Born Pamela Suzette Grier in Winston-Salem, North Carolina on May 26, 1949. Her father, Clarence Ransom Grier was an Air Force mechanic and her mother, Gwendolyn Samuels was a nurse. When Pam was 8, the family moved to Europe, traveling to Germany and England before finally settling at a military base in England.
When Pam was 14, her father retired from the military and the family settled in Denver, Colorado, just in time for Pam to begin attending high school. She attended East High School and it was from this school that she graduated. Pam has stated in interviews that living in Colorado was "rough". Upon the family’s return from Europe, Pam said she felt awkward around her peers because of her affection for afternoon tea, her fastidious manners and her slight accent. Boys in high school did not notice her much and she almost did not have a date for the senior prom. Bet most of those boys are kicking themselves now. Hard to imagine that a woman so beautiful would feel unattractive and would not attract attention almost anywhere. Harder still to believe that boys would overlook her.
After graduating high school, Pam enrolled in Metropolitan State College in Denver, Colorado. Initially, before even considering a career in acting, Pam was planning on a career in medicine. As quoted in an Ebony profile, "When I was a young girl, I never thought of acting. I never thought of television, of fans, movie stars, signing autographs. It never crossed my mind."
It was during her time at MSC that Pam entered the Miss Colorado Universe contest. She entered with the hopes of winning the prize money in order to defray college costs. This was in 1967 and it must have been a very difficult decision to make, considering that Pam was the only African-American contest in the pageant. Even against those odds, Pam placed second in the contest and also managed to draw the attention of David Baumgarten, a talent agent who handled some high profile performers at the time. It was he who first suggested that she make the move to Hollywood. However, Pam was reluctant to do this. It was at her mother’s urging that she decided to make the move. Once in Hollywood, she signed on with Baumgarten’s Agency of the Performing Arts and began attending acting classes. When the roles did not come to her, Pam took a job as a switchboard operator at Roger Corman’s American International Pictures (AIP). Bet they never had a switchboard operator with such a seductive voice before. The move from Baumgarten’s office to AIP was definitely a wise choice. It was Corman who helped Pam to land her first role, her debut in "Beyond in the Valley of the Dolls" where she is credited as "Partygoer".
It was Corman who gave her the first bigger breaks into films, with roles in The Big Bird Cage (1971) and "The Big Doll House" (1971). Though these types of movies were considered the lowest of low budget, it did show an early star potential that most people still enjoy today. They were cheap thrills for men, but for women during these times, they said so much more about the plight of women and the limited choices they had at that time. It also exposed the side of Hollywood that everyone was more than willing to ignore. That women, especially women of color, were pretty much overlooked until they needed the appropriate victim or the piece of eye-candy for the male lead.
While spending time making the WIP movies in the Philippines Pam contracted a normally deadly tropical disease that caused the loss of her hair and temporary blindness for a month. She survived, though it took almost a year for full recovery.
After her early start in WIP movies, Pam moved onto such movies as Coffy, Sheba Baby and Friday Foster to name a few. It was with these movies that Pam cemented her "tough girl" image. She was the woman who didn’t take anything from anybody and she could kick ass with the best of them. It was these films that made her a bankable female lead. Only two other stars at that time (Barbra Streisand and Liza Minelli) had this bankable quality that assured studios of a hit, and neither was as good on film as Pam. She made her characters believable and brought the action to a much bigger audience. She managed to keep her characters likable, even when she was cutting off some guy’s penis in the process. Hey, it wasn’t like she didn’t have good reason for that. It was the tough-sexy image that managed to help land her on the cover of Ms. and New York Magazine. She became a model for both feminists and the African-American community. Many people can credit Pam with changing their negative towards both women and the black community. That is quite an accomplishment. It was movies such as Coffy, Sheba Baby and Friday Foster that earned Pam the title "Queen of Blaxploitation". Even though Hollywood tried to limit her, Pam managed to shine in every role she was given. She took it and made it so much more than most other actors could have done. She was pioneer and has certainly been underappreciated in Hollywood. She paved the way for the future African-American stars of today. She had a fierce independence which is still evident today, and it was this type of attitude which truly gave her a great deal of influence in her roles. During a time when minorities and women were largely ignored, Pam commanded attention.
It was after the popularity of the "blaxploitation" films began dying down in the late 70’s that Pam took a much needed break and took up other interests. Some of these included intensive dance lessons, singing lessons and piano lessons.
It was after this time off and watching a friend, Minnie Riperton die of cancer that Pam decided to start working again, this time seeking more challenging roles. One of these first roles was in Fort Apache, The Bronx. In this film, she plays Charlotte, a drug-addicted prostitute with a particular fondness for murder. Some would say that she took her preparation for the role a little too seriously, forgoing sleep and losing a great deal of weight. She hung around the streets, learning to blend in and work out her character’s attitude. It is unfortunate that a great deal of the film in which Pam appeared was left on the cutting room floor. The performance that she gave in this movie will always remain unforgettable.
There have been many more movies since Fort Apache. Even in smaller roles, Pam always manages to stand out in any film and the parts always seem to be extremely interesting and entertaining. Pam has managed to avoid the typical Hollywood typecasting syndrome She has played such varied roles as cop, prostitute, nurse, photographer, mother, lawyer among them.
One of the best known films that Pam has been has to be Jackie Brown. This was the role that Quentin Tarantino had told Pam that he was adapting specifically for her. He certainly did make the right choice there. Though people had said that this was her "comeback" most of her fans were asking what they meant by comeback, just as Pam did herself. She’s always been here. Pam was nominated for a Golden Globe award for Jackie Brown, and it is criminal that she did not win. If anybody deserved the award, it was Pam.
Even when not making films, there have been numerous guest appearances on television. Pam has also done several plays over the years, among them Frankie and Johnnie at the Claire De Lune and Telltale Hearts.
As you can see, this is not a complete biography, just pointing out some of the highlights. Eventually, this biography will become much more in-depth, but this gives you an idea of why there are so many fans of this great lady. Please look at the Filmography for a complete list of movies and television shows in which Pam has appeared.
Beautiful, seductive, tough and talented, Pam seems born to be in films. Even though there were some slow time and some tough times, Pam has managed to come through all of this better and stronger than before. We wish her luck in her new project, Showtime’s "The L Word", which premieres on January 18, 2004 at 10:00 p.m.
Even at 54, Pam puts women half her age to shame with her great looks. She has credited her mother’s incredible genes for her youthful appearance along with Chinese herbs. For those of you who are of Native American descent, then you should be familiar with diaper wiping. Most people hear about this but just can’t believe it’s true. Take a good long look at Pam and how great she looks today. Still wonder if it works? If you do, then you need to get your glasses adjusted.
According to an interview with Pam on The Wayne Brady Show, she stated that she was in the military - Air Force. However, nobody is sure whether she was referring to being a "military family" or being in the military herself. If you have information on this, please send it to me so I can update this.
She is the cousin of football great, Rosie Grier.
Pam ran track in high school.
During her early career, she did many of her own stunts. Much of her early work was also attacked by mainstream groups because of the violence and nudity. Pam's comment about the nudity? "We've got $20 million actresses today who are nude in Vanilla Sky, nude in Swordfish. So what did I do different? I got paid less, but that's it." And she looked a lot better doing it.
In 1988, Pam was diagnosed with cancer and given 18 months. After a long, hard battle that included numerous surgeries, chemo and radiation, Pam beat the odds. She has also credited traditional Chinese medicine in her fight with breast cancer. "I go for just a regular checkup. All of a sudden, I've got… an invasive cancer, and I have 18 months to live." After five years the cancer was declared to be in remission.
In an effort to give a convincing performance as Charlotte in Fort Apache, The Bronx, Pam hung out around 9th and 10th Aves. watching the prostitutes work. For the audition she practiced her lines alone in a hotel room devoid of furniture for three days. She also let her appearance go for the movie, not shaving and losing weight.
Ever wonder why Pam chose to move back to Colorado after living in the LA? In 1981, when she was returning to her home to her place in Beverly Hills, she was approached by an LAPD officer, who instructed her to raise her hands, all the while pointing his .44 Mag at her back. When Pam tried to explain that this was her house, the officer got angry and claimed that she was lying about that. It wasn’t until a next door neighbor confirmed her identity that the officer let her go. As Pam has stated in interviews, "I did exactly what he told me to do, spread my legs and kept my hands up. Sweat was coming down my back. I wanted to scratch but I knew if I did, I’d be a white chalk mark on the driveway." Several months later, Pam bought a ranch in Denver and moved back there permanently.
Pam had auditioned for two different parts in Tarantino’s "Pulp Fiction", but did not get either role. Quentin Tarantino (Jackie Brown) renamed the title character of the film as an homage to Foxy Brown. The original character was named Jackie Burke and Tarantino changed the name to Jackie Brown. The character in the book "Rum Punch" was also specifically described as a white woman. However, Tarantino wrote the screenplay specifically with Pam in mind, never even realizing the discrepancy. Not that it mattered in the end; Pam gave a powerhouse performance in that movie. This was an Oscar-deserving, and there still hasn't really been a good reason given why she did not receive this honor.
