What Happened to Ricki Lake?
Ricki Lake, the acclaimed actress and talk show host, has continued to evolve her career beyond her iconic daytime show and film roles. In recent years, she has focused on documentary production, podcasting, and openly shared her personal journey, including her struggles with hair loss, significant weight loss, and undergoing a facelift in 2024. As of 2026, she resides in New York City with her husband, having relocated after losing her Malibu home in the 2025 wildfires.
Quick Answer
Ricki Lake, known for 'Hairspray' and 'The Ricki Lake Show,' has remained active in entertainment and advocacy. After launching a podcast in 2022 and marrying Ross Burningham in 2022, she faced personal challenges, including losing her Malibu home in the January 2025 Los Angeles wildfires. Following a 40-pound weight loss in 2023, she underwent a deep plane lower face and neck lift in July 2024, openly sharing her journey. As of July 2026, Lake is living in New York City and continues to be transparent about her life and experiences.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline15 events
Film Debut in 'Hairspray'
Ricki Lake made her film debut as Tracy Turnblad in John Waters' cult classic 'Hairspray,' earning an Independent Spirit Award nomination.
Launches 'The Ricki Lake Show'
Lake premiered her syndicated daytime talk show, becoming the youngest host at 24 years old. The show ran for 11 seasons.
'The Ricki Lake Show' Concludes
After a successful 11-season run, the original 'The Ricki Lake Show' aired its final episode.
Releases 'The Business of Being Born'
Lake executive produced and appeared in the documentary 'The Business of Being Born,' focusing on childbirth practices.
Launches Second Talk Show
Lake hosted a second syndicated talk show, also titled 'The Ricki Lake Show,' which was canceled after one season but earned her a Daytime Emmy.
Premieres 'Weed the People'
Lake and Abby Epstein premiered their documentary film 'Weed the People,' exploring the use of cannabis as medicine.
Competes on 'The Masked Singer'
Ricki Lake was revealed as 'Raven' on the first season of Fox's 'The Masked Singer,' dedicating her performance to her late ex-husband.
Reveals Alopecia Battle
Lake publicly shared her long-term struggle with hair loss (alopecia) and posted photos of her shaved head.
Marries Ross Burningham and Launches Podcast
Ricki Lake married Ross Burningham and launched her podcast, 'Raised by Ricki,' in collaboration with Lemonada Media.
Achieves Significant Weight Loss
Lake lost 40 pounds over the course of a year, reaching her goal weight of 130 lbs through lifestyle changes.
Undergoes Facelift Surgery
To address loose skin after weight loss, Lake underwent a 'deep plane lower face and neck lift along with a mild CO2 laser.'
Loses Home in Wildfires
Ricki Lake and her husband lost their Malibu home in the Los Angeles wildfires, leading to their relocation.
Discusses Facelift on 'Watch What Happens Live'
Lake openly spoke about her facelift procedure during an appearance on Bravo's 'Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen.'
Recovers Lost Family Photos
Miraculously, boxes of family photos lost in the 2025 wildfires were recovered by a stranger and returned to Lake.
Marks Two-Year Facelift Anniversary
Lake celebrated the two-year anniversary of her facelift by sharing before-and-after photos on Instagram, highlighting the 'remarkable' results.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
Ricki Lake, born Ricki Pamela Lake on September 21, 1968, first rose to prominence as the lead in John Waters' 1988 cult classic film 'Hairspray,' which earned her an Independent Spirit Award nomination. Her career further solidified with the launch of 'The Ricki Lake Show' in 1993, where she became the youngest person to host a syndicated talk show at 24. The show ran for 11 seasons until 2004, establishing her as a household name.
After her initial talk show, Lake ventured into documentary production, notably executive producing 'The Business of Being Born' (2008), which explored home birth and midwifery, and 'Weed the People' (2018), examining cannabis as medicine. She also participated in reality television, including 'Dancing with the Stars' in 2011, 'The Masked Singer' in 2019 as 'Raven,' and 'The X Factor: Celebrity' in 2019. In 2022, she launched a podcast titled 'Raised by Ricki' with Lemonada Media.
Lake has been remarkably open about her personal life and struggles. In January 2020, she publicly shared her long-term battle with alopecia, posting photos of her shaved head to raise awareness. She found love again and married Ross Burningham in 2022. The period between 2023 and 2026 has been particularly transformative and challenging for Lake. In 2023, she achieved a significant personal milestone by losing 40 pounds over a year, reaching her goal weight of 130 lbs. However, this weight loss left her with excess loose skin under her chin.
To address this, Lake underwent a 'deep plane lower face and neck lift along with a mild CO2 laser' in July 2024. She has been transparent about this cosmetic surgery, discussing it on 'Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen' in June 2025 and sharing before-and-after photos on Instagram to mark its two-year anniversary in July 2026. This openness aligns with her long-standing public persona of sharing personal experiences.
Adding to her personal challenges, Lake and her husband lost their Malibu home in the devastating Los Angeles wildfires in January 2025. This traumatic event led them to make an impulsive decision to relocate to New York City, where they have since established a new life, finding themselves closer to Lake's adult sons. In January 2026, she miraculously recovered boxes of family photos lost in the fires, thanks to a stranger who found them. As of July 2026, Ricki Lake continues to embrace new chapters, focusing on her well-being, family, and ongoing projects while residing in New York City.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Ricki Lake made different choices?