20 Facts About Kelly Ripa

Kelly Maria Ripa is an American actress and talk show host.

Kelly Ripa's co-hosts have included Regis Philbin, Michael Strahan, Ryan Seacrest, and her husband Mark Consuelos.

Kelly Maria Ripa was born in Stratford, New Jersey, and grew up in nearby Berlin, New Jersey, the daughter of Esther, a homemaker, and Joseph Ripa, a labor union president and bus driver who attended Rutgers University.

Kelly Ripa has a sister, Linda, who is a children's book author.

Kelly Ripa was on a local PHL17 dance show, called Dancin' on Air, before it got picked up by USA Network and was renamed Dance Party USA.

Kelly Ripa graduated from Eastern Regional High School in Voorhees Township, New Jersey.

Kelly Ripa attended Camden County College studying psychology, but dropped out and moved to New York City to pursue an acting career.

Kelly Ripa was cast in her first major acting role in 1990 as Hayley Vaughan, a troubled party girl, on All My Children.

Kelly Ripa concluded her 12-year role in 2002, but returned for two episodes in 2010 to help celebrate the soap opera's 40th anniversary.

Kelly Ripa's final show aired Friday, November 18,2011, during which Ripa tearfully reminisced about her first day, the 43 steps they walked together from her dressing room onto set each day for 11 years, and how those 43 steps changed her life.

Best known for her television work, Kelly Ripa has several feature films to her credit.

Kelly Ripa appeared in the acclaimed Miramax feature Marvin's Room in 1996 alongside Meryl Streep and Leonardo DiCaprio.

Kelly Ripa is a supporter of the ovarian cancer cause, and has teamed with Electrolux to raise funds for the nonprofit organization Ovarian Cancer Research Fund, now called Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance.

Kelly Ripa won $250,000 for Tomorrow's Children's Fund, a non-profit organization dedicated to speeding the healing of children with cancer and serious blood disorders.

Kelly Ripa is an active participant in Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

In 2007 and 2012, Kelly Ripa hosted the TV Land Awards to very positive reviews.

Kelly Ripa was recognized for her work on the Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade, which she co-hosted from 2001 to 2009, with the Emmy Award for Outstanding Special Class Special in 2006.

However, her competitor, Martina Servaty of Germany, extracted even more, preventing Kelly Ripa from holding the new record.

In 2017, Kelly Ripa was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame.

In 1995, Kelly Ripa met Mark Consuelos, her co-star on All My Children.