Ricki Lake

Biography

Ricki Lake is an American actress and television host, best known for her role as Tracy Turnblad in the film Hairspray (1988). Born in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, she began singing professionally at the age of nine and later transferred to the Professional Children's School in New York City to pursue acting. After a brief stint at Ithaca College, Lake was cast in Hairspray, marking her film debut. She appeared in 15 additional films and had a recurring role in the television series China Beach (1988). In 1993, Lake began hosting her own daytime talk show, The Ricki Lake Show, which achieved significant success during its run. Throughout her career, she has faced personal challenges, including a significant weight loss transformation. Lake was married to Rob Sussman from 1994 to 2004.