Pamela Anderson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Pamela Anderson
Anderson in 2024
Born	Pamela Denise Anderson (1967-07-01) July 1, 1967 (age 58) Ladysmith, British Columbia, Canada
Other names	Pamela Anderson Lee
Citizenship	Canada United States
Occupation	Actress model media personality
Years active	1989–present
Spouse(s)	Tommy Lee ​ (m. 1995⁠–⁠1998)​ Kid Rock ​ (m. 2006⁠–⁠2007)​ Rick Salomon ​ (m. 2007⁠–⁠2008)​ ​ ​ (m. 2014⁠–⁠2015)​ Dan Hayhurst ​ (m. 2020⁠–⁠2022)​
Partner(s)	Adil Rami (2017–2019)
Children	2
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Pamela Denise Anderson (born July 1, 1967) is a Canadian-American actress, model, and public figure. She first became widely known through her early modeling career. She then began acting, appearing on the ABC sitcom Home Improvement (1991–1993, 1997). Anderson gained international fame for her role as "C.J." Parker in the drama series Baywatch (1992–1997).

Anderson also starred as Vallery Irons in the series V.I.P. (1998–2002) and as Skyler Dayton in the Fox sitcom Stacked (2005–2006). Her film roles include Barb Wire (1996), Scary Movie 3 (2003), and Borat (2006). She also appeared in the 2017 Baywatch movie. She had her own reality series, Pam: Girl on the Loose (2008), and competed on the Dancing with the Stars show (2010–2012, 2018).

In the 2020s, Anderson's career saw a new wave of success. She made her Broadway debut in 2022, playing Roxie Hart in the musical Chicago. In 2023, a Netflix documentary about her life, Pamela, a Love Story, was released, along with her autobiography, Love, Pamela. Her 2024 film, The Last Showgirl, earned her nominations for the Golden Globe Award and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Actress.

Anderson is a strong supporter of various charitable causes, especially animal rights and organizations like PETA. She also promotes plant-based cooking. She hosts a plant-based cooking show called Pamela's Cooking with Love (2025–present) on Flavour Network. Her plant-based cookbook, I Love You: Recipes from the Heart, was nominated for a 2025 James Beard Award.

Early Life and Education

Pamela Anderson was born in Ladysmith, British Columbia, Canada, on July 1, 1967. Her father, Barry Anderson, was a furnace repairman, and her mother, Carol, was a waitress. Her great-grandfather came from Finland to Canada in 1908 and changed his name to Anderson. She also has German ancestry from her mother's side. Anderson was called a "Centennial Baby" because she was born on Canada's 100th anniversary. She has a younger brother named Gerry.

Anderson attended Highland Secondary School in Comox, British Columbia, where she played on the volleyball team. She graduated in 1985. In 1988, she moved to Vancouver and worked as a fitness instructor.

Career Highlights

Early Modeling and Acting

In 1989, Pamela Anderson was noticed at a BC Lions football game in Vancouver. She was featured on the jumbotron while wearing a T-shirt for Labatt's Beer. The company briefly hired her as a spokesperson. This led to her first photo shoot in Los Angeles, where she appeared on the cover of a popular magazine. She then moved to the United States to continue her modeling career. She became well-known through her modeling work and appeared on many magazine covers over 22 years.

After moving to Los Angeles, Anderson got a small role as Lisa, the original "Tool Time Girl," on the ABC comedy series Home Improvement.

Sam Newman House in Australia, featuring a large image of Anderson's face, 2006

Her big acting break came with the role of C.J. Parker on Baywatch. She played this character for five seasons from 1992 to 1997, becoming one of the show's longest-serving cast members. The series made her popular worldwide. Anderson returned to her role in a reunion movie, Baywatch: Hawaiian Wedding (2003).

