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Pam Grier

Pam Grier

Actor, also writer · Born May 26, 1949 (77) · Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA

Pamela Suzette Grier (born May 26, 1949) is an American actress. Described by director Quentin Tarantino as cinema's first female action star, she achieved fame for her starring roles in a string of 1970s action, blaxploitation, and women in prison films for American International Pictures and New World Pictures. Her accolades include nominations for an Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, a Satellite Award, and a Saturn Award. Grier came to prominence with her titular roles in the films Coffy (1973) and Foxy Brown (1974); her other major films during this period included The Big Doll House (1971), Women in Cages (1971), The Big Bird Cage (1972), Black Mama, White Mama (1973), Scream Blacula Scream (1973), The Arena (1974), Sheba, Baby (1975), Bucktown (1975), and Friday Foster (1975). She portrayed the title character in Quentin Tarantino's crime film Jackie Brown (1997), and also appeared in Escape from L.A. (1996), Jawbreaker (1999), Holy Smoke!, (1999), Bones (2001), Just Wright (2010), Larry Crowne (2011), and Poms (2019). On television, Grier portrayed Eleanor Winthrop in the Showtime comedy-drama series Linc's (1998–2000), Kate "Kit" Porter on the Showtime drama series The L Word (2004–2009), and Constance Terry in the ABC sitcom Bless This Mess (2019–2020). She received praise for her work in the animated series Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child (1999).

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
May 26, 1949 (77)
From
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
Works as
Actor, also writer
Titles
85 on MovieCove · 107 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 63 days to Oct 26Up 2% in 30 days

What are Pam Grier's films like?

Across their 64 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Action28 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 28th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Comedy9 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 48th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 38th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Drama6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 35th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Documentary4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 64th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies
Adventure3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 19th percentile
: browse their Adventure movies
Fantasy2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 19th percentile
: browse their Fantasy movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
22%
Bonds
18%
Survival
18%
Self
15%
Power
13%
Society
11%
Ideas
3%
Survival17 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice17 titles, browse their movies with this themeOppression11 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity10 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity12 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds11 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love7 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship8 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 60 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 24 · Serious 21 · Dark 15

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 35 · Stylized 16 · Heightened 9

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 13 · Charged 24 · Intense 23

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

A split, not a type: Steady 26 · Shifting 24 · Whiplash 10

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 26 · Some laughs 29 · Funny 5

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 16 · Even-paced 29 · Relentless 15

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 36 · Engaged 21 · Full focus 2

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 25 · Affecting 26 · Heavy 8

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 51 · Open-ended 8 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

32 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 13 of 32 analyzed roles.

Ally
13 of 32
Hero
11 of 32
Mentor
6 of 32
Shadow
2 of 32
Show the 32 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
41
Thrilling
24
Warm
19
Dread
12
Melancholic
15
Other
53

How their films linger

Fun24 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good17 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful17 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling14 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 5 with a twist

  • Happy21
  • Bittersweet30
  • Ambiguous12

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Pam Grier's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 65 of their 85 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (32).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Pam Grier's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

107 credits, 85 with a MovieCove page; 36 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • High Horse: The Black Cowboy(2025)

    Show Actor

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all shows

  • Mystery Cuddlers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    as Juniper

  • As We Know It(2023)

    as Beverly Jones

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Pet Sematary: Bloodlines(2023)

    as Majorie Washburn

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • Cinnamon(2023)

    as Mama

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Them(2021)

    Show 8 episodes · as Athena

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all shows

  • The Great North(2021)

    Show 1 episode · as Neckbone (voice)

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all shows

  • A Christmas Wish(2019)

    as Mary

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Poms(2019)

    as Olive

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Bless This Mess(2019)

    Show 26 episodes · as Constance

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all shows

  • Being Rose(2017)

    as Lily

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Bad Grandmas(2017)

    as Coralee

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • This Is Us(2016)

    Show 2 episodes · as Grandma

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Kings of Cult (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as (archive footage)

  • Cleveland Abduction(2015)

    as Carla

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • The Man with the Iron Fists(2012)

    as Jane

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Woman Thou Art Loosed: On the 7th Day(2012)

    as Detective Barrick

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Larry Crowne(2011)

    as Frances

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Bob's Burgers(2011)

    Show 1 episode · as Evelyn (voice)

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Mafia(2012)

    as James Womack

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Just Wright(2010)

    as Janice Wright

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • The Invited (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Zelda

  • Ladies of the House(2008)

    as Birdie

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Bad Girls Behind Bars (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Alabama (archive footage)

  • Back to You in the Days(2005)

    as Mrs. Cooper

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • The L Word(2004)

    Show 71 episodes · as Kit Porter

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • Love the Hard Way(2001)

    as Linda Fox

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • 1st to Die(2003)

    as Claire Washburn

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • The Adventures of Pluto Nash(2002)

    as Flura Nash

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Justice League(2001)

    Show 2 episodes · as My'ria'h (voice)

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • The Feast of All Saints(2001)

    as Suzette Lermontant

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Bones(2001)

    as Pearl

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Smallville(2001)

    Show 3 episodes · as Amanda Waller

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • Strange Frequency (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Ghosts of Mars(2001)

    as Commander Helena Braddock

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • 3 A.M. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as George

  • Wilder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Detective Della Wilder

  • Fortress 2: Re-Entry(2000)

    as Susan Mendenhall

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • Snow Day(2000)

    as Tina

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • No Tomorrow(1999)

    as Diane

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Law & Order: Special Victims Unit(1999)

    Show 2 episodes · as Assistant US Attorney Claudia Williams

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Hayley Wagner, Star (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Sam

