Danielle Staub (bornBeverly Ann Merrill; July 29, 1962)[4] is an American reality television personality. In May 2009, she came to prominence after being cast in the reality television seriesThe Real Housewives of New Jersey, as a main cast member for two seasons (2009–10), and afterward as a friend for three more seasons (2017–20).
Staub was adopted and raised inAthens, Pennsylvania.[5] She said in her autobiographyThe Naked Truth that multiple relatives sexually abused her, writing, "The memory goes back as far as 8 years old. By 11, I started fighting back."[6]
In 2001, Staub briefly acted in an episode ofAll My Children.[7] In 2009, Staub joined the cast ofThe Real Housewives of New Jersey, where she appeared in the first two seasons.[8] After weeks of speculation, Bravo announced that Staub would not be returning to the show for season three, giving no reason.[9]
In September 2010, she appeared on theStyle Network comedy programThe Dish. She acted in several sketches, including a surprisecold open where she tried to take over as the show's host after leaving the real presenter,Danielle Fishel, bound and gagged backstage.[10] In 2011, Staub starred in a food-related reality series for VH1 calledFamous Food, in which they would "[revamp] a restaurant from the ground up."[11] In August 2017, it was announced that Staub would return toThe Real Housewives of New Jersey, in a "friend of the housewives" capacity.[12][13] She appeared as a recurring cast member for seasons 8, 9 and 10. On January 8, 2020, Staub announced her permanent departure fromThe Real Housewives of New Jersey.[14]
In July 2020, Staub launched a podcastAbsolutely Danielle.[15]
Staub has been married three times. She was married to Kevin Maher from 1986 to 1987, and to Thomas Staub, the father of her daughters Christine and Jillian, from 1993 to 2007.[17][18][19] In May 2017, it was announced Staub was engaged to Marty Caffrey.[20][21] The two wed in May 2018.[22] In August 2018, it was announced the couple would divorce.[23] Their divorce was finalized on February 21, 2019.[24][25]
In June 2010, her home in Wayne, New Jersey, which had been featured onThe Real Housewives of New Jersey, was put up for sale.[26] In June 2012, Staub filed for bankruptcy.[27][28] As of the end of 2014, the property was listed as a short sale in connection with Staub's successful completion of a bankruptcy filing.[29]
During the first season ofThe Real Housewives of New Jersey, other participants in the reality show confronted Staub with Charles Kipps' bookCop Without a Badge, which recounted events that surrounded Kevin Maher, an undercover FBI informer, who had once been married to Staub;Cop Without a Badge also included an account of Staub's arrest.[6] Known at the time as Beverly Merrill, Staub cooperated with authorities and received five years' probation.[6][30] Staub had been arrested in June 1986,[31] but she denied many of the other allegations Maher had made.[6] Staub's autobiographyThe Naked Truth was released on May 25, 2010,[32] and in it, she wrote that her arrest was a matter of "wrong place/wrong time."[33]
In October 2009, Staub's ex-husband Kevin Maher sued her for defamation of character after allegations were made about him;[34] it was settled out of court.[35] In October 2010, Staub was sued again by Maher for making false allegations in her memoirThe Naked Truth, after notifying the publisherSimon & Schuster, a lawsuit would be filed if the book was published.[36][37][4]
In 2009, Staub pressed charges against Ashley Holmes, the daughter of fellow HousewifeJacqueline Laurita, for pulling out her hair extension at a fashion show inWayne, New Jersey. In January 2010, Holmes, then 19, was convicted of assault and fined $189.[38]
