Ricki Lake
Ricki Lake – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes
Ricki Lake (born September 21, 1968) is an American entertainer, actress, talk-show host and producer. Explore her early life, breakthrough in Hairspray, her years as a talk-show pioneer, her resilience through personal challenges, and the inspiring quotes she’s shared.
Introduction
Ricki Lake is a name many recognize from television screens, talk-show sets, or the cult film Hairspray. Yet behind the familiar face lies a journey of ambition, reinvention, vulnerability, and influence. From being the youngest host of a syndicated talk show to publicly confronting weight, relationships, hair loss, and personal loss, Lake’s life resonates with resilience and empowerment. In a world often defined by image and celebrity, she has carved a path grounded in authenticity and voice. This article delves into the life and career of Ricki Lake, highlighting her legacy, her memorable words, and what lessons we can draw from her story.
Early Life and Family
Ricki Pamela Lake was born on September 21, 1968 in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York.
Although her parents were present, much of her upbringing was shaped by her paternal grandmother, Sylvia Lake, who played a significant role in her early childhood. Sylvia’s death in 1978 was a turning point in Ricki’s life.
Ricki has a younger sister, Jennifer, about a year her junior. Professional Children’s School in New York City to better pursue her performing interests.
Even as a child, Lake displayed early creative drive. She reportedly sang in cabarets and clubs at age 9.
Youth and Education
In high school, Lake balanced conventional schooling with her interests in performance. Her relocation to the Professional Children’s School allowed her to prioritize acting training and opportunities.
After high school, she enrolled at Ithaca College, but dropped out after one year to pursue her career in entertainment.
The decision to leave college early was driven by her passion for acting and her belief that real experience would serve her better than formal schooling at that juncture.
Career and Achievements
Breakthrough in Film: Hairspray and Acting
Ricki Lake’s most iconic role came early: she starred as Tracy Turnblad in John Waters’ Hairspray (1988).
She continued collaborating with Waters in subsequent films such as Cry-Baby, Cecil B. Demented, and Serial Mom Mrs. Winterbourne, Inside Monkey Zetterland, Last Exit to Brooklyn, Cookie, and Baby Cakes. Hairspray, where she appeared as a William Morris talent agent.
In television, Lake joined the cast of China Beach (season 3) as a Red Cross volunteer, Holly “the Donut Dolly” Pelegrino. The King of Queens and guest appearances in series such as Drop Dead Diva.
Talk Show Pioneer
Lake’s transition into talk shows marked a pivotal shift in her career. In September 1993, at just 24, she launched The Ricki Lake Show, which made her the youngest person to host a syndicated talk show at that time.
Years later, she revived a new version, The Ricki Lake Show, in September 2012. Though this comeback lasted only one season (canceled in 2013), Lake earned a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Talk Show Host for that iteration.
Producing, Documentaries, and Advocacy
Post–talk show, Lake ventured into producing and documentary work. Her most well-known documentary is The Business of Being Born (2008), which examines home birth and midwifery. The film included footage of her own water birth of her second son, Owen, and reflected her personal convictions about childbirth and informed choice.
