Her biological father is believed by some to be percussionist Peter Escovedo III, brother of Sheila E.
When Nicole was 9, Richie formally adopted her.
She has also made appearances in films and Fox's Madtv.
Richie and Hilton starred in the 2003 reality series The Simple Life, in which they lived for a month with a family in the rural community of Altus, Arkansas.
She made her musical debut in February 2005 with a live appearance on ABC's The View playing the piano. Her godfather is Michael Jackson. Nicole Richie (born Nicole Camilla Escovedo on September 21, 1981) is a socialite best known for her role in The Simple Life and sometimes by her former friendship with heiress Paris Hilton.
Nicole is trained in cello, violin, piano, and figure skating, and has plans to pursue a music career.
She stated, "I went to the University of Arizona. I stopped because I went there for two years and I felt like I experienced college or whatever. I'm over it. I like Hollywood better."
She also attended the University of Arizona for two years after graduating from high school.
Later seasons of the show had Richie and Hilton in a roadtrip across the United States, and an East Coast trek on a Greyhound bus while performing various internships.
Her mother is a woman identified only as an assistant on Lionel Richie's 1980 world tour.
Her first major acting role was a supporting role as cheerleader Kelly Stepford in 2005 comedy Kids In America.
Nicole Richie
Richie was born in Berkeley, California.
