Hairspray

Background:

Spotted by film and stage director Rob Marshall on the 1999 film “American Beauty,” where she memorably played a fast food restaurant employee, Marissa Jaret Winokur was shot to stardom with her Tony Award winning role of Tracy Turnblad in the successful Broadway musical version of “Hairspray” (2002). In addition to a Tony, she also picked up a Drama Desk Award, an Outer Critics Circle Award and a Theatre World Award. She continued to earn attention with her role in the Pamela Anderson comedy series “Stacked” (2005-2006). Winokur's other television credits include a starring role in the 2003 film “Beautiful Girl” (also an executive producer) and guest roles on “The Steve Harvey Show,” “Felicity,” “Get Real,” “Moesha,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and “Boston Public.” She was also heard in the cartoon series “American Dad” and “King of the Hill” and the 2007 TV holiday special “Shrek the Halls.” She contributed vocals to the song “Baby Face” for the film “Son of the Mask” (2005) and the song “Mama, I'm a Big Girl Now” for the movie remake of “Hairspray” (2007).

In 2001, during the early development stages of “Hairspray,” Winokur was diagnosed with cervical cancer. Frightened that she would not be cast in the show, she concealed her health condition from the public and secretly underwent treatment. She eventually recovered and stayed with the show.

Cheerleader

Childhood and Family:

Marissa Jaret Winokur was born on February 2, 1973, in New York City, New York, to architect Michael Winokur and schoolteacher Maxine Winokur. She was raised in Bedford Village, New York, with her three older siblings. An active student, Marissa joined the cheerleading squad and was captain of the soccer team at Fox Lane High School in Bedford. She studied musical theater at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in Manhattan for two years.

On October 7, 2006, Marissa married screenwriter Judah Miller (born in 1974) and they have one child via a surrogate as Marissa is unable to have children of her own since her cancer treatments, which included a hysterectomy and chemo. The couple met on the set of Fox's “Stacked,” where Marissa costarred as Katrina and he served as the show's writer.

Stacked

Career:

Marissa Jaret Winokur began her stage career while a student at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy. She joined a touring company of “Grease” (1994-1995) and later played Pink Lady Jan in a Broadway revival of “Grease” (1995). It was also in 1995 that Winokur made her first television appearance in an episode of “Step by Step.” It was followed by a small role on the WB's “The Steve Harvey Show” and the NBC comedy series “Malibu, C.A” (both 1998). After moving to Los Angeles, she made her big screen debut in the Drew Barrymore comedy “Never Been Kissed” (1999) and left an impression as a fast food counter girl on the Sam Mendes directed drama “American Beauty” (1999). She also had a bit part in the Kevin Williamson thriller “Teaching Mrs. Tingle” (1999), which starred Helen Mirren, but her part ended on the cutting room floor.

Following appearances in episodes of “Felicity,” “City Guys” (both 1999) and “Get Real” (2000), Winokur revisited the wide screen with a supporting role opposite Steven Weber and Swoosie Kurtz on the independent thriller “Sleep Easy, Hutch Rimes” (2000). However, it was her subsequent appearance on the Wayans Brothers hit comedy “Scary Movie” (2000) that put her in the spotlight. In between, she had recurring roles on ABC's “Dharma and Greg,” as Anita, UPN's “Moesha,” as Theresa, and HBO’s comedy series “Curb Your Enthusiasm” (all 2000).

Winokur kept busy working on the 2001 films “Role of a Lifetime,” which starred Scott Bacula, the ice skating-themed “On Edge,” “Amy's Orgasm,” a comedy directed, written and starring Julie Davis, and the Helen Mirren directed “Happy Birthday.” She also appeared in the 2002 Jeff Anderson comedy “Now You Know” and appeared in episodes of “Nikki,” “The Ellen Show” and “Boston Public” (all 2001).

“If a 4-foot-11 chubby New York girl can be a leading lady in a Broadway show and win a Tony, anything can happen!” Marissa Jaret Winokur

The New York native received her big breakthrough when she starred as Tracy Turnblad in the Broadway musical adaptation of John Waters’ movie “Hairspray.” Demonstrating talent as a comic actress, singer and dancer, she was awarded a 2003 Tony for Best Leading Actress in a Musical, in addition to a Drama Desk Award, a Theatre World Award and an Outer Critics Circle Award. She stayed with the high profile show until 2003.

After the success of “Hairspray,” Winokur's career took off. She was cast in the starring role of Becca Wasserman on the ABC Family TV film “Beautiful Girl” (2003), in which she also served as executive producer, and following guest stints on “Good Girls Don't...” (2004), “Higglytown Heroes” (2005), and “Jack & Bobby” (2005), the gifted actress hit the small screen as a series regular on the Pamela Anderson sitcom “Stacked,” playing an accident prone bookstore clerk named Katrina. Airing on Fox, the series ran from 2005 to 2006. She also appeared with Drew Barrymore and Jimmy Fallon in the baseball comedy “Fever Pitch” (2005) and played Veronique in the TV pilot “Ultra” (2006).

2007 saw Winokur, who previously recorded the rendition of “Baby Face” for the soundtrack of 2005's “Son of the Mask.” join Ricki Lake and Nikki Blonsky singing “Mama, I'm a Big Girl Now” on the “Hairspray” soundtrack. In front of the camera, she appeared with Nikki Cox, Troy Gentile and Nate Haden on the TV series pilot “Fugly” (2007), was cast as Teddy Hohn on the television movie “Betrayals” (2007), and played the voice role of a bookstore clerk on the animation TV film “Shrek the Halls” (2007), which starred the voices of Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz and Antonio Banderas. She also voiced Sunshine on an episode of the long running series “King of the Hill” (2007).

From March through May 2008, Winokur appeared as one of the celebrity contestants on the ABC popular reality series “Dancing with the Stars.” Paired with professional dancer Tony Dovolani, she was eliminated after the semifinal round. Talking about why she participated on the show, she stated, “I just wanted to prove you don't have to be a size zero to dance.”

Awards:

• Tony: Best Actress (Musical), “Hairspray,” 2003

• Drama Desk: Best Actress (Musical), “Hairspray,” 2003

• Theater World: Best Actress (Musical), “Hairspray,” 2003

• Outer Critics: Best Actress (Musical), “Hairspray,” 2003