Ricki Lake
Ricki Lake

Ricki Lake

Born: September 21, 1968 (57 years)
Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, USA

Ricki Pamela Lake (born September 21, 1968) is an American television host and actress. She is known for her lead role as Tracy Turnblad in the 1988 film Hairspray, for which she received a nomination for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead. She is also known for her talk show, Ricki Lake, which was broadcast internationally from September 1993 until May 2004. When the show debuted, she was 24 and credited as being the youngest person to host a syndicated talk show at the time. In late 2012, Lake began hosting a second syndicated talk show, The Ricki Lake Show. The series was canceled in 2013 after a single season, but Lake won her first Daytime Emmy Award for the project. She also starred in other Waters films including Cry-Baby, Cecil B. Demented, and Serial Mom. She starred in Mrs. Winterbourne, Cabin Boy, Last Exit to Brooklyn, Cookie, and Inside Monkey Zetterland. She joined the cast of the Vietnam War drama series China Beach as a Red Cross volunteer, Holly "the Donut Dolly" Pelegrino, for the show's third season. She also had a recurring role on the CBS sitcom The King of Queens as Doug's sister Stephanie. She also had a cameo in the 2007 film Hairspray as a talent agent and sang "Mama I'm A Big Girl Now" with Nikki Blonsky and Marissa Jaret Winokur for the film's end credits. In 2008, her documentary about home birth and midwifery, The Business of Being Born, was released. She also jointly wrote a book, Your Best Birth, on the world of natural childbirth and birthing options, along with Abby Epstein and Jacques Moritz, which was published in 2009. Lake and Epstein also launched MyBestBirth.com, an online social network, powered by Ning, intended to allow parents and medical professionals to dialogue about varying birthing options and resources. She returned to television on May 11, 2009, succeeding Sharon Osbourne as host for the third season of VH1's Charm School. On November 10, 2010, Lake joined fellow talkers Phil Donahue, Sally Jessy Raphael, Geraldo Rivera, and Montel Williams as guests of Oprah Winfrey on The Oprah Winfrey Show, marking the first time those hosts appeared together on one show since their respective programs left the air. She competed on the 13th season of Dancing with the Stars. She was partnered with three-time champion Derek Hough and cited Kirstie Alley's appearance as an inspiration to do the show. In October 2019, she began competing in The X Factor: Celebrity. In March 2018, at SXSW, Lake and Epstein premiered their documentary film Weed the People, examining the use of cannabis as medicine and its status as a Schedule I prohibited drug in the United States. The film focused in particular on the use of cannabis in the treatment of pediatric cancer.

Movies as Actor (39)
Moon Manor

Moon Manor

as Self

Feb 25, 2022

Under the Christmas Tree

Under the Christmas Tree

as Marie

Dec 19, 2021

Gemini

Gemini

as Vanessa

Jun 14, 2017

Hairspray Live!

Hairspray Live!

as Pinkette

Dec 7, 2016

Embrace

Embrace

as Self

Aug 4, 2016

I Am Divine

I Am Divine

as Self

Mar 26, 2014

More Business of Being Born

More Business of Being Born

as Host

Nov 8, 2011

Loving Leah

Loving Leah

as Rabbi Gerry

Jan 25, 2009

The Business of Being Born

The Business of Being Born

as Self

Jan 9, 2008

Hairspray: Playing Tracy

Hairspray: Playing Tracy

as Self

Nov 20, 2007

The Roots of 'Hairspray'

The Roots of 'Hairspray'

as Self

Nov 20, 2007

Hairspray: The Search for Tracy Turnblad

Hairspray: The Search for Tracy Turnblad

as Self

Nov 20, 2007

Matters of Life & Dating

Matters of Life & Dating

as Linda Dackman

Oct 22, 2007

Hairspray

Hairspray

as Talent Agent

Jul 19, 2007

Park

Park

as Peggy

Jun 12, 2006

The Naked Brothers Band: The Movie

The Naked Brothers Band: The Movie

as Ricki Lake

Oct 23, 2005

It Came from... Baltimore!!

It Came from... Baltimore!!

as Self

Jul 12, 2005

A Dirty Shame

A Dirty Shame

as Self

Sep 24, 2004

Cecil B. Demented

Cecil B. Demented

as Libby

Aug 2, 2000

Jackie's Back!

