kids encyclopedia robot

Pamela Anderson facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Pamela Anderson
Greg and Pamela Anderson (41961859304) (cropped).jpg
Anderson in 2018
Born
Pamela Denise Anderson

(1967-07-01) July 1, 1967 (age 57)
Ladysmith, British Columbia, Canada
Other names Pamela Anderson Lee
Citizenship
  • Canada
  • United States
Occupation
  • Actress
  • model
  • media personality
  • author
Years active 1989–present
Spouse(s)
(m. 1995; div. 1998)
(m. 2006; div. 2007)
Rick Salomon
(m. 2007; annulled 2008)
(m. 2014; div. 2015)
Dan Hayhurst
(m. 2020; div. 2022)
Partner(s) Adil Rami (2017–2019)
Children 2
Signature
Pamela Anderson signature.svg

Pamela Denise Anderson (born July 1, 1967) is a Canadian-American actress, model, and writer. She became famous for playing C.J. Parker on the action drama show Baywatch from 1992 to 1997.

Pamela also appeared in movies like Scary Movie 3 (2003) and Borat (2006). She starred in her own reality show, Pam: Girl on the Loose (2008). She also competed on Dancing with the Stars several times. In recent years, Pamela has had a career comeback. She performed on Broadway in the musical Chicago in 2022. A Netflix documentary about her life, Pamela, a Love Story, came out in 2023. This happened at the same time as her autobiography, Love, Pamela, was released. In 2024, she starred in the movie The Last Showgirl, which earned her nominations for top acting awards.

Pamela Anderson is also well-known for her activism. She supports many charities and causes, especially animal rights. She works closely with PETA. She also promotes plant-based eating. She wrote a cookbook called I Love You: Recipes from the Heart (2024). She will host a cooking show, Pamela's Cooking with Love, in 2025.

Early Life and Education

Pamela Anderson was born in Ladysmith, British Columbia, Canada. Her father, Barry Anderson, fixed furnaces, and her mother, Carol, was a waitress. Pamela has some interesting family history. Her great-grandfather came from Finland in 1908 and changed his name to Anderson. Her grandmother, who was German, came from Russia in 1901.

Pamela was born on July 1, 1967. This was a special day because it was Canada's 100th birthday! Because of this, she was called a "Centennial Baby" and even got some news coverage. She has a younger brother named Gerry, who was born in 1971.

Pamela went to Highland Secondary School in Comox, British Columbia. She played on the volleyball team there. She finished high school in 1985. In 1988, Pamela moved to Vancouver and worked as a fitness instructor.

Pamela's Career Journey

Early Modeling and Acting

In 1989, Pamela was at a BC Lions football game in Vancouver. She was wearing a T-shirt for Labatt's Beer. Her image was shown on the big screen, called the jumbotron. The brewing company noticed her and hired her as a spokesmodel for a short time. Her boyfriend at the time, Dan Ilicic, made a poster of her called Blue Zone Girl.

Pamela then went to Los Angeles for a photo shoot. She decided to move to LA to continue her modeling career. After moving, she got a small role as Lisa, the first "Tool Time Girl," on the TV show Home Improvement.

Pamela anderson house st kilda
Sam Newman House featuring a large image of Anderson's face, 2006

Her biggest role was playing C.J. Parker on Baywatch. She was on the show for five seasons, from 1992 to 1997. This made her one of the longest-serving cast members. This role made her very popular around the world. She also appeared in a Baywatch reunion movie in 2003.

In 1996, she starred in the movie Barb Wire. In 1997, she was a guest host on Saturday Night Live. From 1998 to 2002, Pamela starred as Vallery Irons in the action-comedy show V.I.P..

Becoming a Media Star

In 2001, a building in Australia called Sam Newman House was built with a large image of Pamela's face on it. Sam Newman, who owned the house, got Pamela's permission to use her image. The building became a famous local landmark.

Pamela appeared on the covers of many fashion magazines, including W and Elle.

