Born: 26-05-1949
Birthplace: Winston-Salem (North Carolina)
Country: USA
Height: 5' 8" (1,73 m)
American actress Pam Grier grew up with brother Rodney and sister Gina in Winston-Salem. Her father is Clarence Ransom Grier Jr. who works as mechanic and technical Sergeant at the United States Air Force. Her mother is nurse Gwendolyn Sylvia (girls name: Samuels) who also works as homemaker. The military career of her father ensures that the family moved several times to places in England during her childhood, before they settled in Denver. She's also family of actor/singer Roosevelt ''Rosey'' Grier who also All-Pro Los Angeles Rams National Football League player is.
She graduated at the East High School in Denver and appeared in a number of stage productions during her high shool time. She participated in beauty contests to raise money for college tuition at the Metropolitan State College. She studied at the UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles) and received her Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in 2011. She also received an Honorary Doctorate of Science at the Langston University in that same year. She entered the business world with the opening of the Pam Grier Community Garden and Education Center in cooperation with the National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum.
She had an relation with basketball player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar from 1971 till 1972 and had an relation with English musician/singer Robert Plant in 1973. She had an relation with actor/comedian Freddie Prinze from 1973 till 1974 and had an relation with comedian Richard Pryor in 1976. She starts dating with music executive Kevin Evans in 1996 and the relation ended in 1999. She had an relation with DDB group chairman Peter Hempel from 2000 till 2008.
There are many covershoots and articles about her in magazines as Ebony, Jet, TV Guide, Cinema, Femme Fatales, Fox, Amarcord, New York, Celebrity Sleuth, Playboy and many more.
Action Movie Career
She made her action movie debut as beautiful female prisoner Grear who is abused along with other women in a Philippine prison in ''The Big Doll House'' (1971). She and five other women have the plan to escape and they get help of two reluctant male fruit vendors. They abduct a evil female warden and escape out the prison, while they are followed by angry wardens.
She plays female prisoner Alabama and Jennifer Gan plays Carol, an naive American woman who is jailed innocent in the Philippines in ''Women in Cages'' (1971). She is sentenced to ten years after she is framed by her drug-dealer boyfriend Rudy (played by Charlie Davao). She convinces some of her cell-mates to escape from prison. The girls escape and flee through the jungle, while they are hunted by ruthless assassins.
She plays Blossom in this story about Terry (played by Anitra Ford) who's a social-climbing young woman who accidentally gets involved in the activities of two revolutionaries Blossom and Django (played by Sid Haig) in ''The Big Bird Cage'' (1972). She finds herself back in a female concentration camp where women are subjected to sadistic cruelty from the guards and fellow prisoners. Terry tries to escape with help of her revolutionary allies Blossom and Django.
She plays nurse Coffin ''Coffy'' who leads a double life as nurse during day time and an avenging angel at night in ''Coffy'' (1973). She fights against crime in a personal vendetta, after her sister Jeri (played by Lisa Farringer) became victim of inner-city drug dealers.
Two thousand years ago, she plays in this story about male gladiators who entertain the Roman people in arenas, until an man for the joke suggests that women should fight in the arena instead of male gladiators in ''The Arena'' (1974). The man got the idea after he witnesses a hectic girl fight between a Nubian and a Viking slave in the kitchen. The idea is approved by Roman leaders and female warriors fight in the arena to entertain people.
She plays the lead role as private detective Sheba Shayne from Chicago, who travels back to Louisville to help her father in ''Sheba, Baby'' (1975). Her father is intimidated by thugs who try to run him out of business. Sheba hunts on the thugs with help of her former flame Brick (played by Austin Stoker).
She plays Aretha who's the girl friend of Duke Johnson (played by Fred Williamson), who visits a small Southern town to bury his brother, who was nightclub owner in ''Bucktown'' (1975). Some local persons convince Duke to reopen the nightclub after the funeral. He opens the nightclub again and the club is soon visited by local dirty policemen who demand bribes. He refuses to pay the bribes after they are threatened and attacked by the crooked cops. Duke is calling his old pal Roy (played by Thalmus Rasulala) who brings some buddies to Bucktown, in order to fight against the dirty cops.
