Jacqueline Laurita

Jacqueline Laurita
Born	Jacqueline Elizabeth Grippe 4/26/1970
Birthplace	Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Television personality, autism advocate
Known for	The Real Housewives of New Jersey
Spouse(s)	Chris Laurita

Jacqueline Elizabeth Laurita (née Grippe, formerly Holmes; born April 26, 1970) is an American television personality and autism awareness advocate who came to public attention as an original cast member of Bravo's reality television series The Real Housewives of New Jersey. Laurita appeared on the show from its premiere in 2009 through its sixth season in 2014, and returned for the seventh season in 2016 before departing. Her time on the series was marked by evolving personal relationships with fellow cast members, particularly Teresa Giudice and Caroline Manzo, and by her candid portrayal of her family's experience following the autism diagnosis of her youngest son, Nicholas. Through her public platform, Laurita became an outspoken advocate for autism awareness and resources, using both the show and her broader media presence to discuss the challenges and joys of raising a child on the autism spectrum. Born in Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, Laurita later relocated to the West Coast, where she resides with her family as of 2025. In late 2025, reports emerged that she had been approached about joining The Real Housewives of Orange County, signaling a potential return to the Bravo franchise universe.

Early Life

Jacqueline Elizabeth Grippe was born on April 26, 1970, in Fort Monmouth, New Jersey. Details regarding her parents, siblings, and upbringing prior to her television career remain limited in publicly available sources. Before her marriage to Chris Laurita, Jacqueline was previously married under the surname Holmes. From her first marriage, she had a daughter, Ashlee Holmes, who would later appear alongside her on The Real Housewives of New Jersey and become a recurring figure in the series' storylines.

Jacqueline married Chris Laurita, a businessman from a prominent New Jersey family. Through her marriage to Chris, Jacqueline became connected to the Manzo family — Chris's sister is Dina Manzo, and Caroline Manzo is married to Chris's brother, Albert Manzo. These family connections would prove central to Jacqueline's involvement in The Real Housewives of New Jersey and to many of the interpersonal dynamics that played out on the series over multiple seasons.

Career

The Real Housewives of New Jersey

Seasons 1–3 (2009–2011)

In April 2008, Bravo announced a significant expansion of its programming slate, which included the development of a New Jersey edition of its successful Real Housewives franchise. Jacqueline Laurita was cast as one of the original housewives for the series. The Real Housewives of New Jersey premiered in 2009, and in October of that year, Bravo announced its pickup for a second season, confirming the show's early success.

During the show's early seasons, Laurita was featured prominently as a member of the interconnected Laurita-Manzo family group that formed one of the core social clusters on the series. Her storylines included her relationships with fellow cast members Caroline Manzo and Teresa Giudice, the challenges of parenting her teenage daughter Ashlee Holmes, and her life as a wife and mother in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey.

In 2011, Laurita publicly discussed her son Nicholas's development and the family's growing concerns about his health, which would become the defining personal storyline of her time on the show.

Season 4 (2012)

Season four of The Real Housewives of New Jersey premiered on April 22, 2012, with a tagline that the cast was heading "to the shore." Laurita continued as a main cast member. The season featured escalating tensions among the cast members, and Laurita's relationship with Teresa Giudice became increasingly strained. Meanwhile, Laurita continued to share her family's journey with Nicholas's autism diagnosis on camera, bringing significant attention to the subject among the show's audience.

Seasons 5–6 (2013–2014)

During season five, the dynamics among the cast shifted further. In October 2013, reports surfaced that Dina Manzo had lobbied for Laurita's removal from the show, reflecting the growing rifts within the extended Manzo-Laurita family that had become a central element of the series' narrative. Caroline Manzo, who had been a close ally of Laurita's on the show, also departed the series to pursue her own spin-off program.

Laurita did not appear as a main cast member during season six in 2014, though she made a return appearance during the season. E! News reported on her comeback in the context of the midseason storyline surrounding Teresa Giudice's legal troubles, noting that Laurita was brought back for dramatic effect.