Jackie's Back!

as Ricki Lake

Jun 14, 1999

Murder She Purred: A Mrs. Murphy Mystery

Murder She Purred: A Mrs. Murphy Mystery

as Mary Minor 'Harry' Haristeen

Dec 13, 1998

Mrs. Winterbourne

Mrs. Winterbourne

as Connie Doyle

Apr 19, 1996

Serial Mom

Serial Mom

as Misty Sutphin

Apr 13, 1994

Cabin Boy

Cabin Boy

as Figurehead

Jan 7, 1994

Skinner

Skinner

as Kerry Tate

Oct 1, 1993

Based on an Untrue Story

Based on an Untrue Story

as Velour Gnack

Sep 20, 1993

Inside Monkey Zetterland

Inside Monkey Zetterland

as Bella the Stalker

Sep 12, 1992

Where the Day Takes You

Where the Day Takes You

as Brenda

Sep 11, 1992

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

as Charlotte

Jul 24, 1992

The Chase

The Chase

as Tammie

Feb 10, 1991

Cry-Baby

Cry-Baby

as Pepper Walker

Apr 6, 1990

Cookie

Cookie

as Pia

Aug 2, 1989

Last Exit to Brooklyn

Last Exit to Brooklyn

as Donna

Jul 26, 1989

Babycakes

Babycakes

as Grace

Feb 14, 1989

Working Girl

Working Girl

as Bridesmaid

Dec 20, 1988

A Family Again

A Family Again

as Carmen

Oct 15, 1988

Hairspray

Hairspray

as Tracy Turnblad

Feb 26, 1988

The In Crowd

The In Crowd

as Dancer (uncredited)

Feb 1, 1988

Serial Mom: Surreal Moments

Serial Mom: Surreal Moments

as Self

TV Shows as Actor (41)
Live from the Other Side with Tyler Henry

Live from the Other Side with Tyler Henry

as Self

Sep 17, 2024

The Wheel

The Wheel

as Self - Expert

Dec 19, 2022

Sherri

Sherri

as Self - Guest

Sep 12, 2022

Pictionary

Pictionary

Sep 12, 2022

Stars in the House

Stars in the House

as Self - Special Guest

Mar 16, 2020

Tamron Hall

Tamron Hall

as Self - Guest

Sep 9, 2019

RuPaul

RuPaul

as Self

Jun 10, 2019

The Masked Singer

The Masked Singer

as Raven (archive footage), Self - Raven

Jan 2, 2019

25 Words or Less

25 Words or Less

as Self

Aug 6, 2018

Drop the Mic

Drop the Mic

as Self

Oct 24, 2017

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend

as Dream Ghost #1

Oct 12, 2015

Celebrity Family Feud

Celebrity Family Feud

as Self

Jun 21, 2015

Through the Keyhole

Through the Keyhole

as Self

Aug 31, 2013

Whose Line Is It Anyway?

Whose Line Is It Anyway?

as Self

Jul 16, 2013

The Ricki Lake Show

The Ricki Lake Show

Sep 10, 2012

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen

as Self - Guest

Jul 16, 2009

Drop Dead Diva

Drop Dead Diva

as Susan Semler

Jul 12, 2009

Charm School with Ricki Lake

Charm School with Ricki Lake

as Self - Headmistress

May 11, 2009

Celebrity Juice

Celebrity Juice

as Self

Sep 24, 2008

Easy to Assemble

Easy to Assemble

Sep 22, 2008

Gameshow Marathon

Gameshow Marathon

as Hostess

May 31, 2006

The Reichen Show

The Reichen Show

as Self

Nov 11, 2005

Dancing with the Stars

Dancing with the Stars

as Self - Contestant

Jun 1, 2005

The Ellen DeGeneres Show

The Ellen DeGeneres Show

as Self

Sep 8, 2003

The King of Queens

The King of Queens

as Stephanie Heffernan

Sep 21, 1998

Hollywood Squares

Hollywood Squares

as Self - Panelist

Sep 14, 1998

The Entertainment Biz

The Entertainment Biz

as Self

Feb 15, 1998

The View

The View

as Self - Guest, Self, Self - Guest Co-Host

Aug 11, 1997

King of the Hill

King of the Hill

as Lila (voice)

Jan 12, 1997

The Rosie O'Donnell Show

The Rosie O'Donnell Show

as Self

Jun 10, 1996

The Critic

The Critic

as Ricki Lake (voice)

Jan 26, 1994

Intimate Portrait

Intimate Portrait

as Self

Nov 14, 1993

Ricki Lake

Ricki Lake

Sep 13, 1993

Late Show with David Letterman

Late Show with David Letterman

as Self - Guest

Aug 30, 1993

The Jenny Jones Show

The Jenny Jones Show

Sep 16, 1991

The Idiot Box

The Idiot Box

as Daughter

Mar 23, 1991

Gravedale High

Gravedale High

as Cleofatra (voice)

Sep 8, 1990

LIVE with Kelly and Mark

LIVE with Kelly and Mark

Sep 5, 1988

China Beach

China Beach

as Holly Pelegrino

Apr 26, 1988

Kate & Allie

Kate & Allie

Mar 19, 1984

Entertainment Tonight

Entertainment Tonight

Sep 15, 1981