Pam was a back-up singer for Bobby Womack. The albums were "Communication" (1971 United Artists Records and "Understanding" (1972 United Artists Records). It is Womack’s recording of "Across 110th Street" from 1972 that is the theme song of the movie "Jackie Brown". If you have some Bobby Womack albums, check them out. You will most likely find Pam's name on some of them. Pam also sang in her church choir when she was younger. She also sang the title theme song "Long-Time Woman" for the movie, "The Big Bird Cage". The song can also be heard again in "Jackie Brown". She also sang back-up vocals for Lou Rawls and Sly Stone.
Pam was nominated for an NAACP award for her performance in "Jackie Brown". She has been nominated at least 10 times by the NAACP. She also won an award for "Fool for Love" the Sam Shepard play.
She was the first African-American woman to appear on the cover on Ms. Magazine in the August 1975 issue.
Though she refused to pose nude for Playboy, she did a spread for Players magazine in the 70's.
Pam is part Caucasian, part African-American on her father's side, part Native American and part Asian on her mother's side.
If you are really interested in learning more about Pam in her own words, then you should look into getting a copy of "Intimate Portrait: Pam Grier". This is a wonderful addition to the collection of any Pam Grier fan.
Pam was initially asked to audition to play Tina Turner, who just makes 5 feet, in "What's Love Got To Do With It". The part eventually went to Angela Bassett when Pam was deemed too tall for the part.
Foxy Brown, a wonderfully talented singer, chose that name in honor of Pam and that excellent movie.
Pam has been linked romantically with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Richard Pryor and record producer Kevin Evans. The relationship with Abdul-Jabbar ended when Pam refused to convert to his Islamic religion and the relationship with Pryor ended when he refused to get help for his drug problems. No word o the relationship with Kevin Evans and when and why that ended. At one point during the time of Jackie Brown, they were reportedly engaged, but no news thereafter.
After she was diagnosed with cancer in the late '80s and given 18 months to live, today, not only is the '70s action diva healthy, "I'm as energetic as I've ever been and my sex drive today is so intensified that I just drive myself crazy," she says. "I feel better than I felt at 19." As quoted to Ebony Magazine for the 20 Greatest Sex Symbols.
Pam is an avid reader and the book that she considered like her bible at one point was "The Art of War" by Sun Tzu. If you haven't already read this book, please do so. It is excellent and very enlightening.
Pam has been known to go the movies several times each week. With heavier work schedules, I can't say if this is still something she enjoys doing or not.
At one time, Pam rented space at the old Francis Ford Coppolla studios in order to work on her writing skills. "I wanted to hone my skills for screenwriting and theater because the dynamics are different."
Earlier in her career, Pam started her own production company which is still in existence today. At one time it was reported that the company was Brown Sun Productions. This name may still be the same or it may have changed at some point over the years.
Pam purchased the rights to a novel by E. Lynn Harris, "Not A Day Goes By" which her company will be producing. She is set to play Eva a person who will make "Mommie Dearest" look like mother of the year.
Pam has stated in various interviews that the hardest role she has ever taken on was in the Frankie and Johnnie, for which she gained 80 pounds.
Has Pam ever had surgery to keep those wonderful looks? Not according to her. "No surgery! I just keep my skin clear. It could be my diet. I do meditate, but I'm into Chinese herbs. I go to Chinatown a lot for cases of ginseng and the Chinese herbs for women. I believe in the Chinese theory for healing yourself."
Anyone up for a trip to Chinatown? Still talented and still unbelievably beautiful after all these years.
Pam is currently working on her autobiography. This should be a great book, and her many fans can't wait for it to go to print. If you want to find a little more history, before the autobiography, then get yourself a copy of "Intimate Portrait: Pam Grier".
Pam has a great love of horses and she usually keeps them on her ranch. Pitching hay is one of the things she credits with helping her to stay in shape. She currently has two adopted equine family members on her ranch.
Pam was a cheerleader for the Denver Broncos for one season.
Pam appeared in "Doggy Dogg World", a music video for Snoop Dogg's song.
Some reporters have described Pam as being alive with an amazing energy and almost wild quality. It's almost as if electricity is coursing through her.
For her role in Showtime's 3 A.M. Pam shaved her eyebrows and gained some weight to play the role of George.
The over the knee thigh-high boots that Pam wore in Bones were actually her own. According to an interview " I wear a 'fro a lot now just every day. It's a huge 'fro, and I put my hair down when I go to the movies."
Pam was a presenter at the 28th Annual Newark Black Film Festival on July 10, 2002.
According to reports, Pam has made a total of 50 films during her career.
There are many words that can be used to describe Pam Grier, and she hopes that funny is one of them.
For the week of October 28, 2002, Pam Grier was the second most popular Pamela name searched for on Lycos.
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