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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 as Tracy Turnblad on the extremely successful Broadway musical version of “Hairspray” (2002). In addition to Tony, she also picked up a Drama Desk Award, an Outer Critics Circle Award and a Theatre World Award. The “Dancing with the Stars” alum continued to win attention as an inclined bookstore employee on the Pamela Anderson comedy series “Stacked” (2005-2006). Winokur's other television credits include a starring role on 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.” Her brassy vocals can be heard in the cartoon series “American Dad” and “King of the Hill,” and the 2007 TV holiday special “Shrek the Halls.” She also 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 public and secretly underwent treatment that included a hysterectomy and chemotherapy. She eventually recovered and stayed in the show. Winokur is married to scriptwriter Judah Miller, who was a writer on “Stacked.” The couple is expecting a baby boy later this year.
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 along with her three older siblings. An active student, Marissa joined the cheerleading squad and was captain of the soccer team at the Fox Lane High School in Bedford. She studied musical theater at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in Manhattan for two years, graduating from the integrated program. On October 7, 2006, Marissa was married to screenwriter Judah Miller (born in 1974). The couple met in the set of Fox's “Stacked,” where Marissa costarred as Katrina and he served as the show's writer. Marissa and her husband are expecting their first child via a surrogate mother later in July of 2008. She said, “I have done nothing to prepare for the baby!. I'm freaking out. I have so much to do and on Monday, I painted the nursery, so that was the first thing I did when I got kicked off my show.”
Stacked
Career: Marissa Jaret Winokur started her stage career while still a student in the integrated program at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy. She joined the touring company of “Grease” (1994-1995) and later played “Pink Lady Jan” on the Broadway revival of “Grease” (1995). It was also in 1995 that Winokur made her first television appearance with one-episodic turn as jerk dancer on “Step by Step.” It was followed by a small, but audible part as Kimmie on the WB's “The Steve Harvey Show” and another guest role, as Melody, on 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 then gave impression with her appearance 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 comedy/thriller “Teaching Mrs. Tingle” (1999), starring Helen Mirren, but her part ended in the cutting room floor. Following appearances in the 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), but it was her subsequent appearance as garage victim on the Wayans Brothers hit comedy “Scary Movie” (2000) that put her back on the spotlight. In between, she had recurring roles on ABC's “Dharma and Greg,” as Anita, and UPN's “Moesha,” as Theresa, and went on to score success as a woman who ravels with Larry David over a doctor’s appointment on an episode of the HBO comedy series “Curb Your Enthusiasm” (all 2000). Winokur kept on busy working on the 2001 films like the drama “Role of a Lifetime,” which starred Scott Bacula, the ice skating-themed “On Edge,” “Amy's Orgasm,” a comedy/romance which was directed, penned and starring Julie Davis, and the Helen Mirren-helmed “Happy Birthday,” and in the 2002 Jeff Anderson comedy “Now You Know.” She also appeared in the 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 gained her big breakthrough when she played the leading role of Tracy Turnblad on the Broadway musical adaptation of cult director John Waters’ movie, “Hairspray.” Demonstrating redoubtable talents as 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), “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 worker named Katrina. Aired on Fox, the series ran for two seasons from 2005 to 2006. In the meantime, she also appeared with Drew Barrymore and Jimmy Fallon in the baseball comedy “Fever Pitch” (2005) and played Veronique on 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 in singing “Mama, I'm a Big Girl Now” on the “Hairspray” soundtrack. In front of the cameras, she appeared with Nikki Cox, Troy Gentile and Nate Haden on the TV series pilot “Fugly” (2007), was cast as Teddy Hohn on the comedy made-for-TV-film “Betrayals” (2007) and played the voice role of a bookstore clerk on the animation TV film “Shrek the Halls” (2007), where among her costars included 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). In 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. Telling 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
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