  • Holy Smoke(1999)

    as Carol

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • In Too Deep(1999)

    as Det. Angela Wilson

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Jawbreaker(1999)

    as Detective Vera Cruz

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Family Blessings (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Mrs. Quincy

  • Pete Rock: Soul Survivor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Pam Grier

  • The Wild Thornberrys(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as Mother Springbok (voice)

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all shows

  • Linc's (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 37 episodes · as Eleanor Braithwaite Winthrop

  • Paul Robeson: Speak of Me as I Am (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Jackie Brown(1997)

    as Jackie Brown

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Fakin' Da Funk(1997)

    as Annabelle Lee

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Strip Search(1997)

    as Janette

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Mars Attacks!(1996)

    as Louise Williams

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • E! True Hollywood Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Escape from L.A.(1996)

    as Hershe Las Palamas

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Original Gangstas(1996)

    as Laurie Thompson

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Badass Supermama (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as (archive footage)

  • Serial Killer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Capt. Maggie Davis

  • Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Nightingale (voice)

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all shows

  • The Wayans Bros.(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Erica

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows

  • The Sinbad Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Posse(1993)

    as Phoebe

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • A Mother's Right: The Elizabeth Morgan Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Linda Holman

  • Martin(1992)

    Show 1 episode · as Pam Grier

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all shows

  • Pacific Station (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 1 episode · as Grace Ballard

  • Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey(1991)

    as Ms. Wardroe

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Janice

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Class of 1999(1990)

    as Ms. Connors

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Chicago Joe and the Showgirl(1990)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • The Package(1989)

    as Ruth Butler

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Monsters(1988)

    Show 1 episode · as Matilde

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all shows

  • Above the Law(1988)

    as Delores 'Jacks' Jackson

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Frank's Place (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 1 episode · as Neema Sharone

  • The Allnighter(1987)

    as Sargeant McLeish

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Crime Story(1986)

    Show 4 episodes · as Suzanne Terry

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • On the Edge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Cara

  • The Vindicator(1986)

    as Hunter

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Stand Alone(1985)

    as Cathryn Bolan

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Badge of the Assassin(1985)

    as Alexandra 'Alie' Horn

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • The Cosby Show(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Samantha

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all shows

  • Miami Vice(1984)

    Show 2 episodes · as Valerie Gordon

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Night Court(1984)

    Show 2 episodes · as Benet Collins

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • Something Wicked This Way Comes(1983)

    as Dust Witch

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Tough Enough(1983)

    as Myra

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Fort Apache the Bronx(1981)

    as Charlotte

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Knots Landing(1979)

    Show 2 episodes · as Lieutenant Guthrie

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all shows

  • Roots: The Next Generations(1979)

    Show 1 episode · as Francey

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • The Love Boat(1977)

    Show 2 episodes · as Cynthia Wilbur

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all shows

  • Greased Lightning(1977)

    as Mary Jones

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Twilight of Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Sandra

  • Drum(1976)

    as Regine

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Friday Foster(1975)

    as Friday Foster

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Bucktown(1975)

    as Aretha

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • 'Sheba, Baby'(1975)

    as Sheba Shayne

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Foxy Brown(1974)

    as Foxy Brown

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • The Arena(1974)

    as Mamawi

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Scream Blacula Scream(1973)

    as Lisa Fortier

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Coffy(1973)

    Writer · as Coffy

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Black Mama White Mama(1973)

    as Lee Daniels

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Hit Man(1972)

    as Gozelda

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • The Big Bird Cage(1972)

    as Blossom

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • The Twilight People(1972)

    as Ayesa, the Panther Woman

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • Cool Breeze (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Mona

  • Women in Cages(1971)

    as Alabama

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • The Big Doll House(1971)

    as Grear

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Beyond the Valley of the Dolls(1970)

    as Fourth Woman

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 106 titles from 1970 to 2024; peak year 1996.

Biggest box office

Larry Crowne (2011)

$75M worldwide

Highest rated

Jackie Brown (1997)

Midcredits 94th

Most popular right now

The L Word (2004)

Film career

19702024

Peak 1996 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 27 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting105 of 106: 105 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score41stOther crew1 of 106: 1 only other crew, 0 with another role

By decade

1970s21 · acting1980s16 · acting1990s31 · 30 acting · 1 crew2000s17 · acting2010s15 · acting2020s6 · acting

Billing

usually 5th · top billed in 18% of 45 roles
707585950010

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Pam Grier's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 35th percentile, the median of all 62; across their 60 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 39th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

39thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 60

Approval · how many liked their films

35thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 60

Reach · how many have seen their films

69thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 60

Midcredits score across 85 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up12
  • 50th to 74th22
  • 25th to 49th28
  • Below 25th23

Shape of the crowd

43 of their 85 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved6
  • Universally Panned3
  • Divisive2
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser25
  • Broadly Agreed4
  • Mixed43

Most divisive · actor

Woman Thou Art Loosed: On the 7th Day (2012)

91st percentile spread · 35% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Jackie Brown (1997)

Midcredits 94th · 84% liked

Reviewers score the acting 59/100 in their films, across 57 reviewed titles; fans 72, detractors 38. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Pam Grier's work okay for kids?

Across up to 30 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, sex & nudity, profanity, alcohol & drugs and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore22 titles41–93 · median 64 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity30 titles22–70 · median 52 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity22 titles40–88 · median 63 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs20 titles29–70 · median 51 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense21 titles26–71 · median 52 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Pam Grier work with?

People who share at least 2 of Pam Grier's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Roger Corman shares the most, 5.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles