Let me tell you something about Pam Grier—she’s not one to dwell on numbers, especially when it comes to birthdays. "I’m done celebrating them," Pam, now 75, says with a hearty laugh to Closer. "Do I even look like someone who celebrates birthdays?" Her energy and spirit are a testament to her timeless allure and unstoppable drive. Despite turning 75 on May 26, Pam's zest for life is as vibrant as ever.
But let’s not focus on what she's leaving behind—let’s celebrate what she’s building. Pam, the trailblazer who became Hollywood’s first Black female action star in the '70s, is still making waves today. She's currently starring in Them: The Scare, diving headfirst into the world of horror. "Horror is one of the toughest genres to master," Pam explains. "But growing up, I witnessed a lot of real-life horror that prepared me for this role." Her portrayal of a protective mother in the anthology series showcases her incredible depth and range as an actress.
Pam’s journey to stardom wasn’t easy—it was shaped by her unique upbringing. Growing up on military bases around the world because of her father’s Air Force career, she learned skills that would later define her career. "I was attacked by three older boys when I was just 6," Pam recalls. "After that, my family knew I needed to learn how to defend myself." That’s when a sergeant on the base taught her two different forms of martial arts. These skills would later make her a star in the 1974 film Foxy Brown, cementing her place in cinematic history.
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But Pam didn’t just learn self-defense—she also observed the strength and resilience of the women around her. "When the men were away, the women stepped up," she remembers fondly. "They were fixing things, cleaning, building, painting, and figuring out how to cut the lawn. It was inspiring to see that kind of equality seeping into our lives." These early experiences shaped her perspective and fueled her determination to break barriers in Hollywood.
By 1967, Pam found herself in Los Angeles, answering phones at American International Pictures while saving money for college. "My family wanted me to go into medicine—be a nurse or a doctor," she explains. But fate had other plans. Producer Roger Corman spotted her and saw something special. "I wasn’t your typical starlet," Pam says with a laugh. "No blond wig or fake eyelashes for me. I was wearing flannel blouses, skirts, and Timberland boots. I guess my rustic charm was refreshing to him."
Even as Pam started appearing in women-in-prison films like 1971’s The Big Doll House, she never imagined herself as a full-time actress. "Every time I did a movie, I thought I’d eventually go back to medical school or film school," she admits. "I felt like I couldn’t heal the world by just acting." But fate had other plans for her.
Pam Grier's Unstoppable Legacy
Pam may not have become a doctor, but she became something far greater—an icon. Her roles in films like Foxy Brown set a new standard for toughness and heroism in women. "I was always up for an adventure," she writes in her 2010 memoir Foxy: My Life in Three Acts. "If you needed a woman of color to handle a gun, do a wheelie on a chopper, or fall off a cliff into a rice paddy, I was your girl." Her work paved the way for countless actresses who followed in her footsteps.
Now, Pam has her sights set on bringing her incredible life story to the big screen. "I’ve already got my dream cast in mind," she says excitedly. "I know exactly who I want to play Richard Pryor, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Freddie Prinze." Pam continues to inspire, delighting fans with her trailblazing spirit. "It’s humbling when people bring their kids to meet me at events," she reflects. "It’s a reminder of how far we’ve come and how much further we can go."