In 2004, she released her first book, Star, which was about a teenager who wanted to be famous. Her second book, Star Struck, came out in 2005. It shared a bit about her life as a celebrity. In 2005, Pamela starred in the TV comedy Stacked as Skyler Dayton. The show ran for two seasons. In 2006, Comedy Central held a special show called the Roast of Pamela Anderson, where comedians made jokes about her.

Pam Anderson 2009
Anderson in 2009

In March 2006, Pamela received a star on Canada's Walk of Fame. In April 2006, she hosted Canada's Juno Awards, which celebrate music. She was the first non-singer or model to host the event. She also appeared in the 2006 movie Borat, playing herself.

In December 2009, Pamela performed in a play called Aladdin in London. She played the Genie of the Lamp.

Reality TV and Recent Success

In 2010, Pamela appeared on Bigg Boss, the Indian version of Big Brother. She stayed in the house for three days as a guest. She also appeared on the UK and Bulgarian versions of Big Brother.

Pamela was a contestant on the American show Dancing with the Stars in 2010. She was eliminated after seven weeks. She also returned for an all-star season in 2012 but was eliminated in the first week. She competed on the French version of Dancing with the Stars in 2018.

In 2022, Pamela made her Broadway debut. She played Roxie Hart in the musical Chicago for eight weeks. In 2023, Netflix released Pamela, a Love Story, a documentary about her life. Her son, Brandon Thomas Lee, helped produce it. The documentary came out at the same time as her autobiography, Love, Pamela, which became a best-seller.

After seeing the documentary, director Gia Coppola wanted Pamela to star in her film The Last Showgirl. Pamela accepted the role, saying it was "the role I have been waiting for my entire career." Critics praised her performance, calling it "a revelation" and "transformative." She received nominations for a Golden Globe Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award for her role.

Pamela will also appear in upcoming movies like The Naked Gun and Rosebush Pruning.

Activism and Causes

Animal Rights Advocacy

Pamela Anderson devant les arènes de Nîmes le 21 juillet 2017
Anderson in front of the Arena of Nîmes in public campaign against bullfights, July 2017

Pamela Anderson is a strong supporter of animal rights. She is an active member of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

She once posed for a PETA ad wearing a bikini. The ad showed lines on her body like a diagram of meat cuts. The message was "All Animals Have the Same Parts." This ad was banned in Montreal, Canada, because some people thought it was sexist.

In 2015, Pamela wrote to Russian President Vladimir Putin to ask him to help save whales. She also met with Russian officials to discuss animal welfare and conservation. In December 2015, she joined the board of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. This group works to stop the hunting of whales.

Supporting Julian Assange

Pamela has also publicly supported WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. In 2016, she called him a "hero." In 2019, she visited him in prison and said she believed he was innocent. She said, "He is a good man, he is an incredible person. I love him."

In October 2019, Pamela planned to visit Australia to ask the Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, to help Assange. She wrote a letter to Morrison, but he replied that his government would respect Britain's legal process. In a speech she planned to give, Pamela said Assange was suffering "psychological torture" in jail. In 2021, she appeared on a TV show to ask President Donald Trump to pardon Assange.

Other Activism

In 2005, Pamela became a spokesperson for the MAC AIDS Fund. This fund helps people affected by AIDS and HIV. She helped raise money for the cause in different cities around the world. She also became a celebrity spokesperson for the American Liver Foundation.

In 2016 and 2018, Pamela starred in public service announcements. These videos aimed to raise awareness about safety in the private transportation industry. In the 2019 Canadian federal election, she supported the Green Party of Canada.

Plant-Based Cooking and Lifestyle

Pamela became a vegetarian when she was a teenager. She made this choice after her father brought home a deer he had hunted. Later, in her twenties, she became a vegan. She actively promotes the benefits of a plant-based diet. She was an executive producer for the 2018 documentary The Game Changers, which is about plant-based eating.

