Pam Grier Net Worth

July 2024 · 14 minute read

Pam Grier net worth is
$15 Million

Pam Grier Wiki Biography

Pamela Suzette “Pam” Grier was born on 26th May 1949, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina USA, of Hispanic, Filipino, African-American, Cheyenne Indian, and Chinese descent. She is an actress who became famous back in the ‘70s, the role which made her known being Foxy Brown. She is a cultural icon, being also known as the Queen of Blaxploitation, and she was called cinema’s first female action star by director Quentin Tarantino.

So just how rich is Pam Grier? Sources estimate that Pam’s net worth is $15 million, most of her wealth having been made in the film and television industry, plus from sales and royalties during a career now spanning more than 45 years and involving over 60 different appearances.

Pam Grier Net Worth $15 Million

Pam Grier graduated from East High School in Denver. In order to raise money to pay her college tuition at Metropolitan State College, she participated in beauty contests, and even placed third in the Colorado Miss Universe Beauty Pageant in 1967. During one of these contests, she was seen by agent Dave Baumgarten, who convinced her to move to Los Angeles in order to build an acting career. Her first job in LA was at the American International Pictures (AIP) company, where she was working as a receptionist. Here she managed to be cast in two film, “The Big Doll House” in 1971, and “The Big Bird Cage” in 1972.;she was making $500 a week for her perform ance in these films (about $3,000 today), the beginning of her growing net worth. She soon became an icon of the Blaxploitation movies, being also the first African-American female to headline an action film and to appear on the cover of MS. Magazine.

She continued to appear in numerous movies during the ‘70s, such as “Foxy Brown”, “Friday Foster”, “La Notte Dell’alta Marea”, “Black Mama White Mama”, and “Greased Lightning”. In 1979, Pam Grier made her first appearance in a television series, in an episode from “Roots: The Next Generations”, followed by roles in series including “The Love Boat”, “Night Court”, “Crime Story”, and “Miami Vice”. The actress was paid about $2,000 a week for her appearances in television series (almost $4,500 today), a steady if unspectacular addition to her net worth..

In the ‘80s, the actress had several important roles in mainstream blockbusters like “Fort Apache – The Bronx” and “Above the Law”. Again, modest contributions to her net worth ensued.

At the end of the ‘80s, Pam Grier fought cancer, which deprived her from accepting major role, and she focussed more on small stage performances. She went back to film acting in 1997, when Quentin Tarantino chose her for his movie “Jackie Brown”, a performance which brought Pam a NAACP Image Award and a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress. After 2000, Pam Grier had appearances in television series like “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit”, “Smallville” and “The L Word”, the latter as Kit for six series between 2004-09. With an annual income over $1 million, Pam Grier has done several low-budget movies for first-time directors in the last years. Pam is still adding to her net worth.

In regard to acknowledgments for her acting, Pam Grier was included in Ebony Magazine’s top of “100 Most Fascinating Women of the 20th Century”. She was given the “Career Achievement Award” at the Annual Chicago International Film Festival in 2008 and, in 2013, she was inducted into the National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum Hall of Fame. Her memoir, “Foxy: My Life in Three Acts”, was published in 2010.

The actress is also the co-founder of the company Melting Pot Designs, which designs paper products. In her personal life, Pam Grier has never been married and doesn’t have children. She was engaged to Kevin Evans between 1998 and 1999. She also had a long relationship with Peter Hempel from 2000 until 2008. Pam Grier owns a ranch in Colorado with an equestrian facility and a 3,000 square-foot main residence with three bedrooms.


Full NamePam Grier
Net Worth$15 Million
Date Of Birth26th May 1949
Place Of BirthWinston-Salem, North Carolina USA
ProfessionActress
EducationMetropolitan State College
NationalityAmerican
ParentsClarence Grier, Gwendolyn Grier
SiblingsRodney Grier, Gina Grier-Townsie
NicknamesPamela Suzette "Pam" Grier
Twitterhttps://twitter.com/pamgrier
IMDBwww.imdb.com/name/nm0000427
NominationsGolden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role, NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Pictu...
MoviesFoxy Brown, Jackie Brown, Coffy, Friday Foster, The Big Bird Cage, The Big Doll House, Sheba, Baby, Black Mama White Mama, Scream Blacula Scream, Ghosts of Mars, Above the Law, Escape from L.A., Fort Apache, The Bronx, The Arena, Hit Man, Mars Attacks!, Bucktown, Just Wright, Jawbreaker, Larry Crown...
TV ShowsThe L Word, Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child, Linc's, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
#Quote
1You know, I had to bump heads with a lot of men in the industry. They were not comfortable with showing a progressive black female in an action role. As a strong woman, I was seen as a threat. There was a fear that women would mimic me in real life. I remember certain people saying: "Oh, she's taking our jobs, she's castrating men" -- as far as I was concerned, I thought: "We don't need to walk behind you, we should walk beside you."
2When I was a young girl, I never thought of acting. I never thought of television, of fans, movie stars, signing autographs. It never crossed my mind.
3(On the emotional back-story of how she landed Mars Attacks) I was familiar with the comic book, and Tim Burton had called me to audition, but one of my dogs was dying of cancer, so I wasn't in the frame of mind to audition to do that role. So I said, "I can't," and I turned down Tim Burton. And I remember one of my dearest friends who I knew before he became an actor - Michael Keaton, who was in Beetlejuice and should've won an Oscar for that role, he was so brilliant - I told him that I'd turned Tim down. I said, "I'm just not ready to read, because one of my dogs, one of my family members, is very ill. I just can't do it. So I passed." But they called back again, and they said, "Well, would you put something on camera?" And I said, "No, because what I'll put on camera is sadness, and I'm not ready to do that right now." I'm one of those people who can afford to say "no." Even to Tim Burton, as badly as I wanted to work with him because of Beetlejuice. And he related. He respected that. And then they called back again...and they said, "Well, you've just auditioned. Because in the story, she's a mom who protects her children. Even under the worst situations, she won't leave her children. She's a true mom." And I wouldn't leave my dog, not for anybody - including Tim Burton - or for a huge salary or to work with Jack Nicholson or Glenn Close or the rest of the stellar cast of that film. So he said, "You passed the audition. You wouldn't leave your family for me, so you've got it. And we'll shoot around you. We'll wait, and you let us know when the time is right, when you're ready to shoot." And I said, "Thank you, but it could be awhile. I don't know. But I'm not leaving his side, because I had cancer, and he was with me." But they waited. They shot around me until I was ready to say, "Okay, he's passed on. He let me go." And Tim and I have been great friends ever since...because I said "no." Sometimes you just have to say "no." But once I was in it, it was such a joy working in those scenes, and with Ray Jay and Brandon. And it was great to work with Jim Brown. We had scenes, too. It's amazing when you work on films of such stellar directors, you know the budgets are gonna be incredible and the sets are gonna be incredible. There's no expense spared. It's just gonna be fabulous. When you work with directors like that, on that level, you go, "Oh, my God, just enjoy it!" Because you know it's just going to be a superb experience. And not only did I learn a lot about myself, but I learned that I want to work with Tim Burton in anything. He's just a very special person.
4People see me as a strong black figure, and I'm proud of that, but I'm a mix of several races: Hispanic, Chinese, Filipino. My dad was black, and my mom was Cheyenne Indian. So you look at things beyond just race, or even religion: I was raised Catholic, baptized a Methodist, and almost married a Muslim.
5Film and television is the bulk of my work. I get my personal fulfillment from theater; plays are where you can take chances and really work with the moment. Movies and TV just aren't like that.
6[1/7/06, interview in the "Atlanta Journal-Constitution"] I can't talk about myself. I just can't. I know I've influenced people, and I'm proud of that. But as I see it, I really haven't done anything. I haven't saved anybody from a burning building. Foxy Brown actually approached me at the start of her career to ask if she could use the name. I told her, "You didn't need to ask". If you're an independent woman, every woman is Foxy Brown.
#Fact
1Pam was born on exactly the same day as co star Philip Michael Thomas, May 26, 1949.
2Inducted into the National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum Hall of Fame in 2012-2013.
3Sister of Rodney Grier and Gina Grier-Townsie.
4Cousin of Roosevelt Grier.
5Profiled in "Women of Blaxploitation: How the Black Action Film Heroine Changed American Popular Culture" by Yvonne D. Sims (McFarland, 2006).
6When she met her boyfriend they found out they both grew up in Denver, Colorado. Upon further conversation she found out that he grew up in her house, after her family moved out.
7Graduated from East High School, Denver, Colorado.
8Her early films such as Women in Cages (1971) and The Big Doll House (1971) were filmed in the Philippines. While there she contracted a deadly tropical disease and nearly died. She lost her hair and was temporarily blind for almost a month. It took nearly a year for her to recover.
9Awarded a "Career Achievement Award" at the 34th Annual Chicago International Film Festival. [October 1998]
10Named as one of Ebony Magazine's "100 Most Fascinating Women of the 20th Century".
11Was the first black woman to appear on the cover of MS. Magazine (August 1975 issue).
12While a student at UCLA, she sang back-up for singer-composer Bobby Womack. Interestingly, Womack's composition and 1972 recording of the song "Across 110th Street" was the theme song of the film Jackie Brown (1997), which marked a major comeback for Grier in the starring and title role. She was nominated for a Golden Globe and an NAACP Image Award for her performance.
13Auditioned for a part in Pulp Fiction (1994) and at the time, right after Rosanna Arquette took the nod, was considered for the part of Bonnie (Jimmie's wife). She didn't land either role. Then Jackie Brown (1997) came along. Quentin Tarantino renamed the character of Jackie Burke from "Rum Punch" to "Jackie Brown" as an homage to Foxy Brown (1974).

