Ricki Lake
Biography
Ricki Pamela Lake was born on September 21, 1968, in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, USA. She is an American television host and actress known for her lead role as Tracy Turnblad in the 1988 film Hairspray, which earned her a nomination for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead. Lake is also recognized for hosting her international talk show, Ricki Lake, which aired from September 1993 until May 2004. At the time of its debut, she was 24 years old and credited as the youngest person to host a syndicated talk show. In late 2012, she began hosting a second syndicated talk show, The Ricki Lake Show, which was canceled after a single season in 2013, though Lake won her first Daytime Emmy Award for the project.
Career overview
Ricki Pamela Lake is an American television host and actress born on September 21, 1968, in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, USA. She is widely known for her lead role as Tracy Turnblad in the 1988 film Hairspray, a performance that earned her a nomination for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead. Throughout her career, Lake has accumulated 87 known acting credits on television and in film according to archival data.
In addition to her film work, Lake established a prominent career as a television host. She hosted her first internationally broadcast talk show, titled Ricki Lake, which ran from September 1993 until May 2004. At the time of the show's debut, she was 24 years old, earning recognition as the youngest person to host a syndicated talk show. Later in her career, she began hosting a second syndicated talk show, The Ricki Lake Show, in late 2012. Although this series was canceled in 2013 after airing for a single season, Lake received her first Daytime Emmy Award for her work on the project.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
94 titles- Big Rock Burning (2025) Executive Producer
- Live from the Other Side with Tyler Henry (2024) as Self
- Sherri (2022) as Self - Guest
- Pictionary (2022)
- The Wheel (2022) as Self - Expert
- Moon Manor (2022) as Self
- Under the Christmas Tree (2021) as Marie
- Stars in the House (2020) as Self - Special Guest
- Tamron Hall (2019) as Self - Guest
- The Masked Singer (2019) as Raven (archive footage)
- The Masked Singer (2019) as Self - Raven
- RuPaul (2019) as Self
- 25 Words or Less (2018) as Self
- Weed the People (2018) Executive Producer
- Drop the Mic (2017) as Self
- Gemini (2017) as Vanessa
- Hairspray Live! (2016) as Pinkette
- Embrace (2016) as Self
- Celebrity Family Feud (2015) as Self
- Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (2015) as Dream Ghost #1
- I Am Divine (2014) as Self
- Whose Line Is It Anyway? (2013) as Self
- Through the Keyhole (2013) as Self
- The Ricki Lake Show (2012)
- The Ricki Lake Show (2012) Producer
- The Ricki Lake Show (2012) Creator
- More Business of Being Born (2011) as Host
- More Business of Being Born (2011) Executive Producer
- Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen (2009) as Self - Guest
- Drop Dead Diva (2009) as Susan Semler
- Olivia (2009) Creator
- Loving Leah (2009) as Rabbi Gerry
- Loving Leah (2009) Co-Executive Producer
- Charm School with Ricki Lake (2009) as Self - Headmistress
- Charm School with Ricki Lake (2009) Producer
- Celebrity Juice (2008) as Self
- Easy to Assemble (2008)
- The Business of Being Born (2008) as Self
- The Business of Being Born (2008) Producer
- Hairspray (2007) as Talent Agent
- Matters of Life & Dating (2007) as Linda Dackman
- Hairspray: The Search for Tracy Turnblad (2007) as Self
- The Roots of 'Hairspray' (2007) as Self
- Hairspray: Playing Tracy (2007) as Self
- Park (2006) as Peggy
- Gameshow Marathon (2006) as Hostess
- Dancing with the Stars (2005) as Self - Contestant
- The Reichen Show (2005) as Self
- It Came from... Baltimore!! (2005) as Self
- The Naked Brothers Band: The Movie (2005) as Ricki Lake
- A Dirty Shame (2004) as Self
- The Ellen DeGeneres Show (2003) as Self
- Cecil B. Demented (2000) as Libby
- Jackie's Back! (1999) as Ricki Lake
- The King of Queens (1998) as Stephanie Heffernan
- Hollywood Squares (1998) as Self - Panelist
- The Entertainment Biz (1998) as Self
- Murder She Purred: A Mrs. Murphy Mystery (1998) as Mary Minor 'Harry' Haristeen
- King of the Hill (1997) as Lila (voice)
- The View (1997) as Self - Guest
- The View (1997) as Self
- The View (1997) as Self - Guest Co-Host
- The Rosie O'Donnell Show (1996) as Self
- Mrs. Winterbourne (1996) as Connie Doyle
- The Critic (1994) as Ricki Lake (voice)
- Serial Mom (1994) as Misty Sutphin
- Cabin Boy (1994) as Figurehead
- Late Show with David Letterman (1993) as Self - Guest
- Intimate Portrait (1993) as Self
- Skinner (1993) as Kerry Tate
- Ricki Lake (1993)
- Based on an Untrue Story (1993) as Velour Gnack
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992) as Charlotte
- Where the Day Takes You (1992) as Brenda
- Inside Monkey Zetterland (1992) as Bella the Stalker
- The Jenny Jones Show (1991)
- The Idiot Box (1991) as Daughter
- The Chase (1991) as Tammie
- The Word (1990)
- Gravedale High (1990) as Cleofatra (voice)
- Cry-Baby (1990) as Pepper Walker
- Last Exit to Brooklyn (1989) as Donna
- Babycakes (1989) as Grace
- Cookie (1989) as Pia
- LIVE with Kelly and Mark (1988)
- China Beach (1988) as Holly Pelegrino
- Hairspray (1988) as Tracy Turnblad
- Working Girl (1988) as Bridesmaid
- The In Crowd (1988) as Dancer (uncredited)
- A Family Again (1988) as Carmen
- Kate & Allie (1984)
- Entertainment Tonight (1981)
- New Line: Independent Legacies as Self (archive footage)
- Serial Mom: Surreal Moments as Self
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Ricki Lake best known for?
Ricki Lake is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Taiwan Canasta (1985), Sherri (2022), Pictionary (2022), Stars in the House (2020).
When and where was Ricki Lake born?
Ricki Lake was born on September 21, 1968 in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, USA.
How many credits does Ricki Lake have?
Ricki Lake has accumulated over 94 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1981 to 2025.
What is Ricki Lake's background in cinema and television?
Ricki Pamela Lake was born on September 21, 1968, in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, USA. She is an American television host and actress known for her lead role as Tracy Turnblad in the 1988 film Hairspray, which earned her a nomination for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead. Lake is also recognized for ho...
Ricki Lake by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Whose Line Is It Anyway? (2013) as Self — aged about 44
- Drop Dead Diva (2009) as Susan Semler — aged about 40
- Celebrity Family Feud (2015) as Self — aged about 46
- Hollywood Squares (1998) as Self - Panelist — aged about 29
- The Masked Singer (2019) as Raven (archive footage) — aged about 50
- The Masked Singer (2019) as Self - Raven — aged about 50
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