Camille Grammer
Camille Grammer Meyer (née Donatacci) is an American actress, dancer, model, and television personality. She is known for appearing on several seasons of the reality television show, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.
Camille Grammer Meyer | |
---|---|
Born | Camille Donatacci September 2, 1968 |
Alma mater | Montclair State University (BA) |
Occupation(s) | Actress, dancer, model, television personality |
Years active | 1984–present |
Spouses | |
Children | 2 |
Grammer started her career as a dancer, model and actress, and worked as a producer and writer for Grammnet Productions. From 1997 to 2011, she was married to actor Kelsey Grammer.
Early life
Grammer was born in Newport Beach, California and grew up in Cedar Grove, New Jersey.[1] She studied English literature at Montclair State College in New Jersey,[2] attending New York University[3] and the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television in Los Angeles.[4]
Career
Grammer started her career as a dancer in the 1980s, working on Club MTV, starring in a dance group performing at the Tavern on the Green in New York City,[2][5] and appearing in several music videos,[6] including "Give It All You Got" by Rights of The Accused, "The Party Starts Now!" by Manitoba's Wild Kingdom, and "Back to the Grill Again" by MC Serch.[7] In the 1990s, she started working as a model and actress as well, modeling in Playboy publications like Playboy's Book of Lingerie,[8][9] and appearing in R-rated erotic films such as Marilyn Chambers' Bedtime Stories, New York Nights and The Naked Detective. She also had small roles in mainstream films Private Parts and Deconstructing Harry, in addition to her guest appearance in one episode of Frasier.
She owns half of Grammnet Productions,[10] which has produced a number of television shows from the late 1990s through 2010s, including Girlfriends, Medium and The Game. Within the production company, Grammer has worked as a creator, writer and executive producer.[11][12][13]
In 2010, she became one of the original cast members of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.[14] While no longer a main cast member of the show, she has appeared as a part-time cast member and as a guest in several seasons since. The January 13, 2011 episode of the show, in which she revealed that her husband wanted to leave their marriage, was the No. 1 telecast among adults 18–49 against all cable competition in its timeslot, as well as the highest-rated episode of the season among all viewers. In addition, the Watch What Happens Live! episode featuring Camille Donatacci Meyer as a guest right after the show, outperformed all late night cable talk shows that night.[15]
In 2011, Grammer returned to acting, guest-starring on the season finale of the CBS sitcom $#*! My Dad Says, playing a recently-divorced reality star named Camille.[16] Describing her role, Donatacci said: "My character Camille is basically a parody on myself, obviously, from 'Housewives of Beverly Hills.' Just making fun of it, you know, making fun of all the quirky things I do and say."[17] On whether she is pursuing a full-time acting career, Grammer said: "I studied acting years ago. It was kind of a dream I had years ago, but I gave that up when I got married and had children. I'm not pursuing this. I'd definitely have to go back and take some acting classes if I was! But I have to say, my experience was very enjoyable and of course it would be something I would love to do. It's so much fun to work with such talented people and be involved in the creative process."[16]
Grammer has also made other appearances in various events, such as co-hosting the Showbiz Tonight special on CNN live from the Academy Awards in Los Angeles[18][19] and presenting at the 2011 NHL Awards in Las Vegas.[20]
In March 2012, it was announced that Grammer would not return for the third season of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills for personal reasons. In May 2012, while on the red carpet attending the Race to Erase MS gala, she then stated that she will be returning to the show after all.[21] She did not return to the show as a full time cast member, instead she appeared as a part-time cast member.
Grammer is set to star in the fifth season of The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip, a spin-off featuring various women from The Real Housewives franchise, taking place in Marrakesh, Morocco and set to premiere in 2024.[22]
Personal life
Camille met actor Kelsey Grammer in 1996, and they married in Malibu, California in 1997.[23] They have two children, both born via a surrogate mother.[24][25] In July 2010, she filed for divorce,[26] seeking primary physical custody of the couple's daughter and son, in addition to child support and alimony. The divorce was finalized on February 10, 2011.[27] Camille has accused Kelsey of physical and verbal abuse during their marriage.[28]
After her divorce, she began dating fitness trainer and lawyer Dimitri Charalambopoulos.[29][30] On October 29, 2013, she filed a domestic violence protective order against Charalambopoulos, saying that he assaulted her two days after her radical hysterectomy for endometrial cancer, when she was staying at Hotel Zaza in Houston, Texas, recovering.[31][32][33][34] The Houston Police Department said that she and Charalambopoulos "broke each other's cell phones" and that her injuries were minor, so no charges have been filed against Charalambopoulos.[35]
In October 2017, Grammer became engaged to attorney David C. Meyer.[36] They were married on October 20, 2018, in Hawaii.[37]
Her Malibu home was destroyed in the deadly 2018 Woolsey Fire.[38]
Filmography
Year | Show | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1984 | New York Nights | ||
1985–1992 | Club MTV | Dancer | |
1993 | Marilyn Chambers' Bedtime Stories | ||
1996 | The Naked Detective | Annie O'Shea | |
1997 | Private Parts | Bikini Girl | |
1997 | Frasier | Eve | Episode: "Halloween" |
1997 | Deconstructing Harry | ||
2001 | Neurotic Tendencies | Executive producer | TV movie |
2002 | Mr. St. Nick | Head producer | TV movie |
2003 | Gary the Rat | Secretary | 3 episodes |
2004 | A Christmas Carol: The Musical | Producer | TV movie |
2008 | An American Carol | ||
2010–2020, 2023 | The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills | Herself | Seasons 1–2 (main) Season 3, 8—9 (recurring) Seasons 5–7, 10 & 13 (guest) |
2011 | $#*! My Dad Says | Camille | Episode: "Who's Your Daddy" |
2013 | RuPaul's Drag Race | Guest Judge | 2 episodes |
2013 | Betty White's Off Their Rockers | Herself | 1 episode |
2013 | 90210 | Herself | Episode: "Dude, Where's My Husband?" |
2014 | The Hungover Games | Tanya | |
2024 | The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip | Herself | Season 5[39] |
References
- "Camille Interview". The Howard Stern Show. January 12, 2011.