In 2024, Pamela published her own plant-based cookbook, I Love You: Recipes From the Heart. This cookbook has received positive reviews. VegNews called it one of "The Best Vegan Cookbooks of 2024." Martha Stewart, a famous chef, praised the book. She said Pamela used French cuisine "in the most simple, beautiful way." Drew Barrymore, an actress and talk show host, called it "the most beautiful cookbook I've ever seen."

Pamela will host a plant-based cooking show called Pamela's Cooking with Love. It will air on Flavour Network in 2025.

Personal Life and Family

Pamela Anderson has two sons with her first husband, Tommy Lee. Their sons are Brandon Thomas (born in 1996) and Dylan Jagger (born in 1997).

In 2004, Pamela became a naturalized citizen of the United States. She kept her Canadian citizenship as well. She felt it was important to become an American citizen so she could vote and eventually help her parents move to the U.S.

Pamela used to own a beach home in Malibu, California. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she moved back to her childhood home in Canada. She sold her Malibu home. As of 2024, she lives with her dogs in Ladysmith on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. She also has a vegetable farm there called Arcady.

Marriages

Pamela has been married several times. She married her first husband, Tommy Lee, who is the drummer for the band Mötley Crüe. They got married on a beach in 1995, after knowing each other for only four days. They divorced in 1998. They shared custody of their sons.

Pamela Anderson and Kid Rock
Anderson and Kid Rock in 2003

Later, Pamela married musician Kid Rock. They divorced in 2007.

In 2007, Pamela married Rick Salomon. They had a small wedding ceremony in Las Vegas. They separated in December 2007, and Pamela asked for the marriage to be annulled in 2008. In 2014, she announced that she had remarried Salomon. However, they divorced again in 2015.

From 2017 to 2019, she was in a relationship with Adil Rami.

On December 24, 2020, Pamela married Dan Hayhurst, who was her bodyguard. In January 2022, Pamela announced that they had filed for divorce.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1991 The Taking of Beverly Hills Cheerleader
1993 Snapdragon Felicity
1994 Raw Justice Sarah
1995 Baywatch the Movie: Forbidden Paradise Casey Jean "C.J." Parker Direct-to-video
1996 Barb Wire Barbara "Barb Wire" Kopetski
Naked Souls Britt
2002 Scooby-Doo Herself
2003 Scary Movie 3 Becca
Pauly Shore Is Dead Herself
2005 No Rules
2006 Borat
2008 Blonde and Blonder Dee Twiddle
Superhero Movie Invisible Girl
2010 Costa Rican Summer Herself
Hollywood & Wine Jennifer Mary Direct-to-video
The Commuter Julia Female Guest in Hotel Short film
2013 Jackhammer Groupie
2015 What Are Men Doing! 2 Herself
Connected Jackie Short film
2016 The People Garden Signe
Don't Be a Derk Jackie Short film
2017 Baywatch Casey Jean "C.J." Parker
The Institute Ann Williams
SPF-18 Herself
2018 Nicky Larson et le parfum de Cupidon Jessica Fox
2022 Alone at Night Sheriff Rodgers
2024 The Last Showgirl Shelly
2025 The Naked Gun TBA
TBA Rosebush Pruning TBA

