Laurence K. Avanzino was the biological father of Kathy Hilton and the maternal grandfather of Paris Hilton and Nicky Hilton Rothschild. He was the first husband of Kathleen Mary Dugan, better known as Big Kathy, who later became the mother of actresses Kim and Kyle Richards.
Unlike several members of his family, Laurence K. Avanzino was not a television personality or entertainer. He lived mostly outside the public eye. Much of what is known about him comes from accounts about Kathy Hilton’s family history.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Laurence Kenneth Avanzino |
| Also known as | Larry Avanzino |
| Date of birth | December 26, 1935 |
| Birthplace | Boston, Massachusetts, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Reportedly attended Long Island University |
| Profession | Listed as an independent painter on his death certificate |
| Former wife | Kathleen Mary Dugan (Big Kathy) |
| Daughter | Kathy Hilton |
| Other children | Reportedly five |
| Known granddaughter | Paris Hilton |
| Date of death | February 20, 1997 |
| Age at death | 61 |
| Known for | Being Kathy Hilton’s biological father |
Laurence K. Avanzino’s Early Life
Laurence Kenneth Avanzino was reportedly born on December 26, 1935, in Boston, Massachusetts. He was commonly known as Larry.
He came from a financially comfortable family and spent part of his younger life in the Manhasset area of Long Island, New York. His family reportedly had a home in Plandome.
Laurence had a brother named Ken Avanzino. Accounts from people who knew him when he was young describe him as tall, blond, athletic, and outgoing.
Detailed information about his parents and childhood is not widely available.
His Education
Laurence reportedly attended Long Island University during the 1950s. This was around the period when he met his future wife, Kathleen Dugan.
Public information does not clearly establish what subject he studied or whether he completed a degree.
How Laurence Met Big Kathy
Laurence met Kathleen Mary Dugan in 1957. She later became widely known as Big Kathy, partly to distinguish her from their daughter.
According to accounts from people close to the family, Kathleen first noticed Laurence while he was playing football with his brother Ken outside the Avanzino family home in Plandome.
The two began a relationship and eventually decided to elope. Reports say they stopped at a church and were married by a minister. Kathleen’s family later arranged a larger Catholic wedding.
Marriage and the Birth of Kathy Hilton
Laurence K. Avanzino and Kathleen became parents to Kathleen Elizabeth Avanzino, now known as Kathy Hilton, on March 13, 1959.
Kathy was their only child together. Her original surname, Avanzino, came from her father.
The marriage between Laurence and Kathleen did not last. Family accounts describe their relationship as difficult, with frequent arguments. Some published stories contain more personal allegations about their marriage, but many of these details come from secondhand accounts and are difficult to independently confirm.
Laurence K. Avanzino and Kathleen eventually divorced.
His Relationship With Kathy Hilton
Laurence K. Avanzino does not appear to have played a major role in raising Kathy after the divorce.
One of his later wives, Diane Campisi, reportedly said that Laurence K. Avanzino did not bring Kathy up. There is little reliable public information explaining the exact nature of the father-daughter relationship over the following years.
Some published accounts also claim that Laurence never met Kathy’s children. This has been widely repeated in profiles about the family but is based largely on secondary accounts.
Who Is Kathy Hilton?
Kathy Hilton is Laurence’s most famous child. She was born Kathleen Elizabeth Avanzino before later becoming known by the Hilton surname.
Kathy has worked as an actress, fashion designer, socialite, and television personality. She has also appeared on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alongside her half-sister Kyle Richards.
Kathy married Richard “Rick” Hilton, a member of the Hilton family. They have four children: Paris Hilton, Nicky Hilton Rothschild, Barron Hilton II, and Conrad Hughes Hilton III.
Through Kathy, Laurence became the maternal grandfather of all four children.
His Connection to Paris Hilton
Laurence K. Avanzino is Paris Hilton’s maternal grandfather.
Paris became internationally known as a media personality, businesswoman, model, DJ, and reality television star. Her younger sister, Nicky Hilton Rothschild, became known as a fashion designer, socialite, and member of the Rothschild family through marriage.
Although Laurence belongs to the family tree behind these well-known names, he died before the Hilton sisters reached the height of their public fame.
How He Is Related to Kim and Kyle Richards
Laurence was not the father of Kim Richards or Kyle Richards.
After Laurence and Big Kathy separated, Big Kathy married Kenneth E. Richards. Through her mother’s later family, Kathy became the maternal half-sister of Kim and Kyle.
Kim and Kyle both entered acting when they were young. Kyle later became particularly well known through The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.
This means Laurence was Kathy Hilton’s father, but he had no biological paternal relationship to Kim or Kyle Richards.
Laurence K. Avanzino’s Other Marriages and Children
Laurence K. Avanzino reportedly married two more times after his relationship with Big Kathy ended.
One of his later wives was Diane Campisi. Reports also state that Laurence had another five children from his later relationships, including three daughters and two sons.
One daughter identified publicly is Elizabeth Avanzino, making her Kathy Hilton’s paternal half-sister.
Complete and consistently documented information about all of Laurence’s later children and marriages is limited.
His Career
Laurence did not have the kind of public career associated with his daughter and grandchildren.
One of the few specific details about his occupation comes from reports about his death certificate, which reportedly listed him as an independent painter.
There is not enough reliable public information to establish a detailed career history or major professional achievements.
His Later Years
Some accounts of Laurence’s later life describe personal and financial difficulties.
His daughter Elizabeth has reportedly discussed alcohol problems within the family and described her father as having struggled with alcohol. Other published accounts claim Laurence K. Avanzino began drinking when he was young and continued to have problems with alcohol later in life.
Because much of this information comes from family recollections and secondary reports, these claims should not be treated as a complete medical history.
When Did Laurence K. Avanzino Die?
Laurence K. Avanzino reportedly died on February 20, 1997, at age 61.
Published accounts state that he died in a hospital. His exact cause of death is not clearly established in the available information.
Reports also say Big Kathy visited Laurence near the end of his life.
Laurence died years before Kathy Hilton and her children became major figures in reality television and modern celebrity culture.
Laurence K. Avanzino’s Net Worth
Laurence K. Avanzino’s net worth is not reliably known.
There are no trustworthy public financial records showing a specific amount. Some accounts describe him as having serious financial difficulties toward the end of his life, despite reportedly growing up in a comfortable family.
For that reason, specific online estimates of his net worth should be treated cautiously.
Interesting Facts
- His full name was Laurence Kenneth Avanzino.
- He was commonly called Larry.
- He was reportedly born on December 26, 1935.
- He reportedly attended Long Island University.
- His first wife was Kathleen Mary Dugan, known as Big Kathy.
- Their daughter was born Kathleen Elizabeth Avanzino and later became known as Kathy Hilton.
- Kathy is the maternal half-sister of Kim and Kyle Richards.
- Laurence K. Avanzino reportedly had five additional children after his marriage to Big Kathy.
- One of his daughters was Elizabeth Avanzino.
- He was the maternal grandfather of Paris, Nicky, Barron, and Conrad Hilton.
- His occupation was reportedly listed as independent painter on his death certificate.
- He died on February 20, 1997, at age 61.
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