Season 7 and Departure (2016–2017)

Laurita returned to the show as a full-time cast member for season seven in 2016. Her return was framed around her ongoing family life, her advocacy work around autism, and her evolving relationships with the other cast members. However, in 2017, Laurita confirmed in an exclusive interview with Entertainment Tonight that she would not be returning to The Real Housewives of New Jersey. In the interview, she spoke at length about her son Nicholas's autism and the factors behind her decision to step away from the show.

Other Television and Film Work

In addition to her role on The Real Housewives of New Jersey, Laurita appeared in the film Bad Parents, further expanding her work in the entertainment industry beyond reality television. Her filmography is documented on the Internet Movie Database.

Writing

Following her rise to prominence on television, Laurita pursued work as an author. She was reported to be developing a book, with Bravo featuring coverage of the project and its cover on its website, The Daily Dish.

Autism Advocacy

One of the most significant aspects of Laurita's public life has been her advocacy for autism awareness and resources. After her son Nicholas was diagnosed with autism, Laurita began using her television platform and media presence to speak openly about the diagnosis and its impact on her family.

In a 2016 interview with People magazine's Celebrity Babies section, Laurita discussed how Nicholas had brought joy to the family despite the challenges of his diagnosis, emphasizing the progress he had made and the importance of early intervention and support. She also reflected on Nicholas's progress in a feature on Bravo's website, providing updates to the show's audience about his development and milestones.

When she announced her departure from RHONJ in 2017, Laurita cited her desire to focus on her son's needs and her family as a primary reason for leaving the show, noting that the demands of filming conflicted with the attention Nicholas required.

Business Ventures

Laurita and her husband Chris became involved in entrepreneurial ventures. Chris Laurita launched The Little Kernel, a popcorn company. The company's creation was reportedly inspired in part by son Nicholas, and it had a charitable giving component.

Potential Return to Reality Television (2025)

In December 2025, Page Six reported that Laurita had been approached about joining The Real Housewives of Orange County, marking a potential return to the Bravo franchise eight years after her departure from RHONJ. The report came after the Laurita family had relocated to the West Coast, settling in a home in California.

In December 2025, The Real Housewives of Orange County cast member Jennifer Pedranti revealed that she and Laurita had become neighbors in Orange County, posting photographs of the two together. Laurita was also photographed spending time with members of the RHOC cast during the 2025 Christmas holiday season, further fueling speculation about her potential casting on the show. Page Six also reported that Laurita was among former Bravo personalities, along with Real Housewives of Atlanta alum NeNe Leakes, who were in talks about potential returns to the network.

Personal Life

Jacqueline Laurita is married to Chris Laurita, a businessman. The couple has been together for over two decades. In a June 2025 interview covered by Bravo, Laurita shared emotional updates about her marriage and her children, reflecting on the longevity of her relationship with Chris.

Laurita has a daughter, Ashlee Holmes, from a previous marriage. Ashlee became a grandmother-making figure for Jacqueline when she had her first child. In 2016, E! News reported that Ashlee Holmes was expecting her first baby. In August 2016, People confirmed that Laurita had become a grandmother with the birth of Ashlee's son. In December 2025, Laurita posted a birthday tribute to Ashlee as she turned 35, sharing an update on her daughter's life.

With Chris, Jacqueline has a son, Nicholas, whose autism diagnosis became a central part of her public advocacy work. In October 2025, Laurita shared updates about her growing family on social media, including photos of family life at their West Coast home.

As of 2025, the Laurita family resides on the West Coast, having relocated from New Jersey.

Recognition

Laurita's role on The Real Housewives of New Jersey made her one of the more recognizable figures from the Bravo franchise. As one of the original cast members of the New Jersey edition, she was part of a series that became a significant cultural touchpoint in American reality television, generating substantial media coverage and a dedicated viewership throughout its run.

Her autism advocacy work drew particular attention and commendation from viewers and autism community organizations. By speaking openly about Nicholas's diagnosis on a national television platform, Laurita helped bring visibility to the experiences of families affected by autism spectrum disorder. Her willingness to document both the struggles and the progress of her son's journey resonated with many parents in similar situations, and her public commentary extended beyond the show to interviews with major outlets including People magazine and Entertainment Tonight.

The Little Kernel popcorn company, co-founded by her husband Chris with inspiration from Nicholas, also received media attention for its charitable giving initiatives, further connecting the Laurita family brand to their advocacy work.