Lea Black

Lea Black
Born	Lea Black
Nationality	American
Occupation	Television personality, philanthropist, entrepreneur
Known for	The Real Housewives of Miami
Spouse(s)	Roy Black (m. early 1990s; his death 2025)

Lea Black is an American television personality, philanthropist, and entrepreneur best known for her appearance as a main cast member on the Bravo reality television series The Real Housewives of Miami. A prominent figure in Miami's social and philanthropic circles, Black gained national recognition through the show, which documented the lives of affluent women in the Miami area. Beyond television, she has been involved in charitable work, particularly through her annual Black's Gala, one of Miami's most notable fundraising events. She was married for more than 30 years to Roy Black, the renowned criminal defense attorney known for representing high-profile clients, until his death in July 2025 at the age of 80. Black has also been involved in business ventures, including a beauty and skincare line, and has maintained a presence in media and entertainment circles in both Miami and Los Angeles.

Career

The Real Housewives of Miami

Lea Black rose to national prominence as a cast member on The Real Housewives of Miami, a reality television series that premiered on the Bravo network. The show, part of the broader Real Housewives franchise, followed the personal and professional lives of a group of women living in the Miami metropolitan area. Black appeared as a main cast member during the show's early seasons, during which she became known for her philanthropy, her lavish lifestyle, and her marriage to attorney Roy Black.

Her presence on the show highlighted her role as a prominent socialite in Miami and brought attention to her charitable endeavors, including her well-known annual gala. The series provided viewers with a window into her life in the Miami social scene, her family dynamics, and her interactions with fellow cast members.

Andy Cohen, the executive producer of the Real Housewives franchise and host of Bravo's Watch What Happens Live, had a connection to Lea Black and her husband that predated her time on the network. Following the death of Roy Black in July 2025, Cohen publicly reacted to the news and detailed his pre-Bravo connection to the couple, indicating that the relationship between the Blacks and the Bravo executive extended beyond the professional realm of reality television production.

Philanthropy

A significant aspect of Lea Black's public profile has been her philanthropic activity. She became well known in Miami for organizing and hosting Black's Gala, an annual charity event that attracted attendees from across the social, entertainment, and political spectrums. The gala served as a major fundraising event in the Miami area and became one of the most prominent charitable gatherings in the city.

Black's philanthropic efforts were a recurring theme during her appearances on The Real Housewives of Miami and contributed to her reputation as a socially engaged figure within the Miami community. Her charitable work extended beyond the gala, although the annual event remained the centerpiece of her public philanthropy.

Business Ventures

In addition to her television career and philanthropic work, Lea Black has pursued business ventures, including involvement in the beauty and skincare industry. She has also been active as a media commentator, offering her perspectives on topics ranging from pop culture to current events through various media appearances and social media platforms.

Real Estate

Lea Black has maintained residences in both Miami and Los Angeles. In September 2025, it was reported that Black was preparing to sell her Hollywood Hills home in Los Angeles, listing it for approximately $7 million. The property was described as a "jaw dropping" hillside mansion where she had entertained numerous notable guests over the years.

By December 2025, the Los Angeles property had been sold in an off-market transaction. TMZ reported that Black "cashed out of her Los Angeles perch," unloading the luxe hillside estate for millions in an off-market sale. The sale price was subsequently reported to be $6.6 million. The sale of the property came approximately five months after the death of her husband, Roy Black, and was noted by media outlets as a significant transaction involving a former reality television star.

Personal Life

Lea Black was married to Roy Black, one of the most prominent criminal defense attorneys in the United States, for more than 30 years. Roy Black was a famed attorney based in Miami who gained national recognition for representing high-profile clients throughout his career. The couple's marriage and their life together in Miami were featured prominently on The Real Housewives of Miami and were a central element of Lea Black's public identity.

Roy Black died on July 22, 2025, at the age of 80 in Coral Gables, Florida, after battling an undisclosed illness. His death was widely covered by media outlets, reflecting both his stature in the legal profession and the couple's public profile through reality television.

Following her husband's passing, Lea Black reached out to friends, family, and fans through social media. The Miami Herald reported that she shared a post after word spread that her husband had passed away. People magazine confirmed that Black was "mourning the death of her husband of more than 30 years." Bravo, the network that had aired The Real Housewives of Miami, also reported on Roy Black's death, describing him as a "famed attorney."

Andy Cohen also publicly reacted to the news of Roy Black's death and shared details about his personal connection to the couple, which he indicated had existed before Lea Black joined the Bravo network as a cast member on The Real Housewives of Miami.

An MSN report noted that the former Real Housewives of Miami star shared a post after losing her husband, describing Roy Black as a "top criminal defense lawyer."

The couple resided in both Miami, Florida, and Los Angeles, California, maintaining homes in both cities. Their Miami residence was in the Coral Gables area, while their Los Angeles home was a hillside estate in the Hollywood Hills that Black sold in late 2025 for $6.6 million following her husband's death.

Recognition

Lea Black's recognition has come primarily through her role on The Real Housewives of Miami and her status as a prominent figure in Miami's social and philanthropic scene. Her annual Black's Gala became one of the most recognized charity events in the Miami area, drawing attention from both local and national media.

As a cast member on The Real Housewives of Miami, Black became part of the broader cultural phenomenon of the Real Housewives franchise, which has generated significant media attention and public interest since its inception. Her appearances on the show and related media engagements contributed to her profile as a public figure beyond the Miami social circuit.

Following the death of her husband Roy Black in 2025, media coverage underscored the couple's prominence, with outlets including People magazine, the Miami Herald, TMZ, and Bravo all publishing reports on the passing and Lea Black's response to the loss. The breadth of the coverage reflected the couple's combined profile in law, media, and philanthropy.

Her real estate transactions also attracted media attention, with both TMZ and Yahoo Entertainment reporting on the sale of her Hollywood Hills property in late 2025, further illustrating her continued relevance as a public figure even after her primary tenure on reality television had concluded.