Marissa Jaret Winokur

Marissa Jaret Winokur (born February 2, 1973) is a Tony Award-winning American actress known for her performance as Tracy Turnblad in the highly successful Broadway musical adaptation of John Waters' film Hairspray, as well as her work on the Pamela Anderson sitcom Stacked. Some of her other TV Credits include Moesha, The Steve Harvey Show, Felicity, and Dharma & Greg.

Winokur was born in New York City, the daughter of Maxine, a teacher, and Michael Winokur, an architect.[1] She is Jewish.[2] Winokur was a cheerleader and captain of her high school soccer team at Fox Lane High School. She later studied at The American Musical and Dramatic Academy, graduating from the integrated program.

During the early development stages of Hairspray, Winokur was diagnosed with cervical cancer. She underwent treatment for the disease, including a hysterectomy, without revealing her condition to anyone except her immediate family out of fear that she would be replaced in the musical. Ultimately she made a full recovery and remained in the show.[3]

Winokur married Judah Miller, who was a writer on Stacked, on October 7, 2006. In March 2008, the couple announced that they were expecting their first child via a surrogate mother and that the pregnancy was five months along. It was announced on March 31 that the couple is expecting a baby boy.