Pam Grier

Pam Grier - Actresses, Timeline and Family

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Pam Grier Biography Stories 

Pam Grier's Personal Details

Pam Grier is a popular American actress who came to limelight after starring in numerous blaxploitation films

InformationDetail
BirthdayMay 26, 1949
NationalityAmerican
FamousFilm & Theater Personalities, Actresses
City/StateNorth Carolina
SpousesKareem Abdul-Jabbar
SiblingsGina Grier-Townsie, Rodney Grier
Universities
  • East High School
  • Metropolitan State College
Birth PlaceWinston-Salem, North Carolina, United States
Height173
GenderFemale
FatherClarence Grier
MotherGwendolyn Grier
Sun SignGemini
Born inWinston-Salem, North Carolina, United States
Famous asActress

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Pam Grier's photo

Who is Pam Grier?

Pamela Suzette Grier, popularly known as Pam Grier, is an American actress, who came to limelight after starring in numerous blaxploitation films, such as ‘The Big Bird Cage’, ‘Coffy’, ‘Foxy Brown’ and ‘Sheba Baby’. Criticized for her blaxploitation roles, she made a comeback with Quentin Tarantino’s ‘Jackie Brown’ and received a Golden Globe nomination for her performance. Pam Grier was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and because of her father’s military career; her family moved frequently during her childhood and eventually settled in Denver. She studied at East High School and dreamed of becoming a doctor. She acted in a number of stage productions and participated in beauty contests to raise funds for her college tuition. Apart from ‘Jackie Brown’, Grier has given a number of mainstream blockbusters, such as ‘Fort Apache, The Bronx’ and ‘Above the Law’. She has never been married and has been romantically involved with basketball legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and comedian Richard Pryor. Pam Grier received her Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and received an Honorary Doctorate of Science from Langston University.

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Childhood & Early life

Pam Grier was born on May 26, 1949 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, to Gwendolyn Sylvia, a homemaker and a nurse, and Clarence Ransom Grier, Jr., Technical Sergeant in the United States Air Force. She has one sister and one brother.

Due to the military career of her father, she lived in England and various other places during her childhood and finally settled in Denver. She was raped at the age of six at her aunt’s house.

Pam Grier did his schooling from the East High School in Denver Grier and dreamed of becoming a doctor.

She attended the Metropolitan State College at Denver and appeared in a number of stage productions and beauty contests to raise money for her college education.

Career

Pam Grier started working as a receptionist at American International Pictures (AIP) in Los Angeles, California. She made her film debut with a brief role in the 1970 movie ‘Beyond the Valley of the Dolls’.

Director Jake Hill discovered her talent and gave her starring roles in his women in prison films: ‘The Big Doll House’ (1971) and ‘The Big Bird Cage’ (1972). She also starred in ‘Black Mama White Mama’ and ‘Scream Blacula Scream’ in 1973.

Pam Grier began her journey of blaxploitation movies in 1970s with Jack Hill’s ‘Coffy’ in 1973. She played similar characters in ‘Foxy Brown’ (1974), ‘Sheba, Baby’ (1975) and ‘Friday Foster’ (1975).

With the demise of blaxploitation, Pam appeared in smaller roles in ‘Drum’ (1976), ‘Greased Lightning’ (1977) and ‘Twilight of Love’ (1977).

She then played larger characters in mainstream blockbusters ‘Fort Apache, The Bronx’ in 1981 and ‘Something Wicked This Way Comes’ in 1983.

Pam Grier starred in ‘Tough Enough’ (1983), ‘The Vindicator’ (1984), ‘Badge of the Assassin’ (1985) and ‘Stand Alone’ (1985). She had a recurring role in the TV series ‘Miami Vice’ from 1985-1990 and in ‘Crime Story’ from 1986 to 1988.

She played the role of Steven Seagal’s detective patner in ‘Above the Law’ (1988). Grier acted in ‘The Package’ (1989), ‘Class of 1999’ (1990), ‘Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey’ (1991) and ‘Posse’ (1993).

Pam Grier made guest appearances on sitcoms: ‘Martin’, ‘Night Series’ and ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel Air’.

In 1996, she acted in comic science fiction film ‘Mars Attack’, science fiction action film ‘Escape from L.A.’ and action-gangster film 'Original Gangstas'.

Pam Grier had the biggest role of her career in 1997 in the crime thriller film ‘Jackie Brown’. Here performance in the film earner her many awards and nominations.

She gave power-packed performance in the comedy series ‘Linc's’ (1999) and in the television mini-series ‘3 A.M’ in 2000.

Her performance in the animated program ‘Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child’ in 2000 was highly appreciated. She also gave impactful performance in the motion picture ‘Bones’ in 2001.

She played Asst. US Attorney Claudia Williams in a drama series ‘Law & Order: Special Victims Unit’ in 2002. Grier had a recurring role in the TV series ‘The L Word’ from 2004-09.

Pam Grier appeared in the television film ‘Ladies of the House’ in 2008 and three episodes of ‘Smallville’ in 2010. She played a friend and colleague of Julia Roberts in ‘Larry Crowne’ in 2011.

She acted in the martial arts film ‘The Man with the Iron Fists’ in 2012 and the television film ‘Cleveland Abduction’ in 2015.

