Pam Grier
Grier, in her first solo lead, the title role of Coffy (1973)
Birth name	Pamela Suzette Grier
Born	May 26, 1949(1949-05-26) Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States

Pamela Suzette Grier (born May 26, 1949) is an iconic American actress. She came to fame in the early 1970s, after starring in a string of moderately successful women-in-prison and blaxploitation films, and has generally remained in the public eye, starring in B-movies such as 1974's Foxy Brown, and in mainstream films such as Quentin Tarantino's 1997 film, Jackie Brown. But due to her box office smash films, Pam Grier has become the Queen Of 70's films. Image File history File links Coffy2. ... Coffy , Jack Hills 1973 movie about an African American woman vigilante, catapulted Pam Grier to stardom as one of blaxploitations biggest icons. ... is the 146th day of the year (147th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1949 (MCMXLIX) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1949 calendar). ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Winston-Salem is a city located in Forsyth County, North Carolina. ... Official language(s) English Capital Raleigh Largest city Charlotte Area  Ranked 28th  - Total 53,865 sq mi (139,509 km²)  - Width 150 miles (240 km)  - Length 560[1] miles (901 km)  - % water 9. ... is the 146th day of the year (147th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1949 (MCMXLIX) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1949 calendar). ... Actors in period costume sharing a joke whilst waiting between takes during location filming. ... The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979, also called The Seventies. ... Shaft (1971) Blaxploitation is a film genre that emerged in the United States in the early 1970s when many exploitation films were made that targeted the urban African American audience; the word itself is a portmanteau of the words “black” and “exploitation. ... The term B-movie originally referred to a film designed to be distributed as the lower half of a double feature, often a genre film featuring cowboys, gangsters or vampires. ... Year 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. ... Foxy Brown movie poster Foxy Brown is a blaxploitation film from 1974, written and directed by Jack Hill. ... Quentin Jerome Tarantino (born March 27, 1963) is an American film director, actor, and Oscar winning screenwriter. ... For the band, see 1997 (band). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Biography

Early life

Pam Grier was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA, to African-American parents Clarence Ransom Grier, who served in the United States Air Force and worked as a mechanic, and Gwendolyn Samuels, a homemaker and nurse; she has two sisters and one brother. Because of her father's military career, Pam's family moved frequently during her childhood, to various places such as England, and eventually settled in Denver, Colorado, where Pam attended East High School. While there she appeared in a number of stage productions, and participated in beauty contests to raise money for college tuition toward Metropolitan State College. She is also cousins with Daija Danae Grier. Winston-Salem is a city located in Forsyth County, North Carolina. ... Official language(s) English Capital Raleigh Largest city Charlotte Area  Ranked 28th  - Total 53,865 sq mi (139,509 km²)  - Width 150 miles (240 km)  - Length 560[1] miles (901 km)  - % water 9. ... Languages Predominantly American English Religions Protestantism (chiefly Baptist and Methodist); Roman Catholicism; Islam Related ethnic groups Sub-Saharan Africans and other African groups, some with Native American groups. ... The United States Air Force (USAF) is the aerial warfare branch of the United States armed forces and one of the seven uniformed services. ... Motto (French) God and my right Anthem No official anthem specific to England — the anthem of the United Kingdom is God Save the Queen. See also Proposed English National Anthems. ... Nickname: Location of Denver in Colorado Location of Colorado in the United States Coordinates: , Country United States State Colorado City-County Denver (coextensive) Founded [1] November 22, 1858 Incorporated November 7, 1861 Government  - Type Strong Mayor/Weak Council  - Mayor John Hickenlooper (D) Area [1]  - City & County  154. ... East High School is a High School located in Denver, Colorado. ... Mrs. ... Metropolitan State College of Denver (also known as Metro State and MSCD) is a four-year college located in Denver, Colorado. ...

