Ricki Lake

Born: 1968-09-21

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.


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Hairspray

as Talent Agent
Released: 2007-07-19

Pleasantly plump teenager Tracy Turnblad auditions to be on Baltimore's most popular dance show...

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Serial Mom

as Misty Sutphin
Released: 1994-04-13

Beverly is the perfect happy homemaker, along with her doting husband and two children, but this...

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Cry-Baby

as Pepper Walker
Released: 1990-04-06

A prim and proper schoolgirl goes against her society grandmother's wishes when she dates a...

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Working Girl

as Bridesmaid
Released: 1988-12-20

Tess McGill is an ambitious secretary with a unique approach for climbing the ladder to success....

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as Charlotte
Released: 1992-07-24

Blonde, bouncy Buffy is your typical high school cheerleader. But all that changes when a...

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A Dirty Shame

as Self
Released: 2004-09-24

Sylvia Stickles runs a convenience store with her husband and mother-in-law. One day, Sylvia is...

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Hairspray

as Tracy Turnblad
Released: 1988-02-26

'Pleasantly plump' teenager Tracy Turnblad achieves her dream of becoming a regular on the Corny...

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Cabin Boy

as Figurehead
Released: 1994-01-07

A foul-mouthed finishing school graduate mistakenly winds up on an ill-fated fishing boat, and...

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Hairspray Live!

as Pinky's Girl
Released: 2016-12-07

A teenage girl living in Baltimore in the early 1960s dreams of appearing on a popular TV dance...

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Gemini

as Vanessa
Released: 2017-06-14

A heinous crime tests the complex relationship between a tenacious personal assistant and her...

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Cecil B. Demented

as Libby
Released: 2000-08-02

A young lunatic director and his devoted cult of cinema terrorists kidnap a Hollywood movie...

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Where the Day Takes You

as Brenda
Released: 1992-09-11

King is a young man, but he's already a veteran of life on the streets of Los Angeles. The de...

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Loving Leah

as Rabbi Gerry
Released: 2009-01-25

A handsome Washington, D.C. doctor and a young New York woman fall in love at an unusual...

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I Am Divine

as Self
Released: 2013-03-09

Harris Glenn Milstead, aka Divine (1945-1988) was the ultimate outsider turned underground hero....

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Mrs. Winterbourne

as Connie Doyle
Released: 1996-04-19

Connie Doyle is eighteen, pregnant and alone. She accidentally ends up on a train where she...

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Last Exit to Brooklyn

as Donna
Released: 1989-07-26

A gallery of characters in Brooklyn in the 1950s are crushed by their surroundings and selves: a...

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Jackie's Back!

as Ricki Lake
Released: 1999-06-14

A British documentarian profiles washed-up diva Jackie Washington as she prepares for her...

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The Business of Being Born

as Self
Released: 2008-01-09

Birth: it's a miracle. A rite of passage. A natural part of life. But more than anything, birth...

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Inside Monkey Zetterland

as Bella the Stalker
Released: 1992-09-12

An off beat comedy about an out of work screen writing/artist that complains about being too...

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Under the Christmas Tree

as Marie
Released: 2021-12-19

Marketing whiz Alma Beltran and Christmas tree whisperer Charlie Freemont cross paths when...

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Based on an Untrue Story

as Velour Gnack
Released: 1993-09-20

Perfume creator Satin Chau is about to reveal her new designer scent, 'Puppy,' when she is...

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Skinner

as Kerry Tate
Released: 1993-10-01

A man rents a room in a couple's house and roams the streets at night looking for victims to...

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The Naked Brothers Band: The Movie

as Ricki Lake
Released: 2005-10-23

After making it to the top of the charts, members of the Silver Boulders, a popular tween rock...

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Babycakes

as Grace
Released: 1989-02-14

Grace is an overweight mortuary cosmetician who falls in love with Rob, a handsome subway train...

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Park

as Peggy
Released: 2006-06-12

Park takes place all in one day in a public park in Los Angeles, as 11 disaffected Angelenos...

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Cookie

as Pia
Released: 1989-08-02

Cookie Voltecki is the illegitimate daughter of mobster Dino Capisco, who has just finished...

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Embrace

as Self
Released: 2016-08-04

Embrace follows body image activist Taryn Brumfitt's crusade as she explores the global issue of...

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The In Crowd

as Dancer (uncredited)
Released: 1988-02-01

A young man of the rock and roll generation is in his senior year of high school. When one day...

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Murder She Purred: A Mrs. Murphy Mystery

as Mary Minor 'Harry' Haristeen
Released: 1998-12-13

A small-town cat-and-dog detective duo investigate a new neighbor who they believe may have...

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It Came from... Baltimore!!

as Self
Released: 2005-07-12

Documentary about the making of John Waters' 1990 film Cry-Baby.

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Moon Manor

as Self
Released: 2022-02-25

Today is Jimmy's last day alive. His Alzheimer's is worsening, so he's decided to die like he...

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Matters of Life & Dating

as Linda Dackman
Released: 2007-10-22

Linda Dackman has been diagnosed with breast cancer, but this does not prevent her from seeing...

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The Chase

as Tammie
Released: 1991-02-10

In Denver, a fleeing bank robber kills a cop and kidnaps an old man to hold as a hostage. He is...

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More Business of Being Born

as Host
Released: 2011-11-08

Executive Producer Ricki Lake and Filmmaker Abby Epstein follow their landmark documentary,'The...

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Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen

as Self - Guest
First aired: 2009-07-16

Bravo network executive Andy Cohen discusses pop culture topics with celebrities and reality...

