Pam Grier
Acting Born May 26, 1949 Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA 142 credits
Biography
Pamela Suzette Grier is an American actress born on May 26, 1949, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She achieved fame for her starring roles in 1970s action, blaxploitation, and women in prison films. Her notable films from this period include Coffy, Foxy Brown, The Big Doll House, Women in Cages, and The Big Bird Cage. Grier's career spans multiple genres and has included numerous film and television credits. She is known for her work in cinema and has been recognized for her contributions to the industry.
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Career overview
Pam Grier is an American actress born on May 26, 1949. She achieved prominence in the 1970s for starring roles in action, blaxploitation, and women in prison films. Grier's notable films from this period include The Big Doll House and Women in Cages, both released in 1971, The Big Bird Cage in 1972, and Coffy and Foxy Brown in 1973 and 1974, respectively.
Grier's film career spans a significant number of titles, with 142 known credits. Her work in the 1970s earned her recognition as cinema's first female action star, according to director Quentin Tarantino. The actress has been associated with American International Pictures and New World Pictures.
Grier's acting career has continued beyond her early success in the 1970s. While specific details about her later work are not provided, her longevity in the industry is evident.
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Frequent co-stars
José Elías Moreno
19 shared titles
Armando Arriola
12 shared titles
Kad Merad
12 shared titles
Daisy Edgar-Jones
7 shared titles
Arturo Martínez
6 shared titles
José Chávez
6 shared titles
Pierre Diot
5 shared titles
Sid Haig
5 shared titles
Guilaine Londez
5 shared titles
Víctor Alcocer
5 shared titles
Career timeline
The Way Things Seem to Be
Mystery Cuddlers
Pet Sematary: BloodlinesCinnamonAs We Know It
The Jennifer Hudson ShowSherri
The Great NorthThemQuentin Tarantino: From a Movie Buff to a Hollywood LegendHow It Feels to Be Free
Skin: A History of Nudity in the MoviesTime Warp: The Greatest Cult Films of All TimeTime Warp Vol. 1: Midnight MadnessBeautiful Like a Poem
The Kelly Clarkson ShowBless This MessPomsA Christmas Wish
Bad GrandmasBeing Rose
This Is UsDo I Look Like a Lady? (Comedians and Singers)
Cleveland AbductionKings of Cult
Richard Pryor: Omit the LogicQuentin Tarantino: 20 Years of Filmmaking
The Man with the Iron FistsWoman Thou Art Loosed: On the 7th Day
Bob's BurgersLarry CrowneCorman's WorldMafia
Just WrightMachete Maidens Unleashed!Celebrity Nude Revue: The Saucy 70's Volume 1The Invited
Watch What Happens Live with Andy CohenCelebrity Ghost Stories
Ladies of the House
Back in the DayBad Girls Behind Bars
The L Word
First to DieLove the Hard WayA Decade Under the Influence
The Adventures of Pluto NashBaadAsssss CinemaJackie Brown: How It Went Down
SmallvilleJustice LeagueGhosts of MarsStrange FrequencyFeast of All Saints
Fortress 2Snow DayWilder
Law & Order: Special Victims UnitThe Late Late Show with Craig KilbornJawbreakerIn Too DeepHoly Smoke
Hollywood SquaresThe Wild ThornberrysLinc'sAll Saints: The VideoPete Rock: Soul Survivor
The ViewJackie BrownFakin' Da FunkAfro PromoStrip Search
The Daily ShowMars Attacks!Escape from L.A.Sinbad: Son of a Preacher ManBadass Supermama
The Wayans Bros.Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every ChildMADtvSerial Killer
Late Night with Conan O'BrienIntimate PortraitPosseThe Sinbad Show
MartinA Mother's Right: The Elizabeth Morgan Story
Bill & Ted's Bogus JourneyPacific Station
Full Filmography
142 titles- The Way Things Seem to Be (2026) as Self
- Mystery Cuddlers (2024) as Juniper
