Ricki Lake

American actress and TV talk show host. Lake launched her acting career in John Water's film comedy, "Hairspray," in 1988. After her appealing portrayal of an ample-sized teen, Lake went on to star in ABC's hit Vietnam TV drama "China Beach." After reaching her peak weight of 260 lbs. on her 5' 4 frame, Lake transformed her figure and career by losing 125 lbs. between 1991 to 1994.

Ricki was the oldest of two daughters born to her pharmacist father Barry and homemaker mom Jill. Though she playing and enjoyed sports, she kept a pudgy shape growing up in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York. From the time she was nine years old she dreamed of an acting career. At 13, she auditioned for roles on Broadway, television and TV commercials in NYC. In ninth grade she played on all of the female sports teams of her high school. Her junior year, Lake transferred to the Professional Children's School in Manhattan and added 40 lbs. to her 160 lbs. figure. She attended Ithaca College as a drama major but dropped out after failing to secure roles her freshman year. Her agent encouraged the actress to audition for the ingénue role in the film "Hairspray." Her tap and ballet lessons paid off big time. The hit film was followed with other John Water's pictures, "Cry-baby," 1990 and "Serial Mom," 1994. In 1989, she moved to Los Angeles and made a one-year TV appearance in "China Beach."

In the '90s Lake suffered from an acting dry spell. Believing that her weight might be hindering her job prospects, she went on a diet with a strenuous exercise regimen and went from a size 24 to a size 10. In the fall of 1993, desperate for money to help pay for her mortgage on her Hollywood Hills home, Lake accepted $5,000 for the pilot of a twenty-something TV talk show host job. Producers of the show liked her exuberant motivational style and the show became a syndicated hit in 1994.