Holly Madison | |
---|---|
Born | Hollin Sue Cullen December 23, 1979 Astoria, Oregon, U.S. |
Education | Portland State University |
Occupation | Television personality |
Years active | 1998–present |
Known for | |
Spouse | Pasquale Rotella (m. 2013;div. 2019) |
Partner | Hugh Hefner (2001–2008) |
Children | 2 |
Website | hollymadison |
Holly Madison (born Hollin Sue Cullen; [1] December 23, 1979 [2] ) is an American television personality, best known as a former girlfriend of Hugh Hefner and for her appearance in the reality television show The Girls Next Door . She also starred in her own reality series, Holly's World , which ran from 2009 to 2011. She has released two books, Down the Rabbit Hole in 2015, about her life in the Playboy Mansion and her relationship with Hefner, and The Vegas Diaries: Romance, Rolling the Dice, and the Road to Reinvention in 2016. [3]
Madison was born Hollin Sue Cullen [1] in Astoria, Oregon. [4] [1] At age two, she moved with her family to Craig, Alaska, on Prince of Wales Island. [5] When she was in middle school, her family returned to St. Helens, Oregon. She later attended Portland State University for two years, majoring in theater and psychology. [5] Afterward, Madison moved to Los Angeles and attended Loyola Marymount University. [4]
To afford her college tuition, Madison competed to become a Hawaiian Tropic model and worked as a waitress at Hooters. [6] Her appearance at those venues led to invitations to the Playboy Mansion and, at the age of 21, after more than a year of such visits, Madison asked permission from Hugh Hefner and was eventually allowed to move in at the mansion. [7]
Facing credit card debt and potential homelessness, in August 2001, Madison moved into the Playboy Mansion and officially became one of Hugh Hefner's girlfriends. Hefner controlled her finances, enforced a strict schedule and curfew, and denied her opportunities to earn income outside the mansion. [8] In February 2002, after all but two of his girlfriends left, Madison became his "#1 Girl". [4] During her time with Hefner, Madison stated that she wanted to marry him and have his children. However, in an interview at the Playmate of the Year luncheon in May 2008, Hefner said, "I love Holly very much and I think we're going to be together the rest of my life, but marriage isn't part of my puzzle. It's not a personal thing; I just haven't had much luck with marriages." [9] Reflecting on her time at the mansion, Madison claimed that her feelings for Hefner were attributable to Stockholm syndrome. [8]
On October 7, 2008, Madison announced that her relationship with Hefner had ended, but that she, Bridget Marquardt and Kendra Wilkinson were "still filming stuff together". [10] Hefner confirmed the breakup, saying, "If Holly says it's over, I guess it's over". [11] Madison was later among the former Playmates who spoke out in the docuseries Secrets of Playboy. [12] [13]
The Girls Next Door was an E! Network show following life of Madison and others at the Playboy Mansion. Although Madison was never a Playboy Playmate, Playboy published a nude pictorial of Madison with her The Girls Next Door costars in the November 2005 issue. The women were featured again on the covers of the September 2006, March 2008, and February 2009 issues. During seasons three and four, Madison was shown working at the Playboy studios as an intern and later a junior photo editor. She also helped design and put together The Girls Next Door calendars. In February 2009, with the ending of the sixth season she quit working for the company altogether due to her split from Hefner making her position "awkward". [14]
Madison was chosen to replace Jewel on season 8 of Dancing with the Stars and was partnered with Dmitry Chaplin. [15] [16] She and Chaplin were voted off in a double elimination, ultimately placing 11th. [17]
In May 2009, Madison and Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman led a Guinness World Record-breaking "largest bikini parade ever". [18] According to the Las Vegas Sun , "The politician and the former Playboy house bunny joined forces to usher in the city's summer swimsuit season..." in an event timed to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign. [18] The 281 parade participants broke the prior record of 250. [18] The mark has subsequently been eclipsed by events in the Cayman Islands (331), [19] and Brisbane, Australia (357). [19]
Madison starred in the burlesque show Peepshow at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas. She was brought in to replace Kelly Monaco after Monaco's three-month contract was up. [20] Madison was likewise initially signed to a three-month contract, but due to the show's success, it was eventually extended to a full year. [21]
Madison starred in her own reality show, Holly's World , [22] which revolved around her life at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas. "It's all good-natured and not mean like other reality shows", Madison said of her show. "I'm really excited about the new series because I am also getting a legitimate co-producer credit for all the work I do behind the camera. It's not a vanity credit. I'm super excited to learn from the best and take on new responsibilities." [23] The show premiered on December 6, 2009, and ran for two seasons. [24]
In 2021, Madison shared in an interview some of the dark sides of the Playboy lifestyle, as further revealed in 2022 in the A&E documentary series Secrets of Playboy. [25] Madison was the subject of the show's second episode which aired in January 2022. [12] She described, among other things, the Playboy Mansion as "dangerous" and "very cult-like" and accused Hefner of manipulating her in order to advance her career and even attempting to offer her quaaludes during their first sexual encounter in the summer of 2001. [12] She also said that she was often addicted to alcohol during their relationship and that Hefner would often have photographs taken of her and his other girlfriends when they were naked after getting wasted. [12] Madison alleged this enabled him to use blackmail in order to maintain their relationship. [12] She also maintained her previous allegation that she had Stockholm syndrome during her relationship with Hefner as well, stating "I definitely thought I was in love with Hef but it was very Stockholm syndrome, very Stockholm syndrome." [12]
In 2015, Madison released her memoir Down the Rabbit Hole: Curious Adventures and Cautionary Tales of a Former Playboy Bunny . [26] The book details her life in the Playboy Mansion and the beginning of her recovery afterward. [27] She alleged, among other things, that the environment she experienced while at the mansion was a "twisted world" that led to her being tempted to commit suicide. [28] [29]
In May 2016, Madison released her second memoir, The Vegas Diaries: Romance, Rolling the Dice and the Road to Reinvention, [30] which also debuted on the New York Times Best Seller list. [31] The book chronicles her journey toward reinvention and self-acceptance in glamorous Las Vegas. [32]
In 2009, Madison said, "I'm never dating anybody again. I don't need a man. I'm really happy with myself and being with my friends... I'm focused on forwarding my career. I'm working on producing my own shows. Girls Next Door was a great place to start but it was somebody else's show. I'm just ready to move on." [33]
Madison has spoken openly about her cosmetic surgeries, having had both rhinoplasty and breast augmentation. After the latter procedure, her bust measurements went from an A-cup to a D. [34] In 2011, Madison announced that she had insured her breasts for $1 million. [35]
In August 2012, Madison announced that she and Pasquale Rotella, whom she began dating in 2011, were expecting their first child. [36] Madison gave birth to their daughter in March 2013, in Las Vegas. [37] Madison and Rotella were married at Disneyland on September 10, 2013, with Bridget Marquardt as a bridesmaid, and resided in Las Vegas. [38] Madison gave birth to her second child, a son, in August 2016. [39] [40] Rotella and Madison were separated as of September 25, 2018. [41] In February 2019, the divorce was finalized. [42]
In 2021, Madison revealed that she believed herself to be on the autism spectrum, [43] something her parents had long suspected. She was later formally diagnosed, a fact she confirmed when appearing as a featured guest on the podcast "Something Was Wrong". [44] The diagnosis led Madison to consider how her struggles with forming social connections may have contributed to her relationship with Hefner. "I thought to myself I've never really connected with a guy my own age, and I have a [hard] time connecting with anybody my own age, maybe I'm just like this old soul, and I'm meant to be with older people."