All pictures

Actress

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Jawbreaker1999Detective Vera Cruz
Family Blessings1998TV MovieMrs. Quincy (as Pam Greer)
Pinky and the Brain1998TV SeriesJulie Auburn
Jackie Brown1997Jackie Brown
Fakin' Da Funk1997Annabelle Lee
Strip Search1997Janette
Mars Attacks!1996Louise Williams
The Wayans Bros.1996TV SeriesErica
Sparks1996TV SeriesMs. Grayson
Escape from L.A.1996Hershe Las Palmas
Original Gangstas1996Laurie Thompson
Serial Killer1995VideoCapt. Maggie Davis
The Marshal1995TV SeriesMajor Vanetta Brown
Murder Was the Case: The Movie1995Video shortFoxxxy Brown (segment "Doggy Dogg World")
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air1994TV SeriesJanice
The Sinbad Show1994TV SeriesLynn Montgonery / Lynn Montgomery
In Living Color1994TV Series
Posse1993Phoebe
A Mother's Right: The Elizabeth Morgan Story1992TV MovieLinda Holman
Pacific Station1992TV SeriesGrace Ballard
Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey1991Ms. Wardroe
Monsters1991TV SeriesMatilde
Knots Landing1990TV SeriesLieutenant Guthrie
Class of 19991990Ms. Connors
Miami Vice1985-1990TV SeriesValerie Gordon
Midnight Caller1989TV SeriesSusan Province
The Package1989Ruth Butler
Crime Story1986-1988TV SeriesSuzanne Terry
Above the Law1988Delores 'Jacks' Jackson
Frank's Place1988TV SeriesNeema Sharone
The Allnighter1987Sgt. McLeesh
The Cosby Show1987TV SeriesSamantha
Night Court1986TV SeriesBenet Collins
On the Edge1986Cora
The Vindicator1986Hunter
Badge of the Assassin1985TV MovieAlexandra 'Alie' Horn
Stand Alone1985Cathryn Bolan
Something Wicked This Way Comes1983Dust Witch
Tough Enough1983Myra
Fort Apache the Bronx1981Charlotte
The Love Boat1980TV SeriesCynthia Wilbur
Roots: The Next Generations1979TV Mini-SeriesFrancey
Greased Lightning1977Mary
La notte dell'alta marea1977Sandra (as Pamela Grier)
Drum1976Regine (as Pamela Grier)
Friday Foster1975Friday Foster
Bucktown1975Aretha
'Sheba, Baby'1975Sheba Shayne
Foxy Brown1974Foxy Brown
The Arena1974Mamawi
Scream Blacula Scream1973Lisa Fortier
Coffy1973Coffy
Black Mama White Mama1973Lee Daniels
Hit Man1972Gozelda (as Pamela Grier)
The Big Bird Cage1972Blossom
The Twilight People1972Ayesa - the Panther Woman
Cool Breeze1972Mona (as Pamela Grier)
Women in Cages1971Alabama
The Big Doll House1971Grear
Beyond the Valley of the Dolls1970Fourth Woman (as Pamela Grier)
Bad Grandmas2017post-productionCoralee
Old School Gangstaspre-productionKelly
Rosepost-productionLily
Cleveland Abduction2015TV MovieCarla
Mafia2012James Womack
The Man with the Iron Fists2012Jane
Woman Thou Art Loosed: On the 7th Day2012Detective Barrick
Larry Crowne2011Frances
The Invited2010Zelda
Just Wright2010Janice Wright
Smallville2010TV SeriesAmanda Waller
The L Word2004-2009TV SeriesKit Porter
Ladies of the House2008TV MovieBirdie
Bad Girls Behind Bars2005
Back in the Day2005Mrs. Cooper
1st to Die2003TV MovieClaire Washburn
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit2002-2003TV SeriesAsst. US Attorney Claudia Williams
Baby of the Family2002Mrs. Williams
Justice League2002TV SeriesMy'ria'h
Night Visions2002TV SeriesDr. Lewis
The Adventures of Pluto Nash2002Flura Nash
Feast of All Saints2001TV MovieSuzette Lermontant
Bones2001Pearl
Strange Frequency2001TV Series
Ghosts of Mars2001Commander Helena Braddock
Love the Hard Way2001Det. Linda Fox
3 A.M.2001George
Slow Burn2000Detective Della Wilder
Fortress 22000Susan Mendenhall
Linc's1998-2000TV SeriesEleanor Braithwaite Winthrop / Eleanor / Eleanor Winthrop
Snow Day2000Tina
For Your Love1999TV SeriesBrenda
Hayley Wagner, Star1999TV MovieSam
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child1999TV SeriesThe Empress' Nightingale
Holy Smoke1999Carol
In Too Deep1999Det. Angela Wilson
The Wild Thornberrys1999TV SeriesMother Springbok
No Tomorrow1999Diane

