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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. Some of her 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. After graduating high school, Winokur attended a musical conservatory, The American Musical and Dramatic Academy, graduating from the integrated program.

During her rehearsals for 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.

Winokur won Broadway's 2003 Tony Award for Best Actress for her performance in Hairspray, as well as the Drama Desk, Theatre World and Outer Critics Circle awards. She had previously appeared on Broadway as "Pink Lady Jan" in the revival of Grease. Winokur has also played roles in films such as American Beauty, Never Been Kissed, Scary Movie, Beautiful Girl (for ABC Family), and most recently, Fever Pitch.

On television, she has had recurring roles on Dharma and Greg and Moesha. She was last featured on the (now-cancelled) TV series Stacked, which starred Pamela Anderson. She also appeared on an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm where she lost a physical fight with Larry David over the first appointment at a doctor's office and was called Marissa Winokur in the episode, but was credited simply as Woman In Elevator.

Winokur is working on recording a children's music album. Her rendition of the song "Baby Face" is also featured on the soundtrack for the film Son of the Mask. She is set to star in a new comedy pilot for CBS titled "Fugly", from the creator of My Name Is Earl. The show was originally pitched to FOX as a vehicle for Pamela Anderson, but was turned down in favor of Stacked, which coincidentally also starred Winokur.

Winokur joined Nikki Blonsky and Ricki Lake in singing Mama, I'm a Big Girl Now on the Hairspray soundtrack. Winokur's lent her voice to several cartoon shows, including American Dad. Her vocals have often been mistaken for Brittany Murphy.

• Marissa Jaret Winokur at the Internet Movie Database
• Official website of Marissa Jaret Winokur
• Out.com Interview The Tony-winning star of Hairspray dishes about hanging with Pamela Anderson on her new sitcom.
• Much A-Do About Marissa, American Cheerleader Magazine, February 2003.