Career

Grier moved to Los Angeles, California, in 1967, where she was initially hired as a receptionist at the American International Pictures company. She was discovered by director Roger Corman, who cast her in his women in prison films The Big Doll House (1971) and The Big Bird Cage (1972). She became a staple of early 1970s blaxploitation movies, playing big, bold, buxom roles, beginning with 1973's Coffy, in which Pam plays a nurse who seeks revenge on drug dealers; her film character was advertised in the trailer as the "baddest one-chick hit-squad that ever hit town!" The film, which was filled with sexual and violent elements typical of the genre, was a box office hit, and Grier was noted as the first African-American female to headline a film, as protagonists of previous blaxploitation films were all male. In his review of Coffy, film critic Roger Ebert noted that Pam Grier was an actress of "beautiful face and astonishing form" and that she possessed a kind of "physical life" missing from other actresses.^[1] Grier subsequently played similar characters in the films Foxy Brown (1974), Friday Foster, and Sheba, Baby (both 1975). Flag Seal Nickname: City of Angels Location Location within Los Angeles County in the state of California Coordinates , Government State County California Los Angeles County Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (D) Geographical characteristics Area     City 1,290. ... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Largest metro area Greater Los Angeles Area  Ranked 3rd  - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 770 miles (1,240 km)  - % water 4. ... The early AIP logo. ... Roger Corman Roger William Corman (born April 5, 1926), sometimes nicknamed King of the Bs for his output of B-movies (though he himself rejects this appelation as inaccurate), is a prolific American producer and director of low-budget exploitation movies. ... Women in prison films are a subgenre of exploitation film. ... The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979, also called The Seventies. ... Shaft (1971) Blaxploitation is a film genre that emerged in the United States in the early 1970s when many exploitation films were made that targeted the urban African American audience; the word itself is a portmanteau of the words “black” and “exploitation. ... Coffy , Jack Hills 1973 movie about an African American woman vigilante, catapulted Pam Grier to stardom as one of blaxploitations biggest icons. ... These lollipops, above, were found to contain heroin when inspected by the US Drug Enforcement Administration In jurisdictions where legislation restricts or prohibits the sale of certain popular drugs, it is common for an illegal drugs trade to develop. ... Shaft (1971) Blaxploitation is a film genre that emerged in the United States in the early 1970s when many exploitation films were made that targeted the urban African American audience; the word itself is a portmanteau of the words “black” and “exploitation. ... Roger Joseph Ebert (born June 18, 1942) is a Pulitzer Prize-winning American film critic. ... Foxy Brown movie poster Foxy Brown is a blaxploitation film from 1974, written and directed by Jack Hill. ... The action movie Sheba, Baby, starring Pam Grier as Sheba Shayne, was released in 1975. ...

With the demise of blaxploitation, Grier's career went on hiatus for several years. She acquired progressively larger character roles in the 1980s, including notably the stoned prostitute in Fort Apache the Bronx (1981), a witch in Something Wicked this Way Comes (1983), and Steven Seagal's detective partner in Above the Law (1988). She made a guest appearance on Miami Vice in 1985, and made a guest appearance on The Fresh Prince of Bel Air as a woman who slept with her daughter's boyfriend, Will Smith. This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Should be merged with existing article named Fort Apache, The Bronx Fort Apache the Bronx is a 1981 film directed by Daniel Petrie and starring Paul Newman, Ed Asner, Ken Wahl, and Danny Aiello, recounting the daily activities in a harsh South Bronx police precinct. ... Something Wicked This Way Comes is a 1983 movie based on the Ray Bradbury novel, starring Jason Robards and Jonathan Pryce. ... Steven Seagal (born April 10, 1951) is an American action movie actor, producer, writer, director, martial artist, singer-songwriter, and activist. ... Above the Law (otherwise known as Nico in the majority of Europe) is a 1988 action film directed by Andrew Davis, probably best-known for being the film debut of Steven Seagal. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Spoiler warning: The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air was a television sitcom which aired on NBC from 1990 to 1996. ...

Promotional Image from Showtime

Grier highlighted a successful television series during the 1990s on BET. She again appeared in 1997 as the titular stewardess in Quentin Tarantino's Jackie Brown, which many consider her best work to date. As of 2004, she appears in the cable television series The L Word as Kit Porter and occasionally guest-stars in such television series as Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (where she is a recurring character). Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... Black Entertainment Television is an American cable network based in Washington, D.C. targeted toward African-American and urban audiences in the United States. ... Quentin Jerome Tarantino (born March 27, 1963) is an American film director, actor, and Oscar winning screenwriter. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The L Word is a television drama series on Showtime that portrays the lives, loves and learnings of a group of lesbian and bisexual women and their friends, family and lovers in Los Angeles. ... Kate Kit Porter is a fictional character on the Showtime television series The L Word. ... Law & Order: Special Victims Unit - Season 5 DVD Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (also known as Law & Order: SVU) is the first of three spin-offs of Law & Order (the other two being Law & Order: Criminal Intent and Law & Order: Trial by Jury; all series are presented on the NBC...

Personal life

Grier dated basketball player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar during the early 1970s and actor/comedian Richard Pryor in 1977. She was also romantically linked to actor/comedian Freddie Prinze in the 1970s. In 1998, she was engaged to music executive Kevin Evans, but they split in 1999. This article is about the sport. ... For the football player, see Abdul-Karim al-Jabbar. ... Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor III (December 1, 1940 – December 10, 2005) was an American comedian, actor, and writer. ... Actors in period costume sharing a joke whilst waiting between takes during location filming. ... A comedian, or comic, is an entertainer who amuses an audience by making them laugh. ... Frederick Karl Pruetzel (22 June 1954 – 29 January 1977), better known as “Freddie Prinze” was an American stand-up comedian and actor. ... The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979, also called The Seventies. ...