She plays the lead role as ex-model magazine photographer Friday Foster who goes to Los Angeles International airport in order to photograph the arrival of Blake Tarr (played by Thalmus Rasulala), the richest black man in America in ''Friday Foster'' (1975). She witnessed the assassination attempt on Blake, who is committed by three men and sees also how her best girlfriend was murdered. She becomes target of the three assassins and teams up with private detective Colt Hawkins (played by Yaphet Kotto). The investigation leads to a hot trail of an plot to eliminate the African-American political leadership of the country.
She plays Regine next to Warren Oates who plays the lead role as pit-fighter Hammond Maxwell in ''Drum'' (1976). Hammond is torn between his success as pit-fighter and the injustices of white society, mid-19th century.
She plays Mary in this true story based on the life of NASCAR driver Wendell Scott (played by Richard Pryor) in ''Greased Lightning'' (1977). He's the first black stock car racing driver ever who wins an NASCAR race.
She plays Hunter next to David McIlwraith who plays the lead role as Carl ''Frankenstein'' Lehman who is an employee of a secret company operation in ''The Vindicator'' (1986). Carl becomes victim of the special weapons project which is invented by his company. He transforms into a robotic killing machine who is programmed to destroy everything what comes on his path.
She plays Delores 'Jacks' Jackson next to Steven Seagal who plays the lead role as Sicilian martial arts expert Nicolo "Nico" Toscani in ''Above the Law'' (1988). He is recruited by special CIA Agent Nelson Fox (played by Chelcie Ross) in Japan to join the Special Operations Forces, who are active at the border of Vietnam and Cambodia. He saw how prisoners of war are interrogated by torturer Kurt Zagon (played by Henry Silva) and is disgusted from the tortures. He quits at the CIA in 1973 and returns to Chigaco where he works as cop. Nico is a tough and incorruptible narcotics detective of the Chicago Police Department, who is very close with his partner and friend Delores 'Jacks' Jackson (played by Ron Dean). Nico and Jacks investigate a drug traffic operation, but discover that the bad guys smuggle plastic C4 explosives instead.
She plays Ruth Butler in this story about experienced sergeant Johnny Gallagher (played by Gene Hackman), who escorted Airborne Ranger prisoner Thomas Boyette (played by Tommy Lee Jones) from Germany to USA in ''The Package'' (1989). The prisoner escapes out the men's room at the National Airport and Johnny must catch him at all costs.
She plays Ms. Connors in this story about robot teachers who are placed secretly in schools where student riots are in ''Class of 1999'' (1989). The robot teachers handle the unruly youngsters good, until they go too far.
She plays Laurie Thompson in this story about shop owner Marvin Bookman (played by Oscar Brown Jr.) who sees a drive-by shooting from a local gang on Laurie's son in ''Original Gangstas'' (1996). He gives up the license number of the car to the police but the gang doesn't like this. Marvin is calling with his brother John Bookman (played by Fred Williamson) who comes to town to set things straight. The brothers get help of their old friend Jake (played by Jim Brown) and Laurie to fight against the local gang.
She plays Hershe Las Palmas next to Kurt Russell who plays the lead role of Snake Plissken in ''Escape from L.A.'' (1996). The city of Los Angeles is now an autonomous island where undesirables are deported. The government of the United States gives Snake the assignment to bring the potential doomsday device back from Los Angeles.
She plays in this story about Robby Durrell (played by Michael Paré) who's the prince of the vice squad in ''Strip Search'' (1997). He's hired by the enchanting Sheila (played by Heidi von Palleske), to track her stripper-stepdaughter down.
She plays the lead role as stewardess Jackie Brown who smuggles money from Mexico to Los Angeles for arms dealer Ordell Robbie (played by Samuel L. Jackson) in ''Jackie Brown'' (1997). She is caught by agents Ray Nicolette (played by Michael Keaton) and Mark Dargus (played by Michael Bowen) with ten thousand dollars and cocaine in her purse. The agents make a deal with her and she helps the agents to arrest Ordell in exchange for her freedom.
She plays alongside Gary Daniels, Master P and Gary Busey in ''No Tomorrow'' (1999). Three criminals are playing against each other to succeed with an major arms deal.
She plays Susan Mendenhall next to Christopher Lambert who plays the lead role as John Henry Brennick in ''Fortress 2'' (2000). John and his family are still on the run from the Men-tel corporation. He accepts an offer from a group of rebels and the problems start when they are captured after an failed raid. They are imprisoned at an new sophisticated fortress in outer space and he manages to escape. He comes back to earth to take revenge against the evil corporation.
