Leah Remini is officially heading to Beverly Hills.

The actress best known for playing Carrie Heffernan on the long-running CBS sitcom The King of Queens has joined The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills for Season 16, adding one of the most recognizable television stars in the franchise’s history to Bravo’s evolving cast. Remini confirmed the news herself on Aug. 26, reposting a report about her casting on Instagram and writing simply, “It’s true!!” Bravo subsequently confirmed that Remini will be part of the upcoming season, while production sources have reported that she signed on as a full-time Housewife.

The casting brings Remini into an ensemble that already includes several longtime Beverly Hills personalities as well as new additions. Kyle Richards, Erika Jayne, Dorit Kemsley, Sutton Stracke, Bozoma Saint John and Rachel Zoe are among the women expected back for Season 16, while former Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles star Tracy Tutor is also joining the show. Jennifer Tilly is expected to appear in a “friend” capacity.

Remini’s arrival comes after filming for the new season had already begun, meaning she will be entering an existing group dynamic rather than starting alongside the rest of the cast from day one. TMZ reported that negotiations between Remini and producers nearly fell apart before an agreement was reached, with her deal ultimately coming together late in the process.

Remini Confirms the News Herself

Rumors surrounding Remini’s possible involvement began circulating before she publicly confirmed the move. On Aug. 26, she shared a screenshot announcing that she was joining RHOBH and wrote, “It’s true!!” Bravo executive producer Andy Cohen celebrated in the comments, responding, “AT LONG LAST!!!”

The reaction suggested Remini’s move into the franchise had been discussed or hoped for behind the scenes for some time. She has already appeared on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen and is familiar with Bravo’s audience, but becoming part of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills puts her personal life and relationships at the center of a reality series in a way that is different from most of her previous television work.

Remini also arrives with considerable experience in unscripted television. She previously starred with her family in TLC’s Leah Remini: It’s All Relative and created and hosted the A&E documentary series Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath, which examined allegations involving the Church of Scientology after Remini publicly left the organization. The series won Emmy Awards and became one of the most prominent projects of the second half of her career.

From ‘The King of Queens’ to Reality Television

For millions of viewers, Remini remains most closely associated with The King of Queens, where she starred opposite Kevin James as Carrie Heffernan. The sitcom ran for nine seasons from 1998 to 2007 and established Remini as a recognizable television personality long before reality television became a major part of her career.

She later reunited with James on Kevin Can Wait and appeared across numerous television programs, films, talk shows and competition series. She competed on Dancing with the Stars, served as a co-host on The Talk and hosted the game show People Puzzler.

Her career changed direction after she left Scientology in 2013 and began speaking publicly about her experiences. Remini became one of the organization’s most prominent celebrity critics and eventually turned that work into Scientology and the Aftermath. Her activism and public criticism of the church have become nearly as closely associated with her public identity as her acting career.

That history gives Remini a different profile from many first-time Housewives. She is entering the franchise with decades of mainstream television recognition and an established reputation for discussing difficult subjects publicly rather than building her celebrity through the Bravo ecosystem.

Tracy Tutor Is Also Joining Beverly Hills

Remini will not be the only new face entering Season 16.

Tracy Tutor, known to Bravo viewers from Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles, previously confirmed that she is joining the Beverly Hills cast. Tutor spent years documenting her career selling high-end Los Angeles real estate, making her transition into the Housewives franchise a relatively natural crossover within Bravo’s programming.

Tutor quickly welcomed Remini after the casting announcement, commenting on her post, “Well I’m pumped! This is going to be 🔥.”

The additions give Season 16 two newcomers who already arrive with established television identities. Tutor knows the Bravo environment, while Remini brings broader scripted-television fame and experience discussing her personal life publicly.

Their arrival also follows another cast change. Amanda Frances, who appeared during Season 15, announced that she would not return for the upcoming season.

Remini Is Joining During a New Chapter in Her Personal Life

The timing also places Remini on reality television following a significant change in her personal life.

Remini and actor Angelo Pagán announced in 2024 that they were ending their marriage after more than two decades together. Despite the split, the former couple said they intended to remain close and continue functioning as a family. Remini has spoken publicly about navigating the transition while maintaining a relationship with Pagán and their daughter.

That gives producers an obvious area of Remini’s life to explore, although Bravo has not yet revealed exactly what storylines involving her will appear during Season 16.

Her casting also follows a professional expansion. Remini recently signed with talent agency WME, with plans to broaden her work across television, film, podcasts, digital media and original content development. Her move to RHOBH now becomes one of the first major television developments following that deal.

Season 16 Is Already Taking Shape

Production on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Season 16 began before Remini’s casting was finalized. Some of the cast traveled to Ghana for Bozoma Saint John’s wedding, one of the major events filmed for the upcoming season, while Remini is joining the production later.

Bravo has not announced an official Season 16 premiere date.

What is clear is that the network is making a significant addition to one of its flagship Housewives franchises. Remini is not entering reality television as an unknown hoping to build a following; she already has decades of television history, a recognizable personality and a public life that has included comedy, divorce, family, religion and high-profile activism.

Now, for the first time, those different sides of Leah Remini will be placed inside the format that made Beverly Hills one of Bravo’s signature franchises.

Her Instagram confirmation was only two words: “It’s true!!”

For Real Housewives of Beverly Hills viewers, those two words officially opened the door to one of Season 16’s biggest cast changes.