24 Facts About Kelly Rutherford

Kelly Rutherford was born on November 6,1968 and is an American actress.

Kelly Rutherford is known for her television roles as Stephanie "Sam" Whitmore on the NBC daytime soap opera Generations, as Megan Lewis on the Fox primetime soap opera Melrose Place, and as Lily van der Woodsen on The CW series Gossip Girl.

Kelly Rutherford was born in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, on November 6,1968, the daughter of Ann Edwards.

Kelly Rutherford later studied at HB Studio in New York City, and the Beverly Hills Playhouse in California.

Kelly Rutherford appeared on Loving in 1987, and later was cast as a regular on Generations from 1989 to 1991.

From 1993 to 1994, Rutherford was a regular on the Fox series The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.

Kelly Rutherford starred in the short-lived series The Great Defender as Frankie Collet, and in Kindred: The Embraced as Caitlin Byrne.

In 1996, Kelly Rutherford joined the cast of Fox primetime soap opera Melrose Place, as Megan Lewis.

Kelly Rutherford starred as Christine Hamilton in the horror film Scream 3.

In 2007, Kelly Rutherford began starring as Lily van der Woodsen in the CW series Gossip Girl.

In 2016, Kelly Rutherford was cast in the ABC thriller Quantico playing the recurring role of Laura Wyatt.

From 2018 to 2019, Kelly Rutherford played the recurring role of Melissa Daniels in the CW reboot series Dynasty.

Kelly Rutherford filed for divorce in January 2002, after six months of marriage.

Kelly Rutherford married her second husband, German businessman Daniel Giersch, in August 2006.

Kelly Rutherford gave birth to their first child, son Hermes Gustaf Daniel Giersch, in October 2006.

Kelly Rutherford and Giersch subsequently became involved in a child custody dispute over their son and their unborn child.

Kelly Rutherford gave birth to their second child, daughter Helena Grace, in June 2009.

Kelly Rutherford obtained a temporary restraining order against him the following month.

Giersch's US visa was revoked in April 2012, after Kelly Rutherford's lawyer informed the State Department about issues pertaining to Giersch's businesses, which led the department to conclude that it had sufficient evidence to deport him.

Kelly Rutherford asked the court to grant her sole custody so that she could keep the children primarily in the United States following their visit to France, as the existing joint custody agreement required her to travel frequently to enable Giersch to spend time with the children.

In June 2013, Kelly Rutherford filed for bankruptcy, stating she had debts of approximately $2 million, primarily due to the $1.5 million she spent on legal fees relating to the divorce and custody dispute with Giersch.

In May 2015, Kelly Rutherford was granted temporary sole custody of her children, following a ruling that both her son and daughter be brought back to the United States from Monaco, where they had been living with their father since 2012.

Kelly Rutherford then filed a case in New York but on July 27,2015, the New York court ruled it did not have jurisdiction.

In December 2015, the Monaco courts reconfirmed that full custody remained with the children's father, with Kelly Rutherford granted extensive visitation rights in France and Monaco as well as shared input regarding "health, schooling, religious education, and any change of residence".