Ricki Lake
Known for Acting · 82 credits
- Born
- 1968-09-21 (age 57)
- Place of birth
- Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, USA
Biography
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.
Known For
TV Shows (42)
Late Show with David Letterman
1993
as Self - Guest
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
2009
as Self - Guest
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
1988
The View
1997
as Self - Guest / Self - Guest Co-Host
King of the Hill
1997
as Lila (voice)
25 Words or Less
2018
as Self
Sherri
2022
as Self - Guest
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
2003
as Self
Hollywood Squares
1998
as Self - Panelist
Dancing with the Stars
2005
as Self - Contestant
Tamron Hall
2019
as Self - Guest
Pictionary
2022
The King of Queens
1998
as Stephanie Heffernan
Whose Line Is It Anyway?
2013
as Self
The Masked Singer
2019
as Raven (archive footage) / Self - Raven
The Reichen Show
2005
as Self
Intimate Portrait
1993
as Self
Celebrity Family Feud
2015
as Self
Kate & Allie
1984
Drop Dead Diva
2009
as Susan Semler
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
2015
as Dream Ghost #1
Celebrity Juice
2008
as Self
Stars in the House
2020
as Self - Special Guest
China Beach
1988
as Holly Pelegrino
Entertainment Tonight
1981
Drop the Mic
2017
as Self
Through the Keyhole
2013
as Self
The Critic
1994
as Ricki Lake (voice)
The Word
1990
The Rosie O'Donnell Show
1996
as Self
Live from the Other Side with Tyler Henry
2024
as Self
The Ricki Lake Show
2012
RuPaul
2019
as Self
Easy to Assemble
2008
The Entertainment Biz
1998
as Self
Gravedale High
1990
as Cleofatra (voice)
The Wheel
2022
as Self - Expert
The Jenny Jones Show
1991
Gameshow Marathon
2006
as Hostess
Charm School with Ricki Lake
2009
as Self - Headmistress
Ricki Lake
1993
The Idiot Box
1991
as Daughter
Movies (40)
Hairspray
2007
as Talent Agent
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
1992
as Charlotte
Hairspray
1988
as Tracy Turnblad
Working Girl
1988
as Bridesmaid
Cry-Baby
1990
as Pepper Walker
Serial Mom
1994
as Misty Sutphin
Cecil B. Demented
2000
as Libby
Skinner
1993
as Kerry Tate
A Dirty Shame
2004
as Self
Where the Day Takes You
1992
as Brenda
Under the Christmas Tree
2021
as Marie
Last Exit to Brooklyn
1989
as Donna
Park
2006
as Peggy
Hairspray Live!
2016
as Pinkette
Mrs. Winterbourne
1996
as Connie Doyle
Inside Monkey Zetterland
1992
as Bella the Stalker
Loving Leah
2009
as Rabbi Gerry
New Line: Independent Legacies
as Self (archive footage)
Matters of Life & Dating
2007
as Linda Dackman
Based on an Untrue Story
1993
as Velour Gnack
Gemini
2017
as Vanessa
More Business of Being Born
2011
as Host
I Am Divine
2014
as Self
Babycakes
1989
as Grace
Jackie's Back!
1999
as Ricki Lake
Cookie
1989
as Pia
Cabin Boy
1994
as Figurehead
Hairspray: The Search for Tracy Turnblad
2007
as Self
Murder She Purred: A Mrs. Murphy Mystery
1998
as Mary Minor 'Harry' Haristeen
The In Crowd
1988
as Dancer (uncredited)
The Naked Brothers Band: The Movie
2005
as Ricki Lake
It Came from... Baltimore!!
2005
as Self
The Roots of 'Hairspray'
2007
as Self
The Business of Being Born
2008
as Self
Serial Mom: Surreal Moments
as Self
Embrace
2016
as Self
Moon Manor
2022
as Self
Hairspray: Playing Tracy
2007
as Self
The Chase
1991
as Tammie
A Family Again
1988
as Carmen
About 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… With 82 credits spanning from 1981 to 2024, Ricki Lake has appeared in 40 films and 42 TV shows.
Fans searching for Ricki Lake movies, Ricki Lake filmography, or the latest projects starring Ricki Lake can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Ricki Lake Movies
- Hairspray (2007) — as Talent Agent
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992) — as Charlotte
- Hairspray (1988) — as Tracy Turnblad
- Working Girl (1988) — as Bridesmaid
- Cry-Baby (1990) — as Pepper Walker
Where to Watch Ricki Lake Films
Most Ricki Lake movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Ricki Lake, check our movies catalogue and browse page.