She co-wrote Your Best Birth (2009) with Abby Epstein and Jacques Moritz to further discuss natural birth options and created the online platform
Lake also hosted Gameshow Marathon (2006), appeared in television movies, and served as headmistress of Charm School with Ricki Lake (2009). In 2011, she competed on Dancing With the Stars (season 13), finishing in third place. In more recent years, Lake has remained active: she launched the podcast Raised by Ricki in 2022 (in partnership with Lemonada Media), discussing episodes of her show and interviewing guests. Lake has also dipped into advocacy surrounding cannabis and pediatric cancer—she co-produced the documentary Weed the People (2018) exploring medical cannabis and its legal status. 1993: Launch of The Ricki Lake Show, marking Lake as the youngest syndicated talk show host of her time. 2004: Conclusion of the original talk show after 11 seasons. 2008: Release of The Business of Being Born, debut of her voice in birth advocacy. 2012–2013: New iteration of The Ricki Lake Show and Emmy win. 2011: Dancing With the Stars participation, raising her public profile and relatability. 2022 onward: Podcasting era, public openness about health, weight, and self-image. Her work unfolded during a period when daytime talk shows held significant cultural power (1990s–2000s), and Lake’s show entered a landscape dominated by strong personalities (e.g. Oprah, Sally Jessy Raphael). She helped shift the genre by being younger, more opinionated, and addressing topics often considered taboo at the time. Ricki Lake’s impact comes in multiple dimensions: Breaking barriers: As a young host, she showed that authority and empathy could coexist on daytime television. Vulnerability as strength: She has publicly shared her struggles — weight fluctuations, relationship breakdowns, hair loss, and even the loss of her home — in a way that invites connection rather than defense. Empowerment through storytelling: Her shows gave a platform to voices often marginalized, creating visibility for complex interpersonal and emotional issues. Shifting public conversations: Through her documentary work and advocacy, she has influenced discourse on childbirth options and women’s bodily autonomy. Model of reinvention: Lake’s ability to pivot from acting to hosting to producing and podcasting shows resilience in an unpredictable industry. Authentic representation: She didn’t always conform to appearance norms, and she spoke openly about the cost and pressure of those expectations — giving many people permission to be imperfect. Her legacy may not rest on blockbuster films or long-lasting show franchises; rather, it resides in the emotional resonance she co-created with her audience over decades. Ricki Lake is often described as approachable, warm, witty, and unafraid to get personal. Her style is conversational, candid, and often humor-tinged. Talents & traits: Empathy: Lake listens, engages, and draws out stories from guests and audiences in a way that feels intimate. Versatility: She has moved among acting, hosting, producing, and writing with relative ease. Courage: Whether opening up about personal struggles or embracing controversial topics, she often steps into vulnerability. Resilience: She has weathered industry pressures, personal loss, criticism, and public scrutiny. Storytelling: At heart, Lake curates narratives—whether through her talk show segments, documentaries, or podcast episodes. She is not without insecurities and contradictions, which makes her more human rather than less. She has spoken about fainting from extreme diets, about being known for larger body size, and about deeply private pain behind public smiles. As she once said: “I never set out to be a role model for large women, I just do what I feel is right.” Below are some of Ricki Lake’s most memorable and resonant quotes: “Motherhood is the greatest thing and the hardest thing.”
“For me, being memorable is more important than winning.”
“I was this role model for heavy people. But the thing is, I never set out to be a role model at all, and I don’t set out to be one now.”
“I hate the feeling of falling – I’ll never jump from a plane – but I love a good roller coaster. Go figure!”
“Birth equals create.”
“I want to spark ideas and conversations and inspire people to take active roles in their communities, relationships and their well-being.”
“I had a really kind of yucky divorce and it was really challenging to get over that.” Each of these encapsulates a piece of Lake’s worldview: the balance of joy and struggle, the insistence on authentic voice, and the courage to embrace identity beyond external expectations. Vulnerability is power Reinvention is continual Advocacy through art Voice > image Resilience in setbacks Connection matters Ricki Lake’s journey—from a young performer in New York to the host of a culturally significant talk show, from actress to documentary maker, from public struggles to personal breakthroughs—is a tapestry woven with risk, resilience, and heart. Her legacy isn’t measured only in ratings or awards but in how many have found solace, voice, or inspiration through her work. Her quotes, though few in number compared to some giants, carry weight: they remind us that motherhood can be both exalted and exhausting, that one can be memorable without winning, and that our struggles can connect rather than isolate us. If you’re curious to explore more timeless quotes, personal interviews, or the way Lake’s voice continues through her podcasting and advocacy, I’d be happy to help you dive deeper.Historical Milestones & Context
Legacy and Influence
Personality and Talents
Famous Quotes of Ricki Lake
Lessons from Ricki Lake
Sharing one’s struggles doesn’t weaken your brand; it deepens connection. Lake’s openness about weight, failure, and pain made her more trusted, not less.
Rather than being defined by one role or era, Lake adapted—shifting among entertainment mediums and formats.
You don’t need to be a politician to affect change. Lake used her platform (films, talk shows, documentary) to shift conversations about birth, health, and women’s autonomy.
Lake didn’t always look like the media prototypes, but she insisted that her voice and substance matter.
Shows end, careers plateau, and life brings loss. What matters is how you respond—and Lake repeatedly chose reinvention and forward motion.
Her success has always been rooted in making the audience feel heard and seen—a reminder that long-term influence is relational, not just transactional.Conclusion