- Pet Sematary: Bloodlines (2023) as Majorie Washburn
- Cinnamon (2023) as Mama
- As We Know It (2023) as Beverly Jones
- The Jennifer Hudson Show (2022) as Self
- Sherri (2022) as Self - Guest
- The Great North (2021) as Neckbone (voice)
- Them (2021) as Athena
- Quentin Tarantino: From a Movie Buff to a Hollywood Legend (2021) as Self (archive footage)
- How It Feels to Be Free (2021) as Self (archival footage)
- Skin: A History of Nudity in the Movies (2020) as Self
- Time Warp: The Greatest Cult Films of All Time (2020) as Self
- Time Warp Vol. 1: Midnight Madness (2020) as Self
- Beautiful Like a Poem (2020) as Self (archive footage)
- The Kelly Clarkson Show (2019) as Self
- Bless This Mess (2019) as Constance
- Poms (2019) as Olive
- A Christmas Wish (2019) as Mary
- Bad Grandmas (2017) as Coralee
- Being Rose (2017) as Lily
- This Is Us (2016) as Grandma
- Do I Look Like a Lady? (Comedians and Singers) (2016) as Self (archive footage)
- Cleveland Abduction (2015) as Carla
- Kings of Cult (2015) as (archive footage)
- Richard Pryor: Omit the Logic (2013) as Self (archive footage)
- Quentin Tarantino: 20 Years of Filmmaking (2013) as Self
- The Man with the Iron Fists (2012) as Jane
- Woman Thou Art Loosed: On the 7th Day (2012) as Detective Barrick
- Bob's Burgers (2011) as Evelyn (voice)
- Larry Crowne (2011) as Frances
- Corman's World (2011) as Self - Actress
- Mafia (2011) as James Womack
- Just Wright (2010) as Janice Wright
- Machete Maidens Unleashed! (2010) as Self
- Celebrity Nude Revue: The Saucy 70's Volume 1 (2010) as Self
- The Invited (2010) as Zelda
- Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen (2009) as Self - Guest
- Celebrity Ghost Stories (2009) as Self
- Ladies of the House (2008) as Birdie
- Back in the Day (2005) as Mrs. Cooper
- Bad Girls Behind Bars (2005) as Alabama (archive footage)
- The L Word (2004) as Kit Porter
- First to Die (2003) as Claire Washburn
- Love the Hard Way (2003) as Linda Fox
- A Decade Under the Influence (2003) as Self
- The Adventures of Pluto Nash (2002) as Flura Nash
- BaadAsssss Cinema (2002) as Self
- Jackie Brown: How It Went Down (2002) as Self
- Smallville (2001) as Amanda Waller
- Justice League (2001) as My'ria'h (voice)
- Ghosts of Mars (2001) as Commander Helena Braddock
- Strange Frequency (2001)
- Feast of All Saints (2001) as Suzette Lermontant
- Bones (2001) as Pearl
- 3 A.M. (2001) as George
- It Conquered Hollywood! The Story of American International Pictures (2001) as Self
- Fortress 2 (2000) as Susan Mendenhall
- Snow Day (2000) as Tina
- Wilder (2000) as Detective Della Wilder
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999) as Assistant US Attorney Claudia Williams
- The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn (1999) as Self - Guest
- Jawbreaker (1999) as Detective Vera Cruz
- In Too Deep (1999) as Det. Angela Wilson
- Holy Smoke (1999) as Carol
- Hayley Wagner, Star (1999) as Sam
- No Tomorrow (1999) as Diane
- Hollywood Squares (1998) as Self - Panelist
- The Wild Thornberrys (1998) as Mother Springbok (voice)
- Linc's (1998) as Eleanor Braithwaite Winthrop
- All Saints: The Video (1998) as Herself (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Pete Rock: Soul Survivor (1998) as Pam Grier
- Family Blessings (1998) as Mrs. Quincy
- Paul Robeson: Speak of Me as I Am (1998) as Narrator (voice)
- The View (1997) as Self
- Jackie Brown (1997) as Jackie Brown
- Fakin' Da Funk (1997) as Annabelle Lee
- Afro Promo (1997) as Self (archive footage)
- Strip Search (1997) as Janette
- The Daily Show (1996) as Self - Guest
- Mars Attacks! (1996) as Louise Williams
- Escape from L.A. (1996) as Hershe Las Palamas
- Sinbad: Son of a Preacher Man (1996) as Self
- Badass Supermama (1996) as (archive footage)
- E! True Hollywood Story (1996)