In 1994, she starred in her first film, Raw Justice. In 1996, she played Barbara Rose Kopetski in the movie Barb Wire. She also guest-hosted Saturday Night Live in April 1997. In September 1998, Anderson began starring as Vallery Irons in the action-comedy series V.I.P., which ran successfully for four years. She also appeared on The Nanny as Fran Fine's rival, Heather Biblow.

Media Appearances and Books

The Sam Newman House in Australia, built in 2001, features a large image of Anderson's face. The architect used the image with Anderson's permission. In 2005, Anderson performed a dance routine for a special event featuring Elton John's music.

In 2004, Anderson released her first book, Star, co-written with Eric Shaw Quinn, about a teenager trying to become famous. Her second book, Star Struck, released in 2005, shares insights into her life as a public figure. In 2005, Anderson starred in the Fox comedy series Stacked as Skyler Dayton, which ran for two seasons. In August 2005, Comedy Central aired the Roast of Pamela Anderson, a comedy special where comedians make jokes about a celebrity.

Pamela Anderson in 2009

In March 2006, Anderson received a star on Canada's Walk of Fame. In April 2006, she hosted Canada's Juno Awards, becoming the first non-singer and model to do so. She also appeared in the 2006 movie Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, playing herself.

In February 2008, Anderson performed a special act at the Crazy Horse cabaret in Paris. She then starred in the reality series Pam: Girl on the Loose. In December 2009, Anderson guest-starred in the pantomime Aladdin at the New Wimbledon Theatre in London.

Reality Television and Recent Acting

In 2010, Anderson appeared in the short film The Commuter. She was also featured in a fashion editorial for Brazilian Vogue in June 2013.

Anderson participated in several international versions of the Big Brother television show. In November 2010, she was a guest on Bigg Boss, the Indian version. In 2011, she took part in the 12th season of Big Brother in the United Kingdom. In 2012, she appeared as a Special Houseguest on VIP Brother in Bulgaria. She also appeared on Promi Big Brother in Germany in 2013.

Anderson was a contestant on the tenth season of Dancing with the Stars in 2010. She was eliminated after seven weeks. She also returned for the 15th season all-star edition in 2012. In May 2011, she competed on Bailando 2011 in Argentina. In 2013, Anderson appeared on the eighth series of the British reality TV show Dancing on Ice. In 2018, she was a contestant on the ninth season of French Dancing with the Stars.

In 2022, Anderson made her Broadway debut as Roxie Hart in the musical Chicago. In 2023, Netflix released Pamela, a Love Story, a documentary about her life. Her son, Brandon Thomas Lee, produced the film and received an Emmy nomination. The documentary was released at the same time as Anderson's autobiography, Love, Pamela, which became a best-seller.

After seeing the documentary, director Gia Coppola wanted Anderson to star in her 2024 drama film The Last Showgirl. Anderson accepted the role, which she called "the role I have been waiting for my entire career." Critics praised her performance, with Caryn James of the BBC calling Anderson "a revelation." David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter noted that her "transformative performance is undeniably affecting." For this role, Anderson received her first major acting nominations, including a Golden Globe Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Actress.

In November 2024, Anderson appeared on the Criterion Closet show, where she discussed her interest in classic films.

Plant-Based Cooking and Lifestyle

Pamela Anderson became a vegetarian as a teenager and later adopted a vegan diet. She actively promotes the benefits of a plant-based diet. She was an executive producer for the 2018 plant-based documentary, The Game Changers, alongside figures like James Cameron and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Her plant-based cooking show, Pamela's Cooking with Love, began airing on Canada's Flavour Network in February 2025. Her 2024 plant-based cookbook, I Love You: Recipes From the Heart, was nominated for a 2025 James Beard Award for its visuals. Actress Drew Barrymore has called it "the most beautiful cookbook I've ever seen."

VegNews recognized I Love You: Recipes From the Heart as one of "The Best Vegan Cookbooks of 2024." Chowhound also listed it among the "15 Best Vegetarian Cookbooks Of 2024." In an interview for Elle, Martha Stewart praised the cookbook, noting that Anderson drew from French cuisine in a "simple, beautiful way."