Film | |||
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Year | Film | Role | Notes |
1998 | The Last Broadcast | Miss Lady Bright Eyes | [45] |
2006 | Scary Movie 4 | Blonde # 1 | |
2008 | The House Bunny | Herself | |
2009 | The Telling | Stephanie | |
2015 | Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No! | Lieutenant Harrison | |
Television | |||
---|---|---|---|
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
2002 | MTV Cribs | Herself | 1 episode |
2003 | The Surreal Life | Herself | Episode: "The Wedding and Goodbye" |
Doggy Fizzle Televizzle | Herself | Episode: 4 | |
2004 | The Sharon Osbourne Show | Herself | 1 episode |
The Bernie Mac Show | Bunny | Episode: "The Talk" | |
Viva La Bam | Herself | Episode: "Drive-Way Skate Park" | |
2005 | Curb Your Enthusiasm | Herself | Season 5 Episode 6 – "The Smoking Jacket" |
The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch | Herself | 1 episode | |
2005 | Entourage | Herself | Episode: "Aquamansion" |
2005–2006 | The Tyra Banks Show | Herself | 2 episodes |
2005–2009 | The Girls Next Door | Herself | (seasons 1–5. 80 episodes) |
2006 | E! True Hollywood Story | Herself | Episode: "Hugh Hefner: Girlfriends, Wives and Centerfolds" |
Amazon Fishbowl | Herself | 1 episode | |
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson | Herself | Uncredited, 2 episodes | |
Robot Chicken | Herself (Voice) | Episode: "Drippy Pony" | |
The Ellen DeGeneres Show | Herself | 1 episode | |
2007 | Keeping Up with the Kardashians | Herself | Episode: "Birthday Suit" |
General Hospital | Herself | 1 episode | |
Phenomenon | Herself | Episode: Three | |
Last Call with Carson Daly | Herself | 1 episode | |
2008 | Today | Herself | 1 episode |
Celebrity Family Feud | Herself | Episode: "Vincent Pastore vs. The Girls Next Door" | |
Living Lohan | Herself | Episode: "The Billionaire Babysitters" | |
Chelsea Lately [46] | Herself | 1 episode | |
2009 | Dancing with the Stars | Contestant | (Season 8, eliminated 3rd round) |
2009–2010 | Kendra | Herself | 2 episodes |
2009–2011 | Holly's World | Herself | (Seasons 1–2. 19 Episodes) |
2010 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Hot Blonde | Episodes: "Pool Shark" |
2010 | When I Was 17 | Herself | 1 episode |
2013 | "Holly Has a Baby"! | Herself | E! Special |
2015 | Redwood Kings | Herself | 1 episode |
2021 | Ghost Adventures | Herself | Guest [47] |
2022 | Secrets of Playboy | Herself | Docu-series; episode 2: "The Girl Next Door" |
2023-2024 | The Playboy Murders | Herself - Host, also executive producer | (Seasons 1-2. 13 episodes) |
2024 | Lethally Blonde | Herself - Host, also executive producer | (Season 1. 6 episodes) |
Hugh Marston Hefner was an American magazine publisher. He was the founder and editor-in-chief of Playboy magazine, a publication with revealing photographs and articles. Hefner extended the Playboy brand into a world network of Playboy Clubs. He also resided in luxury mansions where Playboy Playmates shared his wild partying life, fueling media interest.
Playboy is an American men's lifestyle and entertainment magazine, formerly in print and currently online. It was founded in Chicago in 1953 by Hugh Hefner and his associates, funded in part by a $1,000 loan from Hefner's mother.
Lindsey Eve (Vuolo) Handrinos is an American glamor model and actress best known for her appearance in Playboy as the November 2001 Playmate of the Month. She has appeared in a number of Playboy Special Editions, and in Playboy videos. She also appeared on TV shows such as The Girls Next Door and The Celebrity Apprentice.
Barbi Benton is an American former model, actress, television personality, and singer. She appeared in Playboy magazine, as a regular on the comedy series Hee Haw, and recorded several moderately successful albums in the 1970s. After the birth of her first child in 1986, Benton retired from show business.
The Girls Next Door is a reality television series which focuses on the lives of Hugh Hefner's girlfriends who live with him at the Playboy Mansion. The series was created by executive producer Kevin Burns and Hefner, founder of Playboy magazine. The series premiered on the E! cable network on August 7, 2005 and ran for 6 seasons. The first five seasons centered around then-girlfriends, Holly Madison, Bridget Marquardt and Kendra Wilkinson. The sixth and final season premiered on October 11, 2009 and introduced Hefner's new girlfriends, Crystal Harris, who eventually went on to marry Hefner, and twins Kristina and Karissa Shannon.