- Original Gangstas (1996) as Laurie Thompson
- The Wayans Bros. (1995) as Erica
- Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child (1995) as Nightingale (voice)
- MADtv (1995) as Self - Guest Host
- Serial Killer (1995) as Capt. Maggie Davis
- Late Night with Conan O'Brien (1993) as Self - Guest
- Intimate Portrait (1993) as Self
- Posse (1993) as Phoebe
- The Sinbad Show (1993)
- Martin (1992) as Pam Grier
- A Mother's Right: The Elizabeth Morgan Story (1992) as Linda Holman
- Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey (1991) as Ms. Wardroe
- Pacific Station (1991) as Grace Ballard
- The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990) as Janice
- Class of 1999 (1990) as Ms. Connors
- Chicago Joe and the Showgirl (1990) Thanks
- The Package (1989) as Ruth Butler
- Monsters (1988) as Matilde
- Above the Law (1988) as Delores 'Jacks' Jackson
- Frank's Place (1987) as Neema Sharone
- The Allnighter (1987) as Sargeant McLeish
- Crime Story (1986) as Suzanne Terry
- The Vindicator (1986) as Hunter
- On the Edge (1986) as Cara
- Badge of the Assassin (1985) as Alexandra 'Alie' Horn
- Stand Alone (1985) as Cathryn Bolan
- Miami Vice (1984)
- Miami Vice (1984) as Valerie Gordon
- Night Court (1984) as Benet Collins
- The Cosby Show (1984) as Samantha
- Something Wicked This Way Comes (1983) as Dust Witch
- Tough Enough (1983) as Myra
- Fort Apache, the Bronx (1981) as Charlotte
- Knots Landing (1979) as Lieutenant Guthrie
- Roots: The Next Generations (1979) as Francey
- The Love Boat (1977) as Cynthia Wilbur
- Greased Lightning (1977) as Mary Jones
- Twilight of Love (1977) as Sandra
- Drum (1976) as Regine
- People's Choice Awards (1975) as Self
- Friday Foster (1975) as Friday Foster
- Sheba, Baby (1975) as Sheba Shayne
- Bucktown (1975) as Aretha
- The Arena (1974) as Mamawi
- Foxy Brown (1974) as Foxy Brown
- Coffy (1973) as Coffy
- Scream Blacula Scream (1973) as Lisa Fortier
- Black Mama, White Mama (1973) as Lee Daniels
- The Big Bird Cage (1972) as Blossom
- The Twilight People (1972) as Ayesa, the Panther Woman
- Cool Breeze (1972) as Mona
- Hit Man (1972) as Gozelda
- The Big Doll House (1971) as Grear
- Women in Cages (1971) as Alabama
- Beyond the Valley of the Dolls (1970) as Fourth Woman
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) as Self
- Diggin’ Up "Bones" as Self
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Pam Grier best known for?
Pam Grier is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including The Jennifer Hudson Show (2022), Sherri (2022), The Great North (2021), Them (2021).
When and where was Pam Grier born?
Pam Grier was born on May 26, 1949 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA.
How many credits does Pam Grier have?
Pam Grier has accumulated over 142 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1962 to 2026.
What is Pam Grier's background in cinema and television?
Pamela Suzette Grier is an American actress born on May 26, 1949, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She achieved fame for her starring roles in 1970s action, blaxploitation, and women in prison films. Her notable films from this period include Coffy, Foxy Brown, The Big Doll House, Women in Cages, and The Big Bird Cage...
Pam Grier by the numbers
142credits
98films
44TV series
1962–2026active years
Age in their best-rated roles
- People's Choice Awards (1975) as Self — aged about 26
- This Is Us (2016) as Grandma — aged about 67
- Smallville (2001) as Amanda Waller — aged about 52
- Justice League (2001) as My'ria'h (voice) — aged about 52
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999) as Assistant US Attorney Claudia Williams — aged about 50
- Crime Story (1986) as Suzanne Terry — aged about 37
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