Soundtrack

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Hinter Gittern - Der Frauenknast2005TV Series performer - 1 episode
Jackie Brown1997performer: "Long Time Woman" 1971
The Big Doll House1971performer: "Long-time Woman"

Writer

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Linc's2000TV Series story - 1 episode

Thanks

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Frankenpimp2009special thanks
Diggin' Up 'Bones'2002Video short special thanks
Chicago Joe and the Showgirl1990special thanks

Self

TitleYearStatusCharacter
The Real2017TV SeriesHerself
Entertainment Tonight2014TV SeriesHerself - The Love Boat
Celebrity Ghost Stories2014TV Series documentaryHerself
Unsung Hollywood2014TV Series documentaryHerself
Grand Theft Auto V2013Video GameHerself - The Low Down 91.1 DJ (voice)
Kiss and Tell: The History of Black Romance in Movie2012Documentary
The Hour2012TV SeriesHerself - Guest
Celebrity Close Calls2011TV SeriesHerself
Late Show with David Letterman1997-2011TV SeriesHerself - Guest / Herself
The Oprah Winfrey Show2011TV SeriesHerself - Guest
Corman's World: Exploits of a Hollywood Rebel2011DocumentaryHerself
Machete Maidens Unleashed!2010DocumentaryHerself
Tavis Smiley2004-2010TV SeriesHerself - Guest
The Mo'Nique Show2010TV SeriesHerself - Guest
The Wendy Williams Show2010TV SeriesHerself - Guest
Legends Ball2006TV Movie documentaryHerself
E! True Hollywood Story2001-2005TV Series documentaryHerself
The 100 Most Memorable TV Moments2004TV Mini-Series documentaryHerself
Totally Gayer2004TV Movie documentaryHerself
The Wayne Brady Show2004TV SeriesHerself - Guest
Charlie Rose2004TV SeriesHerself - Guest
2003 Trumpet Awards2003TV SpecialHerself
A Decade Under the Influence2003DocumentaryHerself
Diggin' Up 'Bones'2002Video shortHerself - 'Pearl'
Jackie Brown: How It Went Down2002Video documentary shortHerself
Baadasssss Cinema2002TV Movie documentaryHerself
Women & the Badge2002TV Series documentaryNarrator
Source Awards 20012001TV SpecialHerself
The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn2001TV SeriesHerself - Guest
HBO First Look2001TV Series documentary shortHerself
It Conquered Hollywood! The Story of American International Pictures2001TV Movie documentaryHerself
The Test2001TV SeriesHerself - Panelist
Intimate Portrait1999TV Series documentaryHerself
Hollywood Squares1999TV SeriesHerself
The 1999 Source Hip-Hop Music Awards1999TV SpecialHerself
29th NAACP Image Awards1998TV SpecialHerself
The Roseanne Show1998TV SeriesHerself
Late Night with Conan O'Brien1998TV SeriesHerself - Guest
The Daily Show1998TV SeriesHerself - Guest
MADtv1998TV SeriesHerself - Guest Host / Herself / Revolution
Mundo VIP1998TV SeriesHerself
4th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards1998TV SpecialHerself
Brit Awards 19981998TV SpecialHerself
The 55th Annual Golden Globe Awards1998TV SpecialHerself - Nominee: Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy / Musical
The Rosie O'Donnell Show1998TV SeriesHerself - Guest
Pete Rock: Soul Survivor1998Video shortHerself
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno1997TV SeriesHerself - Guest
Martin1995TV SeriesHerself
