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Ricki Lake

Ricki Lake

Actor and producer · Born September 21, 1968 (58) · Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, USA

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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Biography from TMDB.

Born
September 21, 1968 (58)
From
Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, USA
Works as
Actor and producer
Titles
43 on MovieCove · 60 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 65 days to Oct 28Down 52% in 30 days

What are Ricki Lake's films like?

Across their 25 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Bonds.

Genres

Comedy10 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 60th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Documentary5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 82nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies
Crime3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 25th percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Drama2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 59th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Self
26%
Bonds
23%
Society
18%
Morality
11%
Survival
10%
Power
9%
Ideas
2%
Family bonds6 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love6 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth6 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity5 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity6 titles, browse their movies with this themeFreedom3 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice3 titles, browse their movies with this themePrejudice4 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 22 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 14 · Serious 5 · Dark 3

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 13 · Stylized 7 · Heightened 2

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 9 · Charged 11 · Intense 2

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

A split, not a type: Steady 13 · Shifting 5 · Whiplash 4

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 8 · Some laughs 7 · Funny 7

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 7 · Even-paced 12 · Relentless 3

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 11 · Engaged 10 · Full focus 1

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 18 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

7 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 4 of 7 analyzed roles.

Hero
4 of 7
Ally
3 of 7
Show the 7 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Warm
9
Absurd
7
Tense
7
Joyful
7
Hopeful
6
Other
25

How their films linger

Hopeful12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy11
  • Bittersweet7
  • Ambiguous5
  • Other2

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Ricki Lake's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 29 of their 43 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (10).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Ricki Lake's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

60 credits, 43 with a MovieCove page; 31 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Big Rock Burning (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    Executive Producer

  • Pictionary(2022)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all shows

  • Moon Manor(2022)

    as Ricki Lake

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Under the Christmas Tree(2021)

    as Marie

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • The Business of Birth Control(2021)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Cooked with Cannabis(2020)

    Show Actor

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all shows

  • The Masked Singer(2019)

    Show 3 episodes · as Raven (archive footage) · as Self - Raven

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all shows

  • Weed the People(2018)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Gemini(2017)

    as Vanessa

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Hairspray Live!(2016)

    as Pinkette

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Crazy Ex-Girlfriend(2015)

    Show 1 episode · as Dream Ghost #1

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • Breastmilk(2014)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • The Ricki Lake Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Show 260 episodes · Creator · Producer · Actor

  • More Business of Being Born (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Executive Producer · as Host

  • Drop Dead Diva(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Susan Semler

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Charm School with Ricki Lake (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Show 22 episodes · Producer · as Self - Headmistress

  • Olivia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Show Creator

  • Loving Leah(2009)

    Co-Executive Producer · as Rabbi Gerry

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Easy to Assemble (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Business of Being Born(2008)

    Producer · as Self

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Matters of Life & Dating(2007)

    Producer · as Linda Dackman

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Hairspray(2007)

    as Talent Agent

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Charm School(2007)

    Show as Headmistress

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all shows

  • Park(2006)

    as Peggy

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Gameshow Marathon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 7 episodes · as Hostess

  • The Naked Brothers Band: The Movie(2005)

    as Ricki Lake

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • A Dirty Shame(2004)

    as Ricki Lake

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Cecil B. Demented(2000)

    as Libby

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Jackie's Back!(1999)

    as Ricki Lake

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Murder She Purred: A Mrs. Murphy Mystery(1998)

    as Mary Minor 'Harry' Haristeen

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • The King of Queens(1998)

    Show 6 episodes · as Stephanie Heffernan

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows

  • King of the Hill(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Lila (voice)

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Mrs. Winterbourne(1996)

    as Connie Doyle

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • TFI Friday (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Serial Mom(1994)

    as Misty Sutphin

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • The Critic (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Ricki Lake (voice)

  • Cabin Boy(1994)

    as Figurehead

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Skinner(1993)

    as Kerry Tate

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Based on an Untrue Story(1993)

    as Velour Gnack

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Ricki Lake (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 24 episodes · Actor

  • Inside Monkey Zetterland (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Bella the Stalker

  • Where the Day Takes You(1992)

    as Brenda

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Buffy the Vampire Slayer(1992)

    as Charlotte

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • The Jenny Jones Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Idiot Box (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 7 episodes · as Daughter

  • The Chase(1991)

    as Tammie

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Gravedale High (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 13 episodes · as Cleofatra (voice)

  • The Word (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Cry-Baby(1990)

    as Pepper Walker

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Cookie(1989)

    as Pia

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Last Exit to Brooklyn(1989)

    as Donna

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Babycakes(1989)

    as Grace

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Working Girl(1988)

    as Bridesmaid

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • A Family Again (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Carmen

  • Live with Kelly and Mark(1988)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all shows

  • China Beach(1988)

    Show 22 episodes · as Holly Pelegrino

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Hairspray(1988)

    as Tracy Turnblad

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • The in Crowd(1988)

    as Dancer (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Kate & Allie(1984)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all shows

  • Entertainment Tonight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 97th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 56 titles from 1981 to 2025; peak year 1988.

Biggest box office

Mrs. Winterbourne (1996)

$10M worldwide

Highest rated

The Business of Being Born (2008)

Midcredits 85th

Most popular right now

Cry-Baby (1990)

Film career

19812025

Peak 1988 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 2 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting51 of 56: 48 only acting, 3 with another role · typical Midcredits score57thProducing7 of 56: 4 only producing, 3 with another roleOther crew2 of 56: 1 only other crew, 1 with another role

56 titles, 3 with more than one role — acting and producing overlap on 3 of them.

By decade

1980s11 · acting1990s21 · acting2000s13 · 10 acting · 4 crew2010s7 · 6 acting · 3 crew2020s4 · 3 acting · 1 crew

Billing

usually 6th · top billed in 11% of 18 roles
889303

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Ricki Lake's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 57th percentile, the median of all 32; across their 22 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 54th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

54thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 22

Approval · how many liked their films

56thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 22

Reach · how many have seen their films

64thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 22

Midcredits score across 43 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up12
  • 50th to 74th11
  • 25th to 49th13
  • Below 25th7

Shape of the crowd

16 of their 43 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved1
  • Divisive4
  • Cult Classic7
  • Crowd Pleaser16
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed14

Most divisive · actor

The Naked Brothers Band: The Movie (2005)

99th percentile spread · 51% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

China Beach (1988)

Midcredits 92nd · 90% liked

Reviewers score the acting 60/100 in their films, across 19 reviewed titles; fans 74, detractors 41. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Ricki Lake's work okay for kids?

Across up to 8 MovieCove titles with content scores, profanity runs heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore5 titles29–72 · median 43 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity8 titles26–47 · median 29 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity6 titles36–80 · median 55 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs4 titlesmedian 31 · mildMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense4 titlesmedian 33 · mildMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Ricki Lake work with?

People who share at least 2 of Ricki Lake's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; John Waters shares the most, 4.

Directors

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers