Luann de Lesseps

Luann de Lesseps Headshot

Personality • Model • Singer • Writer

Birth Date: May 17, 1965

Age: 58 years old

Birth Place: Berlin, CT

Luanne de Lesseps, better known to fans of "The Real Housewives of New York" (Bravo, 2008- ) as "The Countess," was a popular presence on the reality television series for nearly nine seasons, which allowed her to parlay her fame into stints as an author, actress and nightclub singer. Born LuAnn Nadeau on May 17, 1965 in New York City, New York, Lesseps was raised with her six siblings in Berlin, Connecticut. She worked as a nurse and briefly modeled for the Wilhelmina agency before marrying Count Alexandre de Lesseps, an entrepreneur and descendent of the family that built the Suez Canal. In 2008, she joined Bethenny Frankel, Alex McCord, Ramona Singer and Jill Zarin as the original cast of "The Real Housewives of New York City," the second iteration of Bravo's popular "Real Housewives" reality television franchise. Her tenure during the first five seasons of the series was marked by her divorce from her husband over allegations of infidelity, her pursuit of a music career, which encompassed a trio of singles between 2010 and and 2012, and conflict with Ramona Singer over their individual parenting skills. Lesseps also forayed into acting, playing an art patron involved in a murder on a 2011 episode of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (NBC, 1999- ), and wrote Class with the Countess: How to Live with Elegance and Flair in 2009. In 2015, Lesseps' relocation to a home outside of New York City necessitated her demotion to a supporting role - a "Friend of the Housewives" - which she maintained until 2015, when she resumed her position as one of the main castmates. The following year, she married businessman Tom D'Agostino, Jr., though the union proved short-lived and ended in divorce seven months later in 2017. Lesseps capped that difficult year with an arrest in Palm Beach, Florida on charges of disorderly intoxication and battery of an officer, for which she pled not guilty in January 2018. After taking time to organize her life and affairs, Lesseps debuted a cabaret act at Feinstein's/54 Below in February 2018 shortly before the debut of "Housewives'" ninth season debut in April of that year.

Credits

Luann and Sonja: Welcome to Crappie LakeStream

Self
Reality
2023

Live with Kelly and MarkStream

Guest
Talk
2023

Sherri

Guest
Talk
2022

Access Daily With Mario & Kit

Actor
Show
2022

Access Daily With Mario & Kit

Guest
Show
2022

The Good Dish

Guest
Series
2022

The Real Housewives: Ultimate Girls TripStream

Self
Reality
2021

Nick Cannon

Guest
Talk
2021

The Kelly Clarkson ShowStream

Guest
Talk
2019

Access Daily

Guest
Show
2019

Tamron Hall

Music Performer
Talk
2019

Strahan & Sara

Guest
Show
2019

People Features

Actor
Show
2018

People Features

Guest
Show
2018

Maternal Secrets

Actor
Mom
Movie
2018

Access Live

Guest
Show
2017

Megyn Kelly Today

Guest
Talk
2017

DailyMailTV

Guest
Show
2017

STEVE on Watch

Guest
Talk
2017

Daily Pop

Guest
News
2017

Harry

Guest
Talk
2016

Page Six TV

Guest
News
2016

Celebrity PageStream

Guest
News
2016

Hollywood Medium With Tyler HenryStream

Guest
Reality
2016

FABLife

Guest
Talk
2015

Difficult PeopleStream

Guest Star
Series
2015
96%

Ice & Coco

Guest
Talk
2015

Bianca

Guest
Show
2015

The Meredith Vieira Show

Guest
Talk
2014

Hollywood Today Live

Guest
Show
2014

Bethenny

Guest
Show
2013

The Social

Guest
Show
2013

The Real

Guest
Talk
2013

Steve Harvey

Guest
Talk
2012

Good Afternoon America

Guest
Show
2012

The Talk

Guest
Talk
2010

Access Hollywood Live

Guest
Show
2010

The Dr. Oz Show

Guest
Talk
2009

Watch What Happens Live With Andy CohenStream

Guest
Talk
2009

Watch What Happens Live With Andy CohenStream

Guest Star
Talk
2009

Royal PainsStream

Guest Star
Herself
Series
2009

The Wendy Williams Show

Guest
Talk
2008

The Real Housewives of New York CityStream

Actor
Reality
2008

The Real Housewives of New York CityStream

Self
Reality
2008

The Better Show

Guest
Show
2007

The Morning Show With Mike & Juliet

Guest
Show
2007

etalk

Guest
Show
2006

Entertainment Tonight Canada

Guest
Show
2005

The Insider

Guest
Show
2004

Law & Order: Special Victims UnitStream

Guest Star
Cindi
Series
1999
78%

The View

Guest
Talk
1997

Access Hollywood

Guest
News
1996

Extra

Guest
News
1994

Entertainment Tonight

Guest
News
1981

Today

Guest
News
1952

News aboutLuann de Lesseps

Shannon Beador

How ‘Real Housewives’ Handled Its Stars Who Broke the Law

Paula Abdul in 'Luann and Sonja: Welcome to Crappie Lake'
Exclusive

See Paul Abdul Surprise Dancers in ‘Luann & Sonja: Welcome to Crappie Lake’ Sneak Peek (VIDEO)

Luann de Lesseps and Sonja Morgan of 'Luann and Sonja: Welcome to Crappie Lake'

15 ‘Real Housewives’ Spinoffs You May Have Forgotten (VIDEO)

Luann de Lesseps and Sonja Morgan in Luann and Sonja: Welcome to Crappie Lake - Season 1

‘RHONY’ Stars Luann de Lesseps & Sonja Morgan Discover Simple Life in ‘Welcome to Crappie Lake’

Judge Judy Sheindlin, Katey Sagal, Judith Light, and Mariska Hargitay

Her Honors! 10 Actors Who Could Play Judge Judy in a Biopic

Sonja Morgan Luann de Lesseps

Bravo Confirms ‘RHONY’ Spinoff ‘Luann and Sonja: Welcome to Crappie Lake’

The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip

Surprise! ‘The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip’ Premieres Early on Peacock

The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip

‘The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip’ First Look Teases Fun & Drama in the Sun (VIDEO)

Jen Shah of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City

7 Real Problems for the ‘Real Housewives’ Stars, Including Jen Shah

Real Housewives of New York City Bravo cast Season 13

‘RHONY’ Welcomes Its First Black Housewife, Eboni K. Williams, in Season 13 Trailer (VIDEO)

Dorinda Medley of Real Housewives of New York
Q&A

Dorinda Medley Welcomes a ‘Second Gangster’ to ‘RHONY’ Season 12

The Real Housewives of New York City - Season 12

Where We Left Off With ‘Real Housewives of New York City’

Masked Singer Ideas

10 Stars We’d Love to See on ‘The Masked Singer’ Season 3 (PHOTOS)

The Mindy Project / The Office / 30 Rock

10 Best Christmas Comedy Episodes, Ranked (PHOTOS)

Real Housewives of New York City

Is Jill Zarin Back? Everything We Learned About ‘RHONY’ Season 12 at BravoCon

BravoCon

An Inside Look at the First-Ever BravoCon 2019 in New York City

The Real Housewives of New York City - Season 9 - Tinsley Mortimer, Carole Radziwill, Bethenny Frankel, Ramona Singer, Dorinda Medley, Luann D'Agostino, Sonja Morgan

WATCH: ‘Real Housewives of New York City’ Season 10 Trailer Teases Craziest Season Yet

Untitled design-15

Unreal! A Look Back at All the Reality TV Divorces in 2017

Real Housewives of New York City star Luann de Lesseps on Watch What Happens Live

‘RHONY’ Luann de Lesseps Gets Real About Marriage to Tom D’Agostino in ‘Watch What Happens Live’ Special

Tom D’'Agostino Jr. and Luann de Lesseps

‘RHONY’: Luann D’Agostino and Husband Tom File For Divorce