The untold story of Kari Hillsman: Rick Fox's ex-partner and Kyle Fox's mother
Kari Hillsman first came to public attention as the former partner of NBA champion Rick Fox and the mother of their son, Kyle Fox. Away from the spotlight, she has built a quiet life in Massachusetts as a residential property manager. She later married Henry Francillon and has three children with him.
Source: UGC
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Kari Hillsman was reportedly born on 16 January 1971 in Massachusetts, USA.
- She and Rick Fox — born Ulrich Alexander Fox — dated from around 1991, while he played for the Boston Celtics
- Their son, Kyle Fox, was born in 1993
- Kari married Henry Francillon on 17 December 2003 and has three children with him.
- Rick Fox won three NBA championships with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2000, 2001, and 2002
Kari Hillsman's profile summary
Full name | Kari Hillsman |
Date of birth | 16 January 1971 |
Age | 55 years old (as of 2026) |
Place of birth | Massachusetts, USA |
Nationality | American |
Profession | Residential property manager |
Relationship status | Married |
Husband | Henry Francillon (m. 17 December 2003) |
Children | Kyle Fox (with Rick Fox); three children with Henry Francillon |
Ethnicity | Mixed |
Kari Hillsman's early life: Exploring her Massachusetts roots
Kari Hillsman was reportedly born on 16 January 1971 in Massachusetts. Her father served in the United States Army, and she is of mixed heritage — African American on her father's side and white on her mother's side.
Her career centres on property management; she is reported to work as a residential manager. Kari has no film or television credits. Searches for "Kari Hillsman movies" are likely prompted by her connection to Rick Fox, who has a notable acting career.
Source: Original
Kari's love and life with Rick Fox
Kari met Rick Fox — born Ulrich Alexander Fox on 24 December 1969 in Toronto, Canada — while he was playing for the Boston Celtics. Their relationship reportedly began around 1991, predating Fox's rise to wider fame with the Los Angeles Lakers.
The couple's son, Kyle Fox, was born in 1993. After Kyle's birth, the relationship ended. Kari became Kyle's primary carer, while the former NBA star remained involved through co-parenting. The separation appears amicable, with both parents building stable lives separately.
Rick and Kyle Fox had a strained relationship: Are they close now?
In his early years, Kyle had less time with his father due to primary child custody arrangements. As Kyle grew older, the father-son bond strengthened significantly.
Kyle developed a deep passion for video games and esports. He introduced Rick to competitive gaming, which directly shaped his father's next career move. Rick Fox founded the esports organisation Echo Fox, naming it after himself. Kyle served as the team's community manager. Rick departed the franchise in October 2019.
A second chance at love: Kari's lasting marriage
After her relationship with Rick Fox ended, Kari Hillsman married Henry Francillon on 17 December 2003. The couple has three children together. They have maintained a private life, and few details about their family have entered public reporting.
Kari holds minimal social media presence and has not sought public attention since her separation from Fox.
Rick Fox married Vanessa Williams after his split from Kari Hillsman
Following his separation from Kari, Rick Fox married Grammy-nominated singer and actress Vanessa Williams in 1999. They had a daughter, Sasha Fox, born around 2000. ESPN reported that Fox filed for divorce in 2004, ending their five-year marriage.
Fox — born Ulrich Alexander Fox — is of Canadian and Bahamian heritage. His birth name reflects Bahamian naming traditions, though he has been known publicly as Rick Fox throughout his career.
Fox has been in several high-profile relationships: His dating history
After his divorce from Vanessa Williams, Fox entered several reported relationships. He was linked to actress Eliza Dushku from around 2009 to 2014. He later dated actress AnnaLynne McCord, reportedly from 2015.
According to Ranker's celebrity dating list, Kari Hillsman remains his earliest documented partner, the relationship having begun when Fox joined the Celtics in 1991. His current relationship status, as of October 2026, is not publicly confirmed.
Rick Fox is a multimillionaire: A look at his illustrious sporting and acting career
Rick Fox was selected by the Boston Celtics in the 1991 NBA Draft. He later joined the Los Angeles Lakers, becoming a key part of the squad that claimed three consecutive NBA Championships in 2000, 2001, and 2002.
After retiring from basketball, Fox moved into acting, with credits including Oz and One Tree Hill, among other productions. He then transitioned to esports, founding the Echo Fox franchise — a move sparked by his son Kyle's love of gaming.
According to Celebrity Net Worth and similar outlets, his net worth is estimated at between $20 million and $25 million, drawn from his NBA earnings, acting work, and business ventures. No authoritative financial source has confirmed a precise figure.
Latest news
As of October 2026, no major recent coverage relates specifically to Kari Hillsman. Kyle Fox continues to be associated with the gaming and esports community.
Rick Fox is involved in politics in 2026. He fell short of winning a seat in the Bahamas' House of Assembly as part of the Free National Movement (FNM) party. Fox was appointed the Bahamas' opposition senator.
FAQs
- Who is Kyle Fox's mom? Kyle Fox's mother is Kari Hillsman, a residential property manager from Massachusetts. She and Kyle's father, retired NBA star Rick Fox, dated from around 1991. Kyle was born in 1993.
- How old is Kari Hillsman? Kari Hillsman is reportedly 55 years old as of 2026, based on a reported birth date of 16 January 1971. This date has not been confirmed by an independently reliable source.
- What is Kari Hillsman's ethnicity? Kari Hillsman is reported to be of mixed heritage — African American on her father's side and white on her mother's side. She has not publicly confirmed her background.
- Did Kari Hillsman and Rick Fox ever marry? No. Kari Hillsman and Rick Fox were never married. They dated from around 1991 and had a son, Kyle Fox, before separating. Kari later married Henry Francillon in December 2003.
- Does Kari Hillsman have other children? Yes. In addition to Kyle Fox, Kari has three children with her husband, Henry Francillon. The names and details of those children have not been made public.
- What is Kari Hillsman's net worth? Kari Hillsman's net worth has not been publicly disclosed. She works as a residential property manager.
- Has Kari Hillsman appeared in any movies? No. Kari Hillsman has no known film or television credits. Searches for "Kari Hillsman movies" are likely prompted by her association with Rick Fox, who pursued an acting career after the NBA.
- What is Ulrich Fox? Ulrich Alexander Fox is Rick Fox's birth name. He was born on 24 December 1969 in Toronto, Canada. He is best known by the name Rick Fox, which he used throughout his NBA and acting career.
Wrapping up
Kari Hillsman is widely recognised as Rick Fox's ex-partner and the mother of his only son, Kyle Fox. After their split, she married and has two other kids (Kaden and Kayla) from the union.
We also highlighted facts about Christina Pérez, Bobby Flay’s former girlfriend, and their relationship. The article also looks at why the couple went their separate ways.
Their breakup drew attention because the pair had kept much of their romance private. What led them to split—and where things stood afterward?
Proofreading by Kelly Lippke, copy editor at Briefly.co.za.
Source: Briefly News
