Behind the Scenes: Julia Gets Wise with Pam Grier

Books

• Foxy: My Life in Three Acts,
  A Memoir (2011)

Articles

• New York Times - Pam Grier on Maintaining Her Independence & Identity in Showbiz | 2019

• The New Yorker - ‘When You Earn It, They Can’t Take It Away’ An Interview with Pam Grier | 2020

• The Guardian - Pam Grier: ‘I Was Part of a Female Cinematic Revolution’ | 2022

Videos

• The View, Pam Grier on Breaking Barriers | 2026

• CBS Sunday Morning, Extended Interview | 2025

• PBS American Masters: How It Feels to Be Free | 2021 (1:25-1:53)

  • PBS Biographical Timeline, Pam Grier

• Charlie Rose: Conversation with Pam Grier and Quentin Tarantino | 1997

• Pam Grier In Conversation: BFI Q&A | 2022

• Entertainment Weekly: Pam Grier Reflects on Her Most Iconic Movie Roles | 2023

• Larry King Now: Pam Grier | 2020

• Roseanne Interviews Pam Grier | 1998

Filmography

Known as the 1970s “Queen of Blaxploitation,” Grier is recognized as American cinema’s first female action star ever—and the first Black action star. She is known for her tough, charismatic leading roles. Notable roles below:

• The Big Dollhouse (1971)

• The Big Bird Cage (1972)

• Women In Cages (1972)

• Black Mama White Mama (1973)

• Coffy (1973)

  

• Scream Blacula Scream (1973)

• The Arena (1974)

• Foxy Brown (1974)

• Sheba Baby (1975)

• Friday Foster (1975)

• Greased Lightening (1977)

• Fort Apache, The Bronx (1981)

• Something Wicked Comes This Way Comes (1983)

• Above the Law (1988)

• Class of 1999 (1990)

• Crooklyn (1994)

• Mars Attacks (1996)

• Escape from LA (1996)

• Jackie Brown (1997)

• Larry Crowne (2011)

• Poms (2019)

Television Roles

• Roots: The Next Generation (1979)

• The Love Boat Episode (1980)

• Miami Vice (1985-1989)

• The L Word (2004-2009)

• Bless This Mess (2019)

• Them (2024)

• The Black Cowboy (2025)

Theater

• Fool For Love (1985)

• Frankie & Johnny in the Clair de Lune (1990)

• The Piano Lesson (1990)

• Telltale Hearts (1993)

Bonafides

• NAACP Image Award for Best Actress in a Play (Fool for Love)

• NAACP Image Award nomination for Best Actress (Jackie Brown)

• Golden Globe Nominee, Best Actress in a Motion Picture (Jackie Brown)

• SAG Award Nominee, Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role (Jackie Brown)

• Daytime Emmy Award Nominee for Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program (Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child)

• Received her Honorary Doctorate Humane Letters from Maryland University Eastern Shore

• Honorary Doctorate of Science from Langston University in 2011 for her work in organic gardening and farming

• Best Selling Author for her memoir (2010)

• First Black woman on the cover of Ms. Magazine (1975)

Personal Life

Pam Grier grew up in Denver and considers herself a “horse woman from Colorado.” She currently lives on a ranch in Santa Fe. She is a big lover of animals, she lives for her dogs and horses (Pam has supported and participated in therapeutic horse riding programs). Her connection to the land and rural life is a long-standing passion, she often refers to her life as a “cowgirl”. She is an avid gardener, and believes in organic gardening and healthy living. She’s a lover of music and a musician herself.

Pam has never been married but has dated high-profile men such as Richard Pryor, Kareem-Abdul Jabbar and comedian Freddie Prinze Sr. She has no children. Pam is a self-described ‘geek’, and a gamer.

Early Life & Formative Years

• Pamela Suzette Grier was born in Winston-Salem North Carolina in 1949 to parents Gwendolyn and Clarence Grier.

  • Pam’s father Clarence Grier grew up in North Carolina and her mother grew up on a sugar beet farm in Cheyenne, Wyoming (the Black West). Her father was in the Air Force. Her mother was a nurse.

    • Her mother knew how to hunt, fish and shoot. She grew up a farm girl. And she passed that down to Pam.

    • Throughout her childhood, Pam spent much time on the farm with her mother’s parents. Pam’s maternal grandmother also ran a hotel for Blacks and Asians that worked on the railroad.

• An airforce brat, Pam was raised on airforces bases all over America and the UK.

  • When Pam was 7, the family was moved to England and for 2-years stationed on airforce base in the UK. Travelled on an ocean liner USS Darby.

• Pam and her brother excelled academically. Didn’t face the same kind of prejudice they had in the states. Taught her that all you need is an open door and a little help along the way.

• During her childhood, military bases wouldn’t allow Black families to live on the base.

• Pam is the oldest of 4. Younger brother Rodney (a year younger) and two younger sisters; Gina (10 years younger) and Krista (adopted)

• Denver was where Pam would call home for most of her life.

  • Growing up, Pam spent a lot of time at her maternal grandparents’ house. She called her Grandmother Markie, and her Grandfather Daddy Ray.

    • Her grandfather had grown up on a farm and imbued Pam with a love of gardening. His front yard was his pride and joy. Strawberries and all kinds of veggies. Her grandfather encouraged Pam to be strong and self-sufficient and was a big influence in her life.

• In the Summer of 1955, when Pam was six, she was sexually assaulted in her Aunt’s house in Denver by 3 older boys (cousins).

• After the assault, Pam became more interior and developed a stutter. Her grandfather noticed taking Pam under his wing. They often visited the family farm in Wyoming. There she learned how to ride horses. She had a particular relationship with a horse called Big Horse.

• She recalls that the relationship with the horse saved her life, and reduced her stutter. Note: She rode bareback as a child.