Ricki Lake

American actress and producer Ricki Lake hosted her own talk show called the Ricki Lake Show. She also played Tracy Turnblad in the 1988 motion picture Hairspray. Lake was nominated in 1989 for an Independent Spirit Award for "Best Female Lead" for her role in Hairspray. She was also nominated for an Emmy in 1994 for "Outstanding Talk Show Host."

Not only hosting her own talk show for 11 seasons, Lake has also appeared in a number of films including Cabin Boy, Last Exit to Brooklyn, Mrs. Winterbourne and Cry Baby. She also made a cameo appearance in the 2008 remake of Hairspray, starring Nikki Blonsky, John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken and Amanda Bynes.

"My goal in life was to be loved and adored by everyone."

"I never set out to be a role model for large women, I just do what I feel is right."

"We are thrilled to have Ricki spearheading this new take on Charm School. Our audience knows her, loves her and respects her. And Ricki certainly knows a thing or two about taking big, loud characters and bringing them to a place of new emotional understanding."—Jeff Olde, Executive Vice President, Original Programming and Production, VH1VH1 Blog: Ricki Lake to Head Third Installment of Charm School (February 5, 2009)

• Note: Some of the links in this timeline are to IMDb, which has pop-ups.

• September 21, 1968: Born

• (1988) Hairspray: IMDb | Mahalo | Rotten Tomatoes

• (1989) Babycakes: IMDb | Rotten Tomatoes

• (1992) Where the Day Takes You: IMDb Rotten Tomatoes

• (1994) Serial Mom: IMDb | Rotten Tomatoes

• (1998-2004) Ricki Lake: IMDb

• (2007) Hairspray: IMDb | Mahalo | Rotten Tomatoes

• (2008) The Business Of Being Born: IMDb | Mahalo | Rotten Tomatoes