Laurence K Avanzino is the father of Kathy Hilton, an American actress, TV personality, fashion designer, and socialite. He was an Italian-American independent painter who was born on December 26, 1935 and died on February 18, 1997, at the age of 61 due to an unknown cause.
Laurence K Avanzino leveraged his daughter’s fame to gain a spot in the limelight. Though they do not have a close bond, Kathy Hilton’s fame still rubbed off on him. Everything there is to know about Laurence K. Avanzino and how he lived his life has been explored in this article.
Laurence K Avanzino’s Bio
- Full name: Laurence Kenneth Avanzino
- Gender: Male
- Date of birth: December 26, 1935
- Date of death: February 18, 1997
- Ethnicity: Scottish-American and Italian-American
- Nationality: American
- Zodiac Sign: Capricorn
- Sexual Orientation: Straight
- Religion: Christianity
- Marital Status:
- Laurence K Avanzino’s Wives: (ex-wife – Kathleen Mary Dugan), (ex-wife – Diane Campisi), (ex-wife – Virginia Avanzio), and (ex-wife – Ken Richards)
- Laurence K Avanzino’s Children: Kathy Hilton, Lauren Tretheway, Laurence K Avanzino Jr., Kristin Avanzio, Elizabeth Avanzino, Jonathan Avanzino, and R.I. Avanzino
- Laurence K Avanzino’s Parents: Laurence Nicholas and Elizabeth Jean Chisholm Avanzio
- Siblings: Kenneth Avanzio
- Famous for: being Kathy Hilton’s father
When was Laurence K Avanzino Born?
Laurence K Avanzino was born in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, in the United States of America, on December 26, 1935. He was an American citizen born under the Capricorn zodiac sign. The independent painter was of Scottish-American and Italian-American ancestry. He was born to Laurence Nicholas and Elizabeth Jean Chisholm Avanzio, who are both late.
Laurence K Avanzino had one sibling known as Kenneth Avanzio. They were born into a rich family and grew up under the care of their parents. While growing up, Laurence K Avanzino had a turbulent childhood as he had his way with anything following his parents’ rich status.
The independent painter took to drinking while he was a teenager and was involved in many wild escapades, including reckless driving that was near death for him and a series of fights. In his fifties, he was involved in a fight that left him in an unconscious state.
There are no records of the schools that the independent painter attended for his elementary and high school education. However, Laurence K Avanzino attended Long Island University and was active in the school’s football team.
Did Kathy Hilton Have a Relationship with Her Father?
Kathy Hilton was on good terms with her father, but their relationship cannot be tagged as perfect for a father and daughter. Laurence K Avanzino’s second wife has revealed that the independent painter did not bring Kathy up and that he had nothing to do with the actress’s life other than the genes he passed to her.
The strained relationship also extended to Kathy Hilton’s children. It was revealed that they never spoke of or made references to Laurence K Avanzino, despite the fact that they paid tribute to the Hiltons.
Laurence K Avanzino only rose to fame for his relationship with his famous daughter, Kathy Hilton. She was born on March 13, 1959, in New York City, United States, to Laurence K Avanzino and Kathleen Mary Dugan.
Kathy Hilton schooled in Los Angeles at Montclair College Preparatory School. Meanwhile, Kathy Hilton is an American actress, TV personality, fashion designer, and socialite. She started her acting career as a child actress and eventually started taking up acting gigs as an adult later in life. The actress is notable for onscreen projects like The Dark, The World According to Paris, I Want To Be a Hilton and many others.
Kathy Hilton also founded the gift and antique store, The Staircase on Sunset Plaza in Los Angeles. She is also a philanthropist notable for her many fundraising events. She is married to Richard Hilton, an American businessman, and has welcomed four children who are successful with him.
Kathy Hilton’s Father Had a Rocky Marriage with Big Kathy
While Laurence K Avanzino lived, he was first married to Kathleen Mary Dugan, who was fondly referred to as Big Kathy. The independent painter and Big Kathy met for the first time in 1957 while he was still a student at Long Island University. At that time, Laurence was playing football on the lawn of their family’s imposing home at Manhassetts Plandome.
Big Kathy fell in love with him at first sight because of his stunning features. He was tall, muscular, handsome, and blonde. The independent painter started dating Big Kathy, and with time they eloped, contrary to their family’s wish for an elaborate wedding. They had a priest wed them on their way to visit Kenneth Avanzio in a hospital.
Big Kathy’s family later organized an elaborate Catholic wedding for the couple. Two months after they conceived Kathy Hilton at the back of Laurence’s 1957 black Chevrolet convertible, they had their big wedding ceremony in 1958. Seven months after the wedding, Kathy was born.
Meanwhile, according to Laurence K Avanzino’s brother, the independent painter and Big Kathy were never compatible at the start of their relationship. They were always involved in fights, screamed at each other, and would later fall into each other’s embrace. They later divorced in 1963 and moved on really fast.
Laurence K Avanzino Moved on From His Failed Marriage to Big Kathy
Meanwhile, Laurence K Avanzino moved on and got married to Diane Campisi. They lived off the radar, and as such, nothing is known about their marriage, including when they got married. After being married for some time, they divorced for unknown reasons. He reportedly remarried for the third time to Virginia Avanzio. Just like his second marriage, nothing is known about their union, including when they got married and how long the marriage lasted.
Meanwhile, Big Kathy, on her path, moved on and got married to Ken Richards in 1917 and welcomed two children with him before their divorce in 1998. She eventually moved on and married Jack Catain, whom she divorced without having any children. Her last marriage was to Robert Fenton in 1999, and she lived with him till her death in 2002.
Laurence K Avanzino Welcomed Six Other Children From His Other Marriages
Laurence K Avanzino is a father to six other children whom he welcomed from his other marriages. The names of his other children include Lauren Tretheway, Laurence K Avanzino Jr., Kristin Avanzio, Elizabeth Avanzino, Jonathan Avanzino, and R.I. Avanzino. However, his only known child out of his other six children is Elizabeth Avanzio, a successful gallery owner whose life was wrecked by alcohol.
Elizabeth was born to Laurence by his third wife, Virginia Avanzio. She gained popularity for her run-ins with the authorities and several prison sentences due to alcohol and drug abuse. However, it is believed that the independent painter’s other kids are doing great in their endeavors.
What Happened to Kathy Hilton’s Father?
Laurence K Avanzino is dead at the moment. The independent painter died on the 20th of February 1997 in Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. Meanwhile, the cause of his death was not revealed, which made many tag it as a natural death. His funeral mass was held at the Most Blessed Sacrament Church in Wakefield, while his funeral was held at a funeral home in Melrose.
