Quick Facts
Born:
1949-05-26
Birthplace:
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
Credits:
137 Total Roles
Pam Grier
Acting
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Biography
Pamela Suzette Grier (born May 26, 1949) is an American actress. Described by director Quentin Tarantino as cinema's first female action star, she achieved fame for her starring roles in a string of 1970s action, blaxploitation, and women in prison films for American International Pictures and New World Pictures. Her accolades include nominations for an Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, a Satellite Award, and a Saturn Award.
Grier came to prominence with her titular roles in the films Coffy (1973) and Foxy Brown (1974); her other major films during this period included The Big Doll House (1971), Women in Cages (1971), The Big Bird Cage (1972), Black Mama, White Mama (1973), Scream Blacula Scream (1973), The Arena (1974), Sheba, Baby (1975), Bucktown (1975), and Friday Foster (1975). She portrayed the title character in Quentin Tarantino's crime film Jackie Brown (1997), and also appeared in Escape from L.A. (1996), Jawbreaker (1999), Holy Smoke!, (1999), Bones (2001), Just Wright (2010), Larry Crowne (2011), and Poms (2019).
On television, Grier portrayed Eleanor Winthrop in the Showtime comedy-drama series Linc's (1998–2000), Kate "Kit" Porter on the Showtime drama series The L Word (2004–2009), and Constance Terry in the ABC sitcom Bless This Mess (2019–2020). She received praise for her work in the animated series Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child (1999).
Grier came to prominence with her titular roles in the films Coffy (1973) and Foxy Brown (1974); her other major films during this period included The Big Doll House (1971), Women in Cages (1971), The Big Bird Cage (1972), Black Mama, White Mama (1973), Scream Blacula Scream (1973), The Arena (1974), Sheba, Baby (1975), Bucktown (1975), and Friday Foster (1975). She portrayed the title character in Quentin Tarantino's crime film Jackie Brown (1997), and also appeared in Escape from L.A. (1996), Jawbreaker (1999), Holy Smoke!, (1999), Bones (2001), Just Wright (2010), Larry Crowne (2011), and Poms (2019).
On television, Grier portrayed Eleanor Winthrop in the Showtime comedy-drama series Linc's (1998–2000), Kate "Kit" Porter on the Showtime drama series The L Word (2004–2009), and Constance Terry in the ABC sitcom Bless This Mess (2019–2020). She received praise for her work in the animated series Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child (1999).
Known For
Jackie Brown
Jackie Brown
Mars Attacks!
Louise Williams
Smallville
Amanda Waller
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Assistant US Attorney Claudia Williams
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Janice
This Is Us
Grandma
Escape from L.A.
Hershe Las Palamas
Larry Crowne
Frances
Full Filmography
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | The Way Things Seem to Be MOVIE | Self |
| 2024 | Mystery Cuddlers MOVIE | Juniper |
| 2023 | As We Know It MOVIE | Beverly Jones |
| 2023 | Pet Sematary: Bloodlines MOVIE | Majorie Washburn |
| 2023 | Cinnamon MOVIE | Mama |
| 2022 | Sherri TV | Self - Guest |
| 2022 | The Jennifer Hudson Show TV | Self |
| 2021 | Them TV | Athena |
| 2021 | How It Feels to Be Free MOVIE | Self (archival footage) |
| 2021 | The Great North TV | Neckbone (voice) |