Ricki Lake

Ricki Pamela Lake was born on September 21, 1968, in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York. She is widely recognized as an American television host and actress. She first gained prominence with her leading role as Tracy Turnblad in the 1988 film Hairspray, earning her a nomination for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead. Lake is also celebrated for her talk show, Ricki Lake, which aired internationally from September 1993 to May 2004. At the age of 24, upon the show's debut, she was credited as the youngest person to host a syndicated talk show at that time. In 2012, Lake started hosting a second syndicated talk show, The Ricki Lake Show, which, despite cancellation in 2013 after a single season, earned her a Daytime Emmy Award.

Lake's early life was marked by strong family ties; growing up in a secular Jewish family, she was mainly raised by her paternal grandmother, Sylvia Lake. As an actress, Lake debuted in films like Hairspray, Cry Baby, Cecil B. Demented, Serial Mom. Her career broadened to include a recurring role on CBS sitcom, The King of Queens, guest roles on shows like Drop Dead Diva, and a cameo in the 2007 remake of Hairspray. After signing with Twentieth Television in 2011, she developed The Ricki Lake Show, which premiered in September 2012 with an Oprah-like format. Lake also appeared on the 13th Season of Dancing with the Stars, achieving tremendous success and finishing in third place. On February 11, 2017, Lake worked as a guest judge on British talent show Let It Shine. In 2018, Lake co-directed a documentary Weed The People, highlighting the use of cannabis as medicine.