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LIVE with Kelly and Mark

as uncredited
First aired: 1988-09-05

A morning talk show with A-list celebrity guests, top-notch performances and one-of-a-kind...

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Late Show with David Letterman

as Self - Guest
First aired: 1993-08-30

Late Show with David Letterman is an American late-night talk show hosted by David Letterman on...

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King of the Hill

as Lila (voice)
First aired: 1997-01-12

Set in Texas, this animated series follows the life of propane salesman Hank Hill, who lives...

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The King of Queens

as Stephanie Heffernan
First aired: 1998-09-21

Life’s good for deliveryman Doug Heffernan, until his newly widowed father-in-law, Arthur, moves...

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Dancing with the Stars

as Self - Contestant
First aired: 2005-06-01

The competition sees celebrities perform choreographed dance routines which are judged by a...

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The Masked Singer

as Raven (archive footage)
First aired: 2019-01-02

Celebrities compete in a singing competition with one major twist: each singer is shrouded from...

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The Masked Singer

as Raven
First aired: 2019-01-02

Celebrities compete in a singing competition with one major twist: each singer is shrouded from...

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The View

as Self - Guest
First aired: 1997-08-11

ABC Daytime's morning chatfest, currently featuring Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Sunny Hostin,...

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The View

as Self
First aired: 1997-08-11

ABC Daytime's morning chatfest, currently featuring Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Sunny Hostin,...

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The View

as Self - Guest Co-Host
First aired: 1997-08-11

ABC Daytime's morning chatfest, currently featuring Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Sunny Hostin,...

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Tamron Hall

as Self - Guest
First aired: 2019-09-09

Former news host and journalist Tamron Hall discusses all things topical and engages those she...

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Sherri

as Self - Guest
First aired: 2022-09-12

Sherri Shepherd, actress, comic, and Emmy Award-winning longtime co-host of "The View", appears...

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Hollywood Squares

as Self
First aired: 1998-09-14

On September 14, 1998, a Hollywood Squares revival debuted with Tom Bergeron as its host. In...

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Celebrity Family Feud

as Self
First aired: 2015-06-21

Celebrity Family Feud pits celebrities and their families against each other in a contest to...

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Drop Dead Diva

as Susan Semler
First aired: 2009-07-12

A shallow model suddenly dies in an accident only to find her soul resurfacing in the body of a...

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Celebrity Juice

as Self
First aired: 2008-09-24

The outrageous comedy panel show hosted by the irrepressible Keith Lemon. Each episode sees top...

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The Ellen DeGeneres Show

as Self
First aired: 2003-09-08

The Ellen DeGeneres Show, often shortened to just Ellen, is an American television talk show...

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Crazy Ex-Girlfriend

as Dream Ghost #1
First aired: 2015-10-12

Rebecca Bunch is a successful, driven, and possibly crazy young woman who impulsively gives up...

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The Reichen Show

as Self
First aired: 2005-11-11

A list of celebrity interviews and sensational topics.

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Whose Line Is It Anyway?

as Self
First aired: 2013-07-16

Comedian Aisha Tyler hosts this improv comedy show where the actors on the show - Wayne Brady,...

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Intimate Portrait

as Self
First aired: 1993-11-14

Intimate Portrait is a biographical television series on the Lifetime Television cable network...

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Pictionary

as uncredited
First aired: 2022-09-12

Based on the Mattel's party game, two teams of three players will compete against each other,...

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25 Words or Less

as uncredited
First aired: 2018-08-06

Hosted by Meredith Vieira, two teams of celebrities and civilians face off in a fast paced word...

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Kate & Allie

as uncredited
First aired: 1984-03-19

Kate & Allie is an American television situation comedy which ran from March 19, 1984, to May...

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China Beach

as Holly Pelegrino
First aired: 1988-04-26

Dateline: November 1967. Within klicks of Danang, Vietnam, sits a U.S. Army base, bar and...

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Stars in the House

as Self - Special Guest
First aired: 2020-03-16

In the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic and theatres across the world closing their curtains...

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Live from the Other Side with Tyler Henry

as Self
First aired: 2024-09-17

World-renowned medium Tyler Henry gives celebrity guests hope, healing and long-sought answers...

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Drop the Mic

as Self
First aired: 2017-10-24

Based on a popular segment on "The Late Late Show With James Corden" and emceed by rapper-actor...

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Through the Keyhole

as Self
First aired: 2013-08-31

What would happen if Keith Lemon had permission to snoop around celebrities' homes? Find out as...

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The Rosie O'Donnell Show

as Self
First aired: 1996-06-10

The Rosie O'Donnell Show was an American daytime television talk show hosted and produced by...

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Easy to Assemble

as uncredited
First aired: 2008-09-22

Easy to Assemble is a Webseries created by and starring Illeana Douglas, and sponsored by...

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Gravedale High

as Cleofatra
First aired: 1990-09-08

Gravedale High is an animated series produced by Hanna-Barbera for NBC Productions. The series...

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RuPaul

as Self
First aired: 2019-06-10

The RuPaul Show is more than just a talk show… It’s a movement! The all new RuPaul Show is...

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Ricki Lake

as uncredited
First aired: 1993-09-13

Ricki Lake is a daytime tabloid talk show hosted by American actress Ricki Lake. The series...

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The Wheel

as Self - Expert
First aired: 2022-12-19

Three contestants battle it out to keep their spot at the center of the wheel as six celebrity...

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Gameshow Marathon

as Hostess
First aired: 2006-05-31

Game$how Marathon is an American television program which aired on CBS from May 31, 2006 to June...

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