Pam Grier Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Pam Grier
Grier in 2022
Born	Pamela Suzette Grier (1949-05-26) May 26, 1949 (age 76) Winston-Salem, North Carolina, U.S.
Alma mater	Metropolitan State College
Occupation	Actress singer martial artist
Years active	1970–present

Pamela Suzette Grier (born May 26, 1949) is an American actress, singer, and martial artist. Many people, including famous director Quentin Tarantino, see her as one of the very first female action stars in movies. She became well-known in the 1970s for her exciting roles in action films.

Pam Grier starred in popular movies like Coffy (1973) and Foxy Brown (1974). Later, she played the main character in Quentin Tarantino's crime film Jackie Brown (1997). On television, she was a main character in shows such as The L Word and Bless This Mess. She has been nominated for many awards, including an Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award.

Early Life and Moving Around
Becoming a Star
Later Career and Recognition
Personal Life
Awards and Honors
Images for kids
See also

Early Life and Moving Around

Pamela Suzette Grier was born on May 26, 1949, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Her mother, Gwendolyn Sylvia, was a homemaker and nurse. Her father, Clarence Ransom Grier, Jr., was a mechanic and worked in the United States Air Force. Pam has one sister and one brother.

Because her father was in the military, Pam's family moved often when she was a child. In 1956, they moved to Swindon in the United Kingdom. Pam remembers that people treated everyone equally there, no matter their background. She noticed this was different from some parts of the United States at the time.

In 1958, her family moved back to the U.S. and settled in Denver, Colorado. Pam also spent time on her grandparents' sugar beet farm in Wyoming. She went to East High School in Denver. There, she acted in school plays and even entered beauty contests to help pay for college.

Becoming a Star

Pam Grier in 1976

In 1967, Pam Grier moved to Los Angeles, California. She first worked at a film studio called American International Pictures (AIP). Soon, director Jack Hill discovered her acting talent. She began starring in action films where she played strong, brave women.

Her first big hit was Coffy (1973), where she played a character who was advertised as a "one-chick hit-squad." This movie was very successful. Pam Grier is known as the first African-American woman to lead an action film. Film critic Roger Ebert praised her, saying she had a "beautiful face and astonishing form" and a lot of "physical life" in her acting.

Pam Grier continued to play similar powerful characters in other AIP films like Foxy Brown (1974), Sheba, Baby (1975), and Friday Foster (1975).

Later Career and Recognition

After the 1970s, Pam Grier took on different kinds of roles. She appeared in the TV series Miami Vice and made guest appearances on popular shows like The Fresh Prince of Bel Air and The Cosby Show.

Pam Grier with moderator Jarrett Crippen at a Q&A session in 2013

In the late 1990s, Pam Grier made a big comeback in movies. She starred in John Carpenter's Escape from L.A. (1996) and then played the main role in Quentin Tarantino's Jackie Brown (1997). This film was a special tribute to her earlier action movies. She received many award nominations for her role in Jackie Brown.

From 2004 to 2009, she was a main cast member on the TV show The L Word. She also had a recurring role in the science-fiction series Smallville as the character Amanda Waller. In 2011, she appeared with Julia Roberts in the movie Larry Crowne.

In 2010, Pam Grier wrote her life story in a book called Foxy: My Life in Three Acts. She has also received honorary degrees from universities. Essence magazine wrote in 2012 that the characters Pam Grier played were so important that women would stand up and cheer for them.

Pam Grier also started the Pam Grier Community Garden and Education Center. This project teaches people about healthy eating and organic gardening.

Personal Life

Pam Grier has lived an interesting life. She was once in a relationship with famous basketball player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. She also dated comedian Freddie Prinze and actor Richard Pryor.

In 1988, Pam Grier was diagnosed with a serious illness, but she fought hard and recovered. She now lives on a ranch in Colorado.

Awards and Honors

Pam Grier has received many awards for her long and impactful career.

In 1998, she won the San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Actress for her role in Jackie Brown.
She received a Career Achievement Award at the Acapulco Black Film Festival in 1999.
In 2003, she was given a Special Achievement in Film Trumpet Award.
The National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum honored her in 2012.
In 2024, she received a lifetime achievement award at the Toronto Black Film Festival.