenny Frankel Leaving Real Housewives of New York City?". National Ledger. June 20, 2010. Retrieved June 24, 2010.
- Devon Thomas (September 2, 2010). "Bethenny Frankel: I'm Leaving 'The Real Housewives of New York City'". CBS News. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
- Harnick, Chris (November 28, 2011). "Bethenny Frankel's Talk Show Fails to Find Syndicated Home". HuffPost.
- Albiniak, Paige (January 24, 2012). "Bethenny to Air in Summer Test on Fox". Broadcasting & Cable.
- Downey, Kevin (July 6, 2012). "Fox Stations Set To Give OK To Bethenny". TVNewsCheck.
- Bibel, Sara (May 3, 2013). "'Bethenny', Bethenny Frankel's Talk Show, to Premiere in National Syndication September 9". TV by the Numbers.
- Liz McNeil; Kathy Ehrich Dowd (February 14, 2014). "Bethenny Frankel's Talk Show Has Been Canceled". people.com. Retrieved July 29, 2017.
- Rayford Rubenstein, Janine (October 20, 2014). "Bethenny Frankel Is Returning to Real Housewives of New York City". People. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
- Sieczkowski, Cavan (March 2, 2015). "Bethenny Frankel Returns To 'Real Housewives Of New York City'". HuffPost. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
- Fleming Jr, Mike (March 19, 2019). "Bethenny Frankel Makes Production Deal With MGM TV & Mark Burnett". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
- Hipes, Patrick; Petski, Denise (August 21, 2019). "Bethenny Frankel Exits 'Real Housewives Of New York' Franchise". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
- Porter, Rick (February 19, 2020). "Bethenny Frankel to Topline HBO Max Competition Series". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
- "Bethenny Frankel's Tips on Staying Slim, Sexy, and Fabulous".
- Unknown Author Skinnydipping World Cat, accessed December 18, 2012
- Frankel, Bethenny; Adamson, Eve (July 29, 2017). Skinnydipping. Touchstone/Simon & Schuster. OCLC 745978976.
- "Bethenny Frankel". Beauty Interviews. September 1, 2008. Archived from the original on September 16, 2008. Retrieved July 29, 2017.
- "Forbes Magazine Looking Into Bethenny Frankel's Financials". HuffPost. October 13, 2011. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
- "Bethenny Frankel on Skinnygirl Sale: 'The number is irrelevant'". NBC News. October 17, 2011. Archived from the original on May 4, 2012.
- "American Heart Association and American Stroke Association Linking Policy". www.heart.org. Retrieved July 29, 2017.
- Smithfield Foods. "news release : Skinnygirl Founder & Reality TV Star, Bethenny Frankel Makes Lunch More Fabulous With Cincinnati Launch of Skinnygirl Market Fresh Deli". GlobeNewswire. Retrieved May 23, 2017.
- Locke, Taylor (March 16, 2020). "How Bethenny Frankel works from home: 'You can get a lot more done'". CNBC. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
- Kimble, Lindsay; McNeil, Liz (September 25, 2017). "Bethenny Frankel Travels to Mexico to Aid Earthquake Survivors: 'To Say They Have Nothing Is an Understatement'". People. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
- Drew, Ian (September 11, 2017). "A 'Housewife' Heads to Hurricane Harvey-Ravaged Houston: 'This Is a Crisis'". Variety. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
- Corinthios, Aurelie; McNeil, Liz (October 6, 2017). "Bethenny Frankel Charters 4 Planes to Aid Hurricane Maria Victims in Puerto Rico: 'It Is a War Zone'". People. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
- Ryan, Lisa (October 3, 2017). "Bethenny Frankel Is on the Ground Providing Hurricane Relief in Puerto Rico". The Cut. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
- Real, Evan (March 26, 2020). "Inside Bethenny Frankel's Fight to Help Those Impacted by Coronavirus: "We're Working 24 Hours a Day"". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
- Hall, Katy (December 15, 2009). "Bethenny Frankel: Nude For PETA". HuffPost. Retrieved June 22, 2010.
- Everett, Cristina (June 9, 2010). "Bethenny Frankel reveals secret first marriage to Peter Sussman". New York Daily News.
- "Bethenny Frankel in Size-4 Bikini 3 Weeks After Baby! Go Bethenny!". Us Weekly. June 2, 2010 – via usmagazine.com.
- Carpentier, Fran (July 12, 2010). "Parade Magazine interview with Bethenny Frankel: "Bethenny Frankel: 'My Mother Hasn't Expressed Any Interest in Meeting Bryn'"". Parade.
- Billups, Andrea; McNeil, Liz (December 23, 2012). "Bethenny Frankel & Jason Hoppy Split Up". People.
- {{Cite magazineurl=https://people.com/celebrity/bethenny-frankel-divorcing-jason-hoppy/| title =Bethenny Frankel Divorcing Jason Hoppy | last =Michaud | first =Sarah | date =January 5, 2013 | magazine =People|accessdate=June 22, 2020}}
- Blumm, K. c. (June 4, 2014). "Bethenny Frankel and Jason Hoppy's Custody Case Settled". People. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
- McNeil, Liz; Corinthos, Aurelie (July 18, 2016). "Bethenny Frankel Settles Nearly 4-Year Divorce Battle with Ex Jason Hoppy". People. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
- Corinthios, Aurelie (December 12, 2017). "Bethany Frankel suing ex-husband for full custody of daughter, however no decision has been forthcoming". People.
- Merrett, Robyn; McNeil, Liz (December 17, 2018). "Bethenny Frankel Suffers a Near-Fatal Allergic Reaction to Fish: 'I Thought I Had a Stroke'". People.
- Roberts, Madison (January 24, 2019). "Bethenny Frankel Had Another Health Scare After Fish Is Slated to Be Served on Her Flight. Again". People.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bethenny Frankel. |
- Official website
- Bethenny Frankel on IMDb
- Bethenny Frankel Keynote Speaker Biography-BigSpeak