Ricki Lake
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.
Known For








Credits
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Self★ 7
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The Wheel 2022Self - Expert★ 4.4
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Pictionary 2022★ 3.5
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Moon Manor 2022Self★ 6.8
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Marie★ 5.9
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Stars in the House 2020Self - Special Guest★ NR
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The Masked Singer 2019Raven (archive footage)★ 7.6
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25 Words or Less 2018★ 6.7
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Drop the Mic 2017Self★ 6.1
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Gemini 2017Vanessa★ 5.4
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Hairspray Live! 2016Pinky's Girl★ 7.4
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Embrace 2016Self★ 6.6
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Crazy Ex-Girlfriend 2015Dream Ghost #1★ 6.8
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Self★ 7.8
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I Am Divine 2014Self★ 7.4
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Through the Keyhole 2013Self★ 6
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Self★ 7.7
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Host★ NR
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Drop Dead Diva 2009Susan Semler★ 7.7
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Loving Leah 2009Rabbi Gerry★ 7
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Easy to Assemble 2008★ 5
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Self★ 6.6
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Linda Dackman★ 5
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Hairspray 2007Talent Agent★ 6.7
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Park 2006Peggy★ 4.9
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Gameshow Marathon 2006Hostess★ NR
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Ricki Lake★ 4.9
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Self★ 7.2
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Self - Contestant★ 6
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A Dirty Shame 2004Self★ 5.3
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Cecil B. Demented 2000Libby★ 6.4
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Jackie's Back! 1999Ricki Lake★ 6.5
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Mary Minor 'Harry' Haristeen★ 7.6
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The King of Queens 1998Stephanie Heffernan★ 7.1
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Hollywood Squares 1998Self★ 7.3
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Self★ NR
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King of the Hill 1997Lila (voice)★ 7.4
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Mrs. Winterbourne 1996Connie Doyle★ 7.2
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Serial Mom 1994Misty Sutphin★ 6.7
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The Critic 1994Ricki Lake (voice)★ 7.3
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Cabin Boy 1994Figurehead★ 5.1
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Intimate Portrait 1993Self★ 4.5
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Skinner 1993Kerry Tate★ 4.6
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Velour Gnack★ 4.2
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Bella the Stalker★ 3.2
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Charlotte★ 5.6
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Brenda★ 6.2
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The Jenny Jones Show 1991★ NR
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The Chase 1991Tammie★ 3
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Gravedale High 1990Cleofatra (voice)★ 6
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Cry-Baby 1990Pepper Walker★ 6.5
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Cookie 1989Pia★ 5.2
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Donna★ 6.6
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Babycakes 1989Grace★ 7
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Working Girl 1988Bridesmaid★ 6.6
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A Family Again 1988Carmen★ NR
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China Beach 1988Holly Pelegrino★ 7.4
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The In Crowd 1988Dancer (uncredited)★ 6
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Kate & Allie 1984★ 5.9