Trivia

She is a cousin of former football star Rosey Grier. Roosevelt Rosey Grier (born July 14, 1932 in Brooklyn, New York and raised in Cuthbert, Georgia), a star athlete at Roselle High School(NJ), is an American football player, actor, and Christian minister. ...

According to one of the many John Lennon biographies, she was at the famed Troubador night club in Hollywood the night Lennon was ejected for drunkenly heckling The Smothers Brothers. John Winston Ono Lennon, MBE (October 9, 1940 – December 8, 1980), (born John Winston Lennon, known as John Ono Lennon) was an iconic English 20th century rock and roll songwriter and singer, best known as the founding member of The Beatles. ... A troubadour was a composer and performer of songs in particular styles during the Middle Ages in Europe. ... The Smothers Brothers are an American music-and-comedy team, formed by real-life brothers Tom Smothers (born 1937) and Dick Smothers (born 1939). ...

Awards/Nominations

• Black Reel Awards
  • 2002, Best Actress: Bones (Nominated)
• Daytime Emmy Awards
  • 2000, Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program: Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Ever Child (Nominated)
• Golden Globe
  • 1998, Best Actress in a Musical/Comedy: Jackie Brown (Nominated)
• Image Awards
  • 2006, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: The L Word (Nominated)
  • 2005, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: The L Word (Nominated)
  • 2004, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: Law & Order: SVU (Nominated)
  • 2003, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: Law & Order: SVU (Nominated)
  • 2002, Outstanding Actress in a Mini-Series/ Television Movie: 3 a.m. (Nominated)
  • 2000, Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series: Linc's (Nominated)
  • 1999, Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series: Linc's (Nominated)
  • 1998, Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture: Jackie Brown (Nominated)
• Satellite Awards
  • 1998, Best Actress in a Musical/Comedy Motion Picture: Jackie Brown (Nominated)
• Screen Actors Guild
  • 1998, Oustanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role: Jackie Brown (Nominated)

The Black Reel Awards began in 2000 and were designed to annually recognize and celebrate the achievements of African-Americans in feature, independent and television films. ... The Daytime Emmy Awards are awards presented by the New York- based National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and the Los Angeles-based Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in recognition of excellence in American daytime television programming. ... The Golden Globe Awards are American awards for motion pictures and television programs, given out each year during a formal dinner. ... The NAACP Image Award is an award presented annually by the NAACP to honor the top African-Americans in film, television, music and literature. ... The Satellite Awards are an annual award given by the International Press Academy. ... The Screen Actors Guild (S.A.G.) is the labor union representing over 120,000 film actors in the United States. ...

