Kelly Ripa

 Kelly Maria Ripa was born and was raised in Berlin New Jersey. She is the daughter of Esther who is a homemaker as well as Joseph Ripa, a labor union president and bus driver who was a student at Rutgers University. She has one sister, Linda who is an author of children's books. Prior to the time that Dancing on Air was adopted by USA Network, she was a PHL17 local dancer who was known as Dancing on Air. Kelly did several chat line commercials asking guys to dial the "hot line" which is where the "hot girls" are always on the phone. Commercials air after midnight on the local Philadelphia market. [6] She has three-quarters Italian and one-quarter Irish ancestry. Ripa was born Catholic. Since June 2009 her father, who is the Democratic County Clerk of Camden County, New Jersey has been her father. Ripa is a graduate from Eastern Regional High School, Voorhees Township. 9 During her high school years she played cheerleading and was inspired by her drama instructor to take up acting. She stated that Jim Boeckle was responsible for so much of her career. "He thought I was an excellent performer and so he gave me the lead in his next production. "She starred in local theater productions and was discovered while performing in The Ugly Duckling during her senior year. After studying psychology at Camden County College, she moved to New York City to pursue acting.