Pam Grier, the famous black femme fatale of Hollywood in the early 70’s, turned 67, today. She is best known for being one of the first iconic female action heroes. Grier starred in blaxploitation films such as The Big Bird Cage, Coffy, Foxy Brown, and Jackie Brown.

For many growing up, she is a childhood fantasy and most importantly an a** kicking, bold, brave beauty. Over the course of four decades, Grier has managed to be a cultural figure in black cinema and hip-hop.

The rise of Grier’s acting career began after she moved to Los Angeles from her hometown, Winston-Salem, North Carolina in 1968. Grier landed her first supporting role in the film The Big Bird Cage directed by Jack Hill.

Her road to stardom had begun as she took her next role as a nurse in the 1973 film, Coffy. 

Foxy Brown followed the next year which was meant to be a sequel to Hill’s previous film, Coffy. Hill had to change those plans at the last minute for Foxy Brown to be a stand-alone film.

Pam Grier’s breakout role was in the Foxy Brown film, playing the title character. Her role in the Foxy Brown film inspired the Brooklyn femcee, Foxy Brown. 

Pam Grier also landed roles in the 1990s, guest starring on the sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and also appeared in Snoop Dogg’s “Doggy Dogg World” music video as “Foxxy Brown.” In the 2000s, she continued to influence and solidify herself in the hip hop culture, starring in Back In The Day with Ja Rule. Grier also starred in In Too Deep, alongside LL Cool J. 

In 1997, Grier starred in Jackie Brown directed by Quentin Tarintino. Grier plays Jackie Brown, a flight attendant who smuggles money for a black market gun dealer. The character was inspired by characters she had played in the ’70s.

In 2010, Grier wrote her memoir, Foxy: My Life in Three Acts, with Andrea Cagan.

She received her Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in 2011. That same year, she received an Honorary Doctorate of Science from Langston University.

Happy Birthday to a legendary actress and the first action lady of Hollywood movies. We still crushing on ya, girl!

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