She plays the lead role as detective Della Wilder next to Rutger Hauer who plays an co-role as Dr. Sam Charney in ''Wilder" (2000). Della investigates the murder of Dr. Sam's ex-wife and the trial leads to a series of women's murders, who are connected with a major pharmaceutical company.
She plays the lead role as Commander Helena Braddock in this story about an Martian police unit who has the assignment to transport a dangerous prisoner from a mining outpost to court in a far future in ''Ghosts of Mars'' (2001).
She plays Flura Nash who is the sister of band leader Pluto Nash (played by Eddie Murphy) in ''The Adventures of Pluto Nash'' (2002). Pluto his successful lunar night club is gone in flames. He travels with his band across the moon looking for clues of who's behind the arson. They visit the most powerful man of the moon in hope to find the evil doer of the arson.
She plays Claire Washburn next to Tracy Pollan who plays the lead role as homicide inspector Lindsay Boxer in ''1st to Die'' (2003). Lindsay investigates alongside three female detectives the case of an ingenious serial killer, who targets himself on newlyweds. This is the biggest case of her career and the girls do everything to catch the serial killer.
She plays in this story about a young man named Reggie Cooper (played by Ja Rule) who lives with his divorced father in order to avoid gang activities in ''Back in the Day'' (2005). Reggie's life goes well untill he meets an old friend from the past, and he slips back into a criminal live with fatal consequences.
She plays alongside Anne Heche and Ione Skye in this story where you get an affectionate look at the women prison in ''Bad Girls Behind Bars'' (2005).
She plays Jane in this story about the leader of the Lion's clan who's assigned by the Governor to protect his gold that will be transported through the jungle village in ''The Man with the Iron Fists'' (2012). The big leader is betrayed and murdered by the greedy Silver Lion (played by Byron Mann) and Bronze Lion (played by Cung Le) during the gold transport. The lions steal the gold and the Governor sends the Jackal army to fight against the Lions.
She plays the lead role as detective James Womack in a mafia movie who is made in the 70's style in ''Mafia'' (2012). Criminal boss Renzo Wes (played by Ving Rhames) and his crew make countless dead bodies and cause lot of damage on the streets. James and her partner Jules Dupree (played by Robert Patrick) have the assignment to stop Renzo and his men.
Achievements And Awards
- She was the first black woman who appears on the cover in the august 1975 edition of MS. Magazine.
- She was awarded with a "Career Achievement Award" at the 34th Annual Chicago International Film Festival in october 1998.
- She won the Career Achievement Award at the Acapulco Black Film Festival (1999).
- She won the Golden Slate Award for ''Best Female Performance'' at the Csapnivalo Awards (2000).
- She won the Susan B. Anthony 'Failure is Impossible' Award at the High Falls Film Festival (2001).
- She was inducted into the National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum Hall of Fame in 2012-2013.
- She was named as one of Ebony Magazine's "100 Most Fascinating Women of the 20th Century".
- She was profiled in "Women of Blaxploitation: How the Black Action Film Heroine Changed American.
Action Movie Filmography
- Mafia (2012)
- The Man with the Iron Fists (2012)
- Bad Girls Behind Bars (2005)
- Back in the Day (2005)
- 1st to Die (2003)
- The Adventures of Pluto Nash (2002)
- Ghosts of Mars (2001)
- Wilder (2000)
- Fortress 2 (2000)
- No Tomorrow (1999)
- Jackie Brown (1997)
- Strip Search (1997)
- Escape from L.A. (1996)
- Original Gangstas (1996)
- The Marshal (1995) ''TV series''
- Class of 1999 (1989)
- The Package (1989)
- Above the Law (1988)
- The Vindicator (1986)
- Stand Alone (1985)
- Miami Vice (1984 - 1990) ''TV series''
- Tough Enough (1983)
- Greased Lightning (1977)
- Drum (1976)
- Friday Foster (1975)
- Bucktown (1975)
- Sheba, Baby' (1975)
- Foxy Brown (1974)
- The Arena (1974)
- Coffy (1973)
- The Big Bird Cage (1972)
- Women in Cages (1971)
- The Big Doll House (1971)