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1990 Family Feud Herself/Celebrity Contestant Recurring guest
Charles in Charge Chris Episode: "Teacher's Pest"
1990, 1991 Married... with Children Yvette/Cashew Episodes: "Al... with Kelly" & "Route 666: Part 2"
1991 Married People Terri Episode: "The Nanny"
Top of the Heap Romona Episode: "Behind the Eight Ball"
1991–1997 Home Improvement Lisa Recurring cast: Season 1-2, guest: Season 6
1992 Home Again with Bob Vila Herself Episode: "Final House Tour - Malibu, CA Beach House"
Days of Our Lives Cindy Episodes: "Episode #1.6687" & "#1.6692"
1992–1997 Baywatch Casey Jean "C.J." Parker Main cast: Season 3-7
1993 What's Up Doc? Herself 1 episode
1994 This Is Your Life Episode: "David Hasselhoff"
Come Die with Me:
A Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer Mystery
Velda TV movie
1997 The Nanny Heather Biblow-Imperiali Recurring cast: Season 4
Saturday Night Live Herself/Host Episode: "Pamela Lee/Rollins Band"
1998–2002 V.I.P. Vallery Irons Main cast
1999 Penn & Teller's Sin City Spectacular Herself Episode: "Episode #1.21"
Andi Meets... Episode: "Britney Spears"
Ruby Episode: "Pamela Anderson Lee"
Futurama Herself/Dixie Voice; episodes: "A Fishful of Dollars" & "Fry and the Slurm Factory"
1999–2003 Hollywood Squares Herself Recurring guest
2001 Bravo Profiles Episode: "RuPaul"
The Test Herself/Panelist Episode: "The Bedroom Etiquette Test"
Top Ten Herself 1 episode
Just Shoot Me! Episode: "Mayas and Tigers and Deans, Oh My"
2gether Episode: "Jillie"
2001–2009 E! True Hollywood Story Recurring guest
2002 King of the Hill Cyndi Voice; episode: "The Fat and the Furious"
2003 Punk'd Herself Episode: "Episode #1.1"
CMT Music Awards Herself/Co-Host Main co-host
High Chaparall Herself Episode: "Pamela Anderson"
Baywatch: Hawaiian Wedding Casey Jean "C.J." Parker TV movie
Less than Perfect Vicki Devorski Episode: "All About Claude"
2005 Biography Herself Episode: "David Hasselhoff: Driven"
HeatMeter Episode: "Kid Rock vs. Eminem"
Mad TV Episode: "Episode #11.8"
Class of... Episode: "1989: Life After Baywatch"
8 Simple Rules Cheryl Episodes: "C.J.'s Temptation" & "Torn Between Two Lovers"
2005, 2010 Comedy Central Roast Herself Episodes: "Comedy Central Roast of Pamela Anderson"
2005–2006 Stacked Skyler Dayton Main cast
2006 Juno Awards of 2006 Herself/Host Main host
2007–2008 The Girls Next Door Herself Episodes: "My Bare Lady" & "Hot Chocolate"
2008 The Sunday Night Project Herself/Guest Host Episode: "Episode #1.2"
Big Brother Australia Herself/House Guest House guest: Season 8
The Dark Side of Fame with Piers Morgan Herself Episode: "Pamela Anderson"
E!'s Pam: Girl on the Loose! Main cast
Battleground Earth Episode: "Something's Fishy"
Undercover TV Episode: "Episode #1.9"
Kath & Kim Episode: "Friends"
2009 Whatever Happened To? Episode: "Buxom Beauties"
2010 Paramount Studios New Year's Eve Concert Herself/Host Main host
Magic Numbers Herself Episode: "Episode #1.6"
Gylne tider Episode: "Episode #4.2"
Bigg Boss Herself/House Guest House guest: Season 4
Chris Moyles' Quiz Night Herself Episode: "Chris Moyles' Christmas Quiz Night"
Comedy Central Roast Herself Episode: "Comedy Central Roast of David Hasselhoff"
2010, 2012 Dancing with the Stars Herself/Contestant Contestant: Season 10 & Season 15
2011 Bailando por un Sueño Herself Contestant: Season 7
Big Brother Episode: "The Final"
Ushi & The Family Episode: "Episode #1.1"
Les Anges Episodes: "Episode #2.1" & "#2.2"
2011–2017 Celebrity Juice Recurring guest
2012 I Get That a Lot Episode: "Episode #1.4"
RuPaul's Drag Race Herself/Guest Judge Episode: "Frenemies"
VIP Brother Herself/House Guest House guest: Season 4
Yalan Dünya Herself Episode: "9. Bölüm"
2013 Dancing on Ice Herself/Contestant Contestant: Season 8
Promi Big Brother Herself/House Guest House guest: Season 1
Package Deal Dr. Sydney Forbes Recurring cast: Season 1
2014 2014 World Music Awards Herself/Co-Host Main co-host
2015 Big Brother Germany Herself/House Guest Episode: "Episode #12.25"
Love Advent Herself Episode: "Pamela Anderson"
2016 Gotham Comedy Live Herself/Host Episode: "Pamela Anderson"
Jorden runt på 6 steg Herself 1 episode
2017 Through the Keyhole Episode: "Episode #4.2"
8 Out of 10 Cats Episode: "Episode #20.6"
Sur-Vie Raquel Rose Main cast
2018 Piers Morgan's Life Stories Herself Episode: "Pamela Anderson"
Heathrow: Britain's Busiest Airport Episode: "Episode #4.6"
Danse avec les stars Herself/Contestant Contestant: Season 9
2018–2019 Match Game Herself/Celebrity Panelist Episodes: "Episode #3.18" & "#4.3"
2019 The Hills: New Beginnings Herself Episodes: "Episode #1.1" & "#1.8"
2022 Durch die Nacht mit ... Episode: "Pamela Anderson und Srecko Horvat"
2022–2023 Pamela's Garden of Eden Herself/Host Main host
2025 Pamela's Cooking with Love