Major Works

Pam Grier is best known for her performance in Quentin Tarantino’s ‘Jackie Brown’ in 1997. She received San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Actress and Golden Globe nomination for her performance.

Her work in the comedy series ‘Linc’s’ (1999) and in the television special ‘3 A.M.’ (2000) was also widely appreciated.

Her supporting act in the drama series ‘Law & Order: Special Victims Unit’ and ‘The L Word’ was also critically acclaimed.

Awards & Achievements

Pam Grier won the San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Actress for ‘Jackie Brown’ in 1997.

She was nominated for NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series for ‘Linc’s’ in 1999.

She was nominated for Black Reel Award and NAACP Image Award for Best Actress for ‘3 A.M.’ in 2000.

She was nominated for NAACP Image Award for her supporting act in ‘Law & Order: Special Victims Unit’ (2003-2004) and ‘The L Word’ (2005-2006, 2008).

She received her Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in 2011. She also received an Honorary Doctorate of Science from Langston University, the same year.

Personal Life & Legacy

Pam Grier dated basketball player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar from 1970 to 1973 and comedian Richard Pryor from 1975 to 78. She was engaged to music executive Kevin Evans in 1998 but the engagement ended in 1999.

She dated marketing executive Peter Hempel from 2000 to 2008. She currently lives in Colorado.

Trivia

Pam Grier was the first black woman to appear on the cover of MS. Magazine in August, 1975 issue.

She was named as one of Ebony Magazine's ‘100 Most Fascinating Women of the 20th Century’.

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Pam Grier biography timelines

  • // 26th May 1949
    Pam Grier was born on May 26, 1949 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, to Gwendolyn Sylvia, a homemaker and a nurse, and Clarence Ransom Grier, Jr., Technical Sergeant in the United States Air Force. She has one sister and one brother.
  • // 1970
    Pam Grier started working as a receptionist at American International Pictures (AIP) in Los Angeles, California. She made her film debut with a brief role in the 1970 movie ‘Beyond the Valley of the Dolls’.
  • // 1975
    Pam Grier was the first black woman to appear on the cover of MS. Magazine in August, 1975 issue.
  • // 1981 To 1983
    She then played larger characters in mainstream blockbusters ‘Fort Apache, The Bronx’ in 1981 and ‘Something Wicked This Way Comes’ in 1983.
  • // 1996
    In 1996, she acted in comic science fiction film ‘Mars Attack’, science fiction action film ‘Escape from L.A.’ and action-gangster film 'Original Gangstas'.
  • // 1997
    Pam Grier had the biggest role of her career in 1997 in the crime thriller film ‘Jackie Brown’. Here performance in the film earner her many awards and nominations.
  • // 1997
    Pam Grier is best known for her performance in Quentin Tarantino’s ‘Jackie Brown’ in 1997. She received San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Actress and Golden Globe nomination for her performance.
  • // 1997
    Pam Grier won the San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Actress for ‘Jackie Brown’ in 1997.
  • // 1999 To 2000
    She gave power-packed performance in the comedy series ‘Linc's’ (1999) and in the television mini-series ‘3 A.M’ in 2000.
  • // 1999 To 2000
    Her work in the comedy series ‘Linc’s’ (1999) and in the television special ‘3 A.M.’ (2000) was also widely appreciated.
  • // 1999
    She was nominated for NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series for ‘Linc’s’ in 1999.
  • // 2000 To 2001
    Her performance in the animated program ‘Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child’ in 2000 was highly appreciated. She also gave impactful performance in the motion picture ‘Bones’ in 2001.
  • // 2000
    She was nominated for Black Reel Award and NAACP Image Award for Best Actress for ‘3 A.M.’ in 2000.
  • // 2000 To 2008
    She dated marketing executive Peter Hempel from 2000 to 2008. She currently lives in Colorado.
  • // 2010 To 2011
    Pam Grier appeared in the television film ‘Ladies of the House’ in 2008 and three episodes of ‘Smallville’ in 2010. She played a friend and colleague of Julia Roberts in ‘Larry Crowne’ in 2011.
  • // 2011
    She received her Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in 2011. She also received an Honorary Doctorate of Science from Langston University, the same year.
  • // 2012 To 2015
    She acted in the martial arts film ‘The Man with the Iron Fists’ in 2012 and the television film ‘Cleveland Abduction’ in 2015.

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Pam Grier's FAQ

  • What is Pam Grier birthday?

    Pam Grier was born at 1949-05-26

  • Where is Pam Grier's birth place?

    Pam Grier was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States

  • What is Pam Grier nationalities?

    Pam Grier's nationalities is American

  • Who is Pam Grier spouses?

    Pam Grier's spouses is Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

  • Who is Pam Grier siblings?

    Pam Grier's siblings is Gina Grier-Townsie, Rodney Grier

  • What was Pam Grier universities?

    Pam Grier studied at East High School, Metropolitan State College

  • How tall is Pam Grier?

    Pam Grier's height is 173

  • Who is Pam Grier's father?

    Pam Grier's father is Clarence Grier

  • Who is Pam Grier's mother?

    Pam Grier's mother is Gwendolyn Grier

  • What is Pam Grier's sun sign?

    Pam Grier is Gemini

  • How famous is Pam Grier?

    Pam Grier is famouse as Actress