Activism and Advocacy

Animal Rights Advocacy

Pamela Anderson campaigning against bullfights in Nîmes, France, July 2017

Pamela Anderson is a strong advocate for animal rights and is an active member of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). She participated in various PETA campaigns for animal welfare.

In March 2012, she became a spokesperson for FrogAds, Inc. In February 2014, she appeared in a Valentine's Day-themed ad for PETA, encouraging people to care for their pets.

Anderson has also written to world leaders, including Vladimir Putin, to advocate for animal protection. In December 2015 and 2016, she met with Kremlin officials to discuss animal welfare and conservation efforts in Russia. She is also a full board member of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, an organization that works to protect marine wildlife.

Supporting Julian Assange

In December 2016, Pamela Anderson publicly called WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange a "hero," stating that he had provided a "great service" to everyone through WikiLeaks. She expressed concern about legal actions against him. In April 2019, Anderson voiced her anger on Twitter when Assange was removed from Ecuador's London embassy. She visited him in Belmarsh prison in May 2019, stating her belief that he is innocent and an "incredible person."

In October 2019, Anderson announced plans to travel to Australia to ask Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison to support Assange. She wrote a letter to Morrison, asking him to use his influence to help secure Assange's release. Morrison responded that his government would respect Britain's legal process. In a speech she planned to give, Anderson said Assange was facing "difficult conditions" in jail. In January 2021, Anderson spoke on the Fox News show Tucker Carlson Tonight, asking President Donald Trump to pardon Assange.

Other Causes

In March 2005, Anderson became a spokesperson for MAC Cosmetics's MAC AIDS Fund, which supports people affected by AIDS and HIV. She helped raise money for the fund at events in various cities. Anderson also became a celebrity spokesperson for the American Liver Foundation.

In November 2016 and January 2018, Anderson starred in public service announcements for the Ride Responsibly initiative. These videos, produced with the National Limousine Association, promoted passenger safety and driver regulations.

In the 2019 Canadian federal election, she supported the Green Party of Canada. She also attended meetings with the European Spring political party and appeared on election posters for the German DiEM25 campaign in 2019.

Personal Life and Family

Home and Family Life

Pamela Anderson has two sons, Brandon Thomas (born in 1996) and Dylan Jagger (born in 1997), from her first marriage to Tommy Lee. She became a naturalized citizen of the United States in 2004, while also keeping her Canadian citizenship. She felt it was important to become a U.S. citizen to vote and to potentially bring her parents to the U.S. later in life.

Anderson previously owned a beach home in Malibu, California. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she made her childhood home in Canada her permanent residence and sold her Malibu home. As of 2024, she lives with her dogs in Ladysmith on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, where she also has a vegetable farm called Arcady.

Marriages and Relationships

Anderson has been married five times. She married her first husband, Tommy Lee, the drummer for Mötley Crüe, on February 19, 1995. They divorced in 1998. A long legal process followed regarding their sons' custody, finalized in October 2002 with joint custody.

Pamela Anderson and Kid Rock in 2003

Anderson later married Kid Rock. She filed for divorce in Los Angeles County Superior Court, citing irreconcilable differences.

In September 2007, Anderson announced her engagement to Rick Salomon. They married on October 6, 2007, in Las Vegas. The couple separated in December 2007, and in February 2008, Anderson requested that the marriage be annulled. In January 2014, she announced that she had remarried Salomon. Anderson filed for divorce from Salomon in February 2015, and the divorce was finalized in April 2015.

She was in a relationship with French soccer player Adil Rami from 2017 to 2019.

On December 24, 2020, Anderson married Dan Hayhurst, who was her bodyguard. On January 21, 2022, Anderson announced that she had filed for divorce from Hayhurst.

Filmography

Film

Television

Theater

Honors and Awards

Pamela Anderson's star on Canada's Walk of Fame

See also

In Spanish: Pamela Anderson para niños

• List of vegan and plant-based media