An aspiring actress grows up to be an awe-inspiring trial lawyer, dubbed a top contender in her profession by Time magazine, and doubles as a recognized anchor on Court TV. Topping it off, she celebrates success in the literary world at a book party at Elaine’s thrown in her honor by Court TV CEO Henry Schlieff. Sounds like a character straight out of a Hollywood movie? No—it’s Rikki Klieman!
Gathering with a group of her closest friends, Rikki celebrated her new autobiographical read, Fairy Tales Can Come True: How A Driven Woman Changed Her Destiny, published by Regan Books (Harper Collins). In the mix were Klieman’s hubby Bill Bratton (LAPD’s nouveau Police Chief), Johnnie Cochran, Barbaralee Diamonstein with Carl Spielvogel, and John Miller (who recently left 20/20 to head the LAPD’s Bureau of Homeland Security —“Now, I can finish what I started with Bill Bratton!” he quipped). Giving a heartwarming speech about her love for her husband, who inspired the book, Rikki practically had us in tears.
Schlieff gave an inspiring speech of his own: “Given Rikki’s career as a Court TV anchor, and her ongoing relationship with us as our new L.A. correspondent (probably in order to be with the love of her life), it’s hard to believe that Rikki could become a best-selling author. I know the book’s going to do well, though, because—I read it! Like its author, it’s smart, warm, funny, and, most of all, full of truth.”
Fairy Talesnot only chronicles Rikki’s career, but also offers advice on how to appreciate life. “Now I understand that life can only be perfect in moments; and that we have to recognize those moments and live in them with all our heart,” she wrote. “We need to move slowly through life, to observe and savor the present (it will never happen again!) rather than dash to get to the future.”
Klieman must love every moment of her life—not only as a lawyer but as an actor playing a reporter in A Civil Action (1998) with John Travolta, and more recently in her own profession in Fifteen Minutes (2001) with Robert DeNiro. Whether it’s in the courtroom or in front of the television cameras, Rikki has the passion for it all!