Bridget Marquardt is an American television personality known for her role in the reality TV series The Girls Next Door, which depicted her life as one of Playboy founder Hugh Hefner's girlfriends. Although not a Playboy Playmate, Marquardt has appeared in nude pictorials with her Girls Next Door co-stars and fellow Hefner girlfriends Holly Madison and Kendra Wilkinson.
The Playboy Club was initially a chain of nightclubs and resorts owned and operated by Playboy Enterprises. The first Playboy Club opened in Chicago in 1960. Each club generally featured a Living Room, a Playmate Bar, a Dining Room, and a Club Room. Members and their guests were served food and drinks by Playboy Bunnies, some of whom were featured in Playboy magazine. The clubs offered name entertainers and comedians in the Club Rooms, and local musicians and the occasional close-up magician in the Living Rooms. Starting with the London and Jamaica club locations, the Playboy Club became international in scope.
Sara Jean Underwood is an American model, television host and actress who was chosen as the Playmate of the Month for the July 2006 issue of Playboy magazine and later became Playmate of the Year in 2007. She is a former host of Attack of the Show! on G4.
Joshua Strickland is an American singer and actor from Charleston, South Carolina. He attended high school at the Charleston County School of the Arts, where he studied vocal with Robin A. Rogers. He attended the College of Charleston, where he studied voice with Deanna McBroom. During 5th grade, Josh was "discovered" by teacher and Producer/Founder/CEO of The Charleston Youth Company, Chuck Long. He performed with this company for 8 years receiving drama, voice, and dance instruction. This company has been serving the talented students since 1978.
Kendra Leigh Wilkinson is an American television personality and real estate agent. She first gained recognition as one of Hugh Hefner's girlfriends and for her role on the E! reality television series The Girls Next Door (2005–2009), on which her life in the Playboy Mansion was documented. Although not a Playboy Playmate, she has appeared in three nude pictorials with her Girls Next Door co-stars Holly Madison and Bridget Marquardt. She subsequently starred in her own reality shows, Kendra (2009–2011) and Kendra on Top (2012–2017).
Ida Ljungqvist is a Tanzanian-Swedish model and the first African-born person to be selected as a Playboy Playmate of the Month and the 50th Playmate of the Year.
The House Bunny is a 2008 American comedy film directed by Fred Wolf written by Karen McCullah Lutz and Kirsten Smith, and produced by Adam Sandler, Jack Giarraputo, Anna Faris, Allen Covert, and Heather Parry. The film stars Faris, Colin Hanks, and Emma Stone, and tells the story of a former Playboy bunny who signs up to be the "house mother" of an unpopular university sorority after finding out she must leave the Playboy Mansion.
Kristina and Karissa Shannon are American Playboy Playmates, porn stars and twin sisters.
Crystal Hefner is an American model who was the Playboy Playmate of the Month for December 2009, and the third wife of Playboy publisher Hugh Hefner from December 2012 until his death in September 2017.
The Girls Next Door: The Bunny House is a failed backdoor pilot for a potential third spin-off of The Girls Next Door, which aired on August 8, 2010.
Peepshow was a burlesque show created by Jerry Mitchell and the longest-running live show at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Paradise, Nevada. The show ran from April 2009 to September 2013.
Angel Porrino is an American television personality, actress, dancer and showgirl, best known for appearing on the E! network's reality television show Holly's World as Holly Madison's personal assistant/best friend. She was one of the stars of Absinthe at Caesars Palace, leaving the show in 2014.
Down the Rabbit Hole: Curious Adventures and Cautionary Tales of a Former Playboy Bunny is a New York Times bestselling memoir by ex-Playboy Bunny Holly Madison. Madison's debut tell-all features her early life and her infamous adventures as the former main girlfriend of Hugh Hefner and star of the television show The Girls Next Door.
I'm excited to finally share my story and what I've learned from my personal experiences both inside and outside of the Playboy Mansion... I think my stories will surprise people and I'm looking forward to lifting the veil of mystique and clearing up the misconceptions so often associated with my life.