Selected filmography

This is a list of film-related events in 2005. ... This is a list of film-related events in 2002. ... The Adventures of Pluto Nash is a 2002 comedy film directed by Ron Underwood and starring Eddie Murphy as the owner of a lunar nightclub investigating who was behind the arson that destroyed his club. ... For the 1968 science-fiction film and novel, see 2001: A Space Odyssey The year 2001 in film involved some significant events. ... Bones is a 2001 horror movie about a gangster that comes back from the dead to avenge his murder. ... Ghosts of Mars (also known as John Carpenters Ghosts of Mars) is a 2001 movie directed by John Carpenter, which in its basic themes is similar to his earlier Assault on Precinct 13. ... This is a list of film-related events in 2000. ... Mark Webber and Emmanuelle Chriqui in Paramounts Snow Day. ... The year 1999 in film involved some significant events. ... Holy Smoke! is a 1999 Australian film directed by Jane Campion, starring Kate Winslet, Harvey Keitel. ... In Too Deep is a 1999 crime-drama film, written by Michael Henry Brown and Paul Aaron, and directed by Michael Rymer. ... Jawbreaker is a 1999 comedy-drama directed by Darren Stein. ... The year 1997 in film involved some significant events. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The year 1996 in film involved some significant events. ... Mars Attacks! is a comedy and science fiction film by Tim Burton based on the popular card series Mars Attacks. ... John Carpenters Escape From L.A. (better known as Escape From L.A.) is a 1996 film directed by John Carpenter. ... Original Gangstas is a 1996 drama set in Urban Gary, Indiana staring Fred Williamson, Pam Grier, Jim Brown, Isabel Sanford (deceased), Charles Napier, Wings Hauser, Oscar Brown, Jr. ... The year 1993 in film involved many significant films. ... Posse is a 1993 Western movie starring Stephen Baldwin, Mario Van Peebles, Billy Zane, Tone Loc, Reginald VelJohnson, Big Daddy Kane, Blair Underwood, Isaac Hayes, and Nipsey Russell. ... The year 1991 in film involved many significant films. ... Bill & Teds Bogus Journey is a 1991 American comedy science fiction film, the sequel to Bill & Teds Excellent Adventure. ... The year 1990 in film involved some significant events. ... // Actress Kim Basinger and her brother Mick purchase Braselton, Georgia for $20 million. ... The Package was a 1989 Orion Pictures film directed by Andrew Davis. ... // Michael Jacksons first film was Moonwalker Rain Man, starring Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise Who Framed Roger Rabbit, starring Bob Hoskins Coming to America, starring Eddie Murphy Big, starring Tom Hanks Twins, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito Crocodile Dundee II Die Hard, starring Bruce Willis The Naked Gun... Above the Law (otherwise known as Nico in the majority of Europe) is a 1988 action film directed by Andrew Davis, probably best-known for being the film debut of Steven Seagal. ... // May 9 - Actor Tom Cruise marries actress Mimi Rogers. ... The Allnighter is a 1987 comedy film. ... // April 12 - Actor Morgan Mason marries The Go-Gos Belinda Carlisle Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger marries television journalist Maria Shriver. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... // February 11 - The Rolling Stones concert film Lets Spend the Night Together opens in New York North Americas Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi Tootsie Trading Places, starring Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy WarGames, starring Matthew Broderick and Ally Sheedy Superman III Flashdance Staying Alive Octopussy Mr. ... Something Wicked This Way Comes is a 1983 movie based on the Ray Bradbury novel, starring Jason Robards and Jonathan Pryce. ... // January 19 - Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer acquires beleaguered concurrent United Artists. ... Should be merged with existing article named Fort Apache, The Bronx Fort Apache the Bronx is a 1981 film directed by Daniel Petrie and starring Paul Newman, Ed Asner, Ken Wahl, and Danny Aiello, recounting the daily activities in a harsh South Bronx police precinct. ... // Events In the Academy Awards, Peter Finch, Faye Dunaway and Beatrice Straight win Best Actor and Actress and Supporting Actress awards for Network. ... Greased Lightning is a 1977 biographical film, starring Richard Pryor, Beau Bridges and Pam Grier, and directed by Michael Schultz. ... // Events March 22 - Filming begins on George Lucas Star Wars science fiction film. ... Drum is the 1976 sequel to the movie Mandingo, and released by United Artists. ... // January 28 - George Lucas creates the second draft of what would eventually become Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. ... The action movie Sheba, Baby, starring Pam Grier as Sheba Shayne, was released in 1975. ... See also: 1973 in film 1974 1975 in film 1970s in film years in film film // Events February 7 - Blazing Saddles is released in USA May 1 - George Lucas creates the first draft of what would eventually become Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. ... Foxy Brown movie poster Foxy Brown is a blaxploitation film from 1974, written and directed by Jack Hill. ... // Events The Marx Brothers Zeppo Marx divorces his second wife, Barbara Blakely. ... The Arena is a 1974 gladiator-blaxploitation film, starring Margaret Markov and Pam Grier, and directed by Joe DAmato. ... This page is a candidate for speedy deletion, because: Short If you disagree with its speedy deletion, please explain why on its talk page or at Wikipedia:Speedy deletions. ... Coffy , Jack Hills 1973 movie about an African American woman vigilante, catapulted Pam Grier to stardom as one of blaxploitations biggest icons. ... // Top grossing films The Godfather Fiddler on the Roof Diamonds Are Forever Whats Up, Doc?, starring Barbra Streisand and Ryan ONeal Dirty Harry The Last Picture Show A Clockwork Orange Cabaret, starring Liza Minnelli The Hospital Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex Academy Awards Best Picture... Black Mama, White Mama is a 1972 blaxploitation film, starring Pam Grier and Margaret Markov, and directed by Eddie Romero. ... Cool Breeze is a 1st generation Dungeon Family artist. ... See also: 1970 in film 1971 1972 in film 1970s in film years in film film // Events February 8 - Bob Dylans hour long documentary film, Eat the Document, premieres at New Yorks Academy of Music. ... Women in cages is a 1971 Roger Corman movie of thesexploitationsub-genre starring Pam Grier, Jennifer Gan and Robert Collins ... // Events February 11 - The film The Magic Christian, starring Peter Sellers and Ringo Starr premieres in New York City. ... Beyond the Valley of the Dolls is a 1970 film starring Dolly Read, Cynthia Myers, Erica Gavin, Edy Williams, Marcia McBroom, John LaZar, and Michael Blodgett. ...

Footnotes

is the 131st day of the year (132nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays full 2006 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• Pam Grier at the Internet Movie Database