Theater

Year Title Role Venue Ref.
2022 Chicago Roxie Hart (replacement) Ambassador Theater, Broadway

Music videos

Year Title Artist(s)
1990 "Shelter Me" Cinderella
1991 ”Stranded” Tangier
1993 "Can't Have Your Cake (and eat it too)" Vince Neil
1994 "Blind Man" Aerosmith
1999 "David Duchovny" Bree Sharp
"Get Naked" Methods of Mayhem
2000 "Miserable" Lit
"Hey Papi" Jay-Z
2006 "Touch the Sky" Kanye West
"God's Gonna Cut You Down" Johnny Cash
2012 "Glamazon" RuPaul
2014 "Earth Is the Loneliest Planet" Morrissey
2016 "Le lac" Julien Doré

Documentary (selected)

Year Title Notes
2007 I Am an Animal: The Story of Ingrid Newkirk and PETA
See You in Vegas
2013 The Carrier
2015 Unity Narrator
2018 The Game Changers Executive Producer
2018 Westwood: Punk, Icon, Activist Herself
2023 Pamela, a Love Story Herself
2024 Criterion Closet (November 12), Herself

Honors and Awards

Pamela Anderson star on Walk of Fame
Pamela Anderson's star on Canada's Walk of Fame
Organizations Year Category Work Result Ref.
AARP Movies for Grownups Awards 2025 Best Actress The Last Showgirl Pending
Austin Film Critics Association 2025 Best Actress The Last Showgirl Nominated
Canadian Business 2005 Most Powerful Canadian in Hollywood N/A Won
Canada's Walk of Fame 2006 N/A N/A Won
Glamour Awards 2024 Woman of the Year N/A Won
Golden Globe Awards 2025 Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama The Last Showgirl Nominated
Gotham Awards 2024 Outstanding Lead Performance The Last Showgirl Nominated
Greater Western New York Film Critics Association 2025 Lead Actress The Last Showgirl Nominated
Winter IndieWire Honors 2024 Performance Award The Last Showgirl Won
Miami Film Festival 2024 Art of Light Acting Award The Last Showgirl Won
North Texas Film Critics Association 2024 Best Actress The Last Showgirl Nominated
San Sebastián International Film Festival 2024 Special Jury Prize The Last Showgirl Won
SCAD Savannah Film Festival 2024 Marquee Award The Last Showgirl Won
Screen Actors Guild Awards 2025 Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role The Last Showgirl Pending
St. Louis Film Critics Association Awards 2024 Best Actress The Last Showgirl Nominated
Sun Valley Film Festival 2024 Pioneer Award The Last Showgirl Won
Zurich Film Festival 2024 Golden Eye Award The Last Showgirl Won

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Pamela Anderson para niños

  • List of vegan and plant-based media
kids search engine
Pamela Anderson Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.