- Servin, James (August 15, 1993). "Vegas on the Green". The New York Times. Retrieved June 19, 2010.
- "Camille Donatacci – New York University". Playboy's College Girls. April/May 1996.
- "Camille plans to tie knot". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. December 20, 1996. Retrieved June 19, 2010.
- Martin, John (June 24, 1988). "MTV's chosen few Four R.I. 'preppies' make the 'Club' scene". Providence Journal. Retrieved June 19, 2010.
- The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Camille Donatacci Meyer Bio. BravoTV.com
- "Poptower: Camille Biography". Archived from the original on October 3, 2011. Retrieved June 29, 2011.
- Laufenberg, Norbert B. (2005). Entertainment Celebrities. Trafford Publishing. p. 269. ISBN 9781412053358.
- Playboy's Book of Lingerie, January/February 1997.
- "Split with Kelsey Grammer could net Camille $30M". New York Post. August 13, 1996.
- Neurotic Tendencies, Television Movie, 2001.
- Mr. St. Nick, Television Movie, 2002.
- A Christmas Carol, Television Movie, 2004.
- Fultz, Ashley; Weisman, Aly; Moorhouse, Drusilla (March 19, 2010). "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Cast Revealed!". E!. Retrieved June 19, 2010.
- "Bravo's 'The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' Sets Records with Total Viewers". TVbytheNumbers.com. January 14, 2010. Archived from the original on January 16, 2011.
- "Camille Donatacci Talks Life After Divorce: "It's a New Journey!"". E!. February 15, 2010.
- "EXCLUSIVE: Camille Donatacci Her '$#*! My Dad Says' Appearance (VIDEO)". TVSquad.com. February 16, 2010.
- "Camille Donatacci to Join CNN AND HLN Special Oscar Coverage". CNN Press Room. February 16, 2010.
- "Camille Donatacci: I'm keeping Kelsey's last name". The Marquee Blog – CNN.com Blogs. February 27, 2010.
- Hoag, Dirk (June 22, 2011). "2011 NHL Awards Open Thread". On the Forecheck. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
- Wihlborg, Ulrica (March 24, 2012). "Camille Donatacci Will Not Return to Real Housewives of Beverly Hills". People. Retrieved April 23, 2012.
- Franklin, McKinley (August 2, 2023). "'Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: RHONY Legacy' Swaps Dates With 'Ex-Wives Club'". Variety. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
- Holmes, Anna (August 15, 1997). "Celebrity news for the week of August 15, 1997". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on August 10, 2009. Retrieved June 19, 2010.
- "Kelsey Grammer cares for wife". Ask Men. January 27, 2005. Archived from the original on October 27, 2014. Retrieved June 19, 2010.
- Koch, Denise (June 29, 2006). "TV Star Kelsey Grammer Praises Surrogate Mother". WJZ. Archived from the original on March 30, 2010. Retrieved June 29, 2010.
- "Kelsey Grammer's Wife Files for Divorce: Report". Fox News Channel. July 1, 2010.
- "Judge grants Kelsey Grammer divorce in LA". Apnews.excite.com (February 10, 2011). Retrieved July 8, 2016.
- Merriman, Rebecca (May 4, 2016). "Camille accused ex-husband Fraiser [sic] star Kelsey of 'verbally and physically abusing her during marriage'". Daily Mirror. London. Retrieved March 4, 2017.
- Camille Boyfriend’s Baby Mama Drama. Radar Online (April 6, 2012). Retrieved July 8, 2016.
- Camille Sports A Bikini On Her Greece Vacation, HuffPost, September 8, 2013
- Tyler Rudick (October 30, 2013) Real Housewife details brutal assault at Houston hotel after surgery – CultureMap Houston. Houston.culturemap.com. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
- Camille Gets Restraining Order Against Boyfriend After Alleged Attack – Domestic Violence, Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Camille. People. (October 29, 2013). Retrieved July 8, 2016.
- Guthrie, Dana. (October 29, 2013) Report: Reality star claims she was abused in Houston hotel – Celebrity Buzz Archived April 21, 2021, at the Wayback Machine. Houston Chronicle. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
- Camille Domestic Violence Scandal: What Happened Inside Houston Hotel Room — In Her Own Words. Radar Online (October 29, 2013). Retrieved July 8, 2016.
- "Camille details ex-boyfriend fight; restraining order granted". CNN. October 31, 2013.
- "Camille Is Engaged: How the Reality Star Endured a High-Profile Divorce and Found Love Nearly a Decade Later". E!. October 30, 2017.
- "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' Camille Is Married – See Her Wedding photo!". People. October 21, 2018.
- Heller, Corinne (November 15, 2018). "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' Camille Grammer Shares Photo of Home Burned in Fire". E. Archived from the original on October 21, 2021. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
- @BravoTV (January 9, 2023). "#RHUGT S4 Cast Confirmed" (Tweet) – via Twitter.