Ebony/Jet Showcase1988TV SeriesHerself
The Making of 'Something Wicked This Way Comes'1983TV Movie documentaryHerself
The 2nd Annual Black Achievement Awards1979TV SpecialHerself
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson1973-1977TV SeriesHerself - Guest
The Mike Douglas Show1975-1977TV SeriesHerself - Actress
The 19th Annual Grammy Awards1977TV SpecialHerself
Soul Train1973-1977TV SeriesHerself - Guest
The 2nd Annual People's Choice Awards1976TV SpecialHerself - Presenter
The Hollywood Squares1976TV SeriesHerself

Archive Footage

Won Awards

YearAwardCeremonyNominationMovie
2008Master of CinemaRiverRun International Film Festival
2001Susan B. Anthony 'Failure is Impossible' AwardHigh Falls Film Festival
2000Golden SlateCsapnivalo AwardsBest Female PerformanceJackie Brown (1997)
1999Career Achievement AwardAcapulco Black Film Festival
1997SDFCS AwardSan Diego Film Critics Society AwardsBest ActressJackie Brown (1997)

Nominated Awards

YearAwardCeremonyNominationMovie
2008Image AwardImage AwardsOutstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama SeriesThe L Word (2004)
2006Image AwardImage AwardsOutstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama SeriesThe L Word (2004)
2005Image AwardImage AwardsOutstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama SeriesThe L Word (2004)
2004Image AwardImage AwardsOutstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama SeriesLaw & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999)
2003Image AwardImage AwardsOutstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama SeriesLaw & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999)
2002Black ReelBlack Reel AwardsNetwork/Cable - Best Actress3 A.M. (2001)
2002Black ReelBlack Reel AwardsTheatrical - Best ActressBones (2001)
2002Image AwardImage AwardsOutstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special3 A.M. (2001)
2000Daytime EmmyDaytime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Performer in an Animated ProgramHappily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child (1995)
2000Image AwardImage AwardsOutstanding Actress in a Comedy SeriesLinc's (1998)
1999Image AwardImage AwardsOutstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy SeriesLinc's (1998)
1998Golden GlobeGolden Globes, USABest Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy or MusicalJackie Brown (1997)
1998Saturn AwardAcademy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USABest ActressJackie Brown (1997)
1998CFCA AwardChicago Film Critics Association AwardsBest ActressJackie Brown (1997)
1998Image AwardImage AwardsOutstanding Lead Actress in a Motion PictureJackie Brown (1997)
1998OFTA Film AwardOnline Film & Television AssociationBest Drama ActressJackie Brown (1997)
1998Golden Satellite AwardSatellite AwardsBest Actress in a Motion Picture, Comedy or MusicalJackie Brown (1997)
1998ActorScreen Actors Guild AwardsOutstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading RoleJackie Brown (1997)
1997ACCAAwards Circuit Community AwardsBest Actress in a Leading RoleJackie Brown (1997)

Known for movies


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