Ricki Lake Biography

Fast Facts

• As a teenager, took singing and dancing lessons at New York's Professional Children's School, and worked as a cabaret singer for a time after dropping out of college
• Starred in the 1990 film Cry-Baby as Pepper Walker, a character written specifically for her by writer-director John Waters
• Appeared in both the 1988 and 2007 versions of the movie Hairspray
• In the first she played the leading role of Tracy Turnblad, and in the latter made a cameo as a William Morris talent agent
• Produced the 2007 documentary The Business of Being Born, which explores childbirth in the modern world
• The film includes footage of her home birthing her second son, Owen
• Competed in the 13th season of ABC's Dancing with the Stars with partner Derek Hough