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Pamela Anderson
Pamela Anderson attending "The 6th Annual Hollywood Style Awards" Beverly Hills, CA on Oct. 10, 2009
Born
Pamela Denise Anderson

(1967-07-01) July 1, 1967 (age 57)
Other namesPamela Anderson Lee
Pam Anderson
Occupation(s)Actress, model, producer, activist, author, former showgirl
Years active1989–present
Spouse(s)
(m. 1995⁠–⁠1998)
(divorced)
(m. 2006⁠–⁠2007)
(divorced)
(m. 2007⁠–⁠2008)
(annulled)
Websitehttp://pamelaanderson.com/

Pamela Denise Anderson (born July 1, 1967) is a Canadian American actress, model, producer, author, activist, and former showgirl, known for her roles on the television series Home Improvement, Baywatch, and V.I.P.

She was chosen as a Playmate of the Month for Playboy magazine in February 1990.[1] For a time, she was known as Pamela Anderson Lee (or Pamela Lee) after marrying Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee. She holds both United States and Canadian citizenship.[2]

Early life

Anderson was born in Ladysmith, British Columbia, the daughter of Barry Anderson, a furnace repairman, and Carol (née Grosco), a waitress.[3] Her great-grandfather Juho Hyytiäinen was Finnish, a native of Saarijärvi, and left the Grand Duchy of Finland (which was a part of the Russian Empire at the time) in 1908,[4] changing his name to Anderson when he arrived as an immigrant. Anderson also has Russian ancestry on her mother's side.[5]

Career

After graduating from Highland Secondary School in 1985, Anderson moved to Vancouver and worked as a fitness instructor. During the summer of 1989, Anderson went with her friends to a BC Lions game at BC Place; during the game she was shown on the stadium screen wearing a Labatt's t-shirt, causing the crowd to cheer for the 21-year-old Anderson. She was taken down to the field to receive an ovation from the crowd. Labatt's had the opportunity to hire Canadian model Pamela Anderson as a Labatt's Blue Zone Girl after she was picked out of the crowd by a TV camera man at a BC Lions football game wearing a Blue Zone crop-top. Photographer and boyfriend Dan Ilicic produced the Blue Zone Girl poster on his own.[6] In October 1989 she appeared as the cover girl on Playboy magazine. At this stage in her modelling career, she had decided to live in Los Angeles to further pursue her career ambitions. She became a centrefold for Playboy when the magazine chose her to be their Playmate of the Month for their February 1990 issue. She then chose to get breast implants. Anderson has since appeared in Playboy several times in the 1990s and 2000s.

Acting and modelling

After her move to Los Angeles, she won a minor role as the original "Tool Time girl" on the hit television sitcom, Home Improvement. She left the show after two seasons and won the role of C. J. Parker on Baywatch, a role she played between 1992 and 1997. Anderson was still modelling for Outdoor Life and appearing on the cover of the magazine each year. In 1993 Pam appeared in a music video "Can't Have Your Cake" by Vince Neil to promote his first solo album "Exposed" in which Steve Stevens played all guitars for the recording of that project.

In 1996, she acted in the film Barb Wire playing Barbara Rose Kopetski, which was thought by some to be Anderson's real name. The movie, a thinly veiled futuristic remake of Casablanca, was not a commercial success. In April 1997, she guest-hosted Saturday Night Live. She also appeared on one of two covers for the September issue of Playboy.

In September 1998, Anderson starred as Vallery Irons in the Sony Pictures Entertainment hit syndicated show V.I.P. created by J. F. Lawton.[7] Blending action and humor in a fast-paced adventure series, with Anderson often poking fun at her tabloid image,[8] the show explored the exciting and sometimes treacherous lives of the rich and famous.[9] The series lasted through a successful four year run.[10]

In 1999, she appeared as a giantess in the music video for "Miserable" by California alternative rock band Lit.

Her role as C.J. Parker gave her more popularity and gained her attention from international viewers. She returned to Baywatch for the 2003 reunion movie, Baywatch: Hawaiian Wedding. She also appeared on The Nanny as Fran's rival, Heather Biblow.

Anderson aboard USS Ronald Reagan, (2004)

In early 2004, Anderson returned to the spotlight. In May, she appeared naked on the cover of Playboy magazine. It was the first time she had appeared naked on any magazine cover. Later, she posed naked for Stuff and GQ magazines.

Anderson became a naturalized citizen of the United States on May 12, 2004, while retaining her Canadian citizenship. She has lived in Southern California since 1989.

In 2004, she released the book Star, co-written by Eric Shaw Quinn, about a teenager trying to become famous. After this, she began touring the United States, signing autographs for fans at Wal-Mart stores nationwide. Her second book, the sequel Star Struck, released in 2005, is a thinly veiled look at her life with Tommy Lee and the trials of celebrity life.

In April 2005, Anderson starred in a new Fox sitcom Stacked as Skyler Dayton, a party girl who goes to work at a bookstore. It was cancelled on May 18, 2006, after two seasons, although some episodes had not been aired. On August 14, 2005, Comedy Central created the Roast of Pamela Anderson to honour the sex symbol for the past decade. During her final speech at the Roast, Anderson referred to her breasts as "Pancho and Lefty".

In December 2005, NBC cut off a video of Anderson pole dancing on Elton John's "The Red Piano." NBC said that the footage was inappropriate for prime time. The video was shown on huge screens during the event, while John played "The Bitch is Back".

In March 2006, it was announced that Anderson would receive a star on Canada's Walk of Fame thanks to her many years as a model and actress. She is only the second model to receive a star. In April 2006, Anderson hosted Canada's Juno Awards, becoming the first non-singer and model to do so.

Anderson was repeatedly referenced in the 2006 mockumentary Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan as the title character seeks to kidnap and marry her. Anderson appears in person at the end of the film confronted by Borat in a staged botched abduction.[11]

She performed on February 13–14, 2008 in a Valentine's Day striptease act at the Crazy Horse cabaret in Paris.[12]

On July 9, 2008, Anderson entered the Australian Big Brother house for a three-day visit.[13] Her appearance on this show also marked Anderson's foray into reality television with a series of her own, Pam: Girl on the Loose, which debuted on August 3, 2008 on E! in the United States.

In December 2009, Anderson guest-starred as Genie of the Lamp in the pantomime Aladdin at the New Wimbledon Theatre in Wimbledon, south-west London, England.[14][15] Anderson took over the role from comedienne Ruby Wax, with former EastEnders actress Anita Dobson and comedian Paul O'Grady also booked for the role.[16] In the spring of 2010, Anderson appeared as one of the contestants on Dancing with the Stars.

Anderson is due to star in a short film The Commuter directed by the McHenry Brothers to promote the Nokia N8 smartphone in the UK[17] Fans of Anderson, who won a Nokia UK run competition, will be starring alongside Anderson in the short film.[18]

In November 2010, Anderson appeared on season 4 of the Indian television reality show Bigg Boss as a guest. She stayed for three days for a reported sum of Rs. 2.5 crores. The show is inspired from the famous reality show Big Brother.[19]

Personal life

In addition to her fame from modelling and acting, Anderson has received a great deal of press attention for her well-publicized personal life. Her relationships have made headlines in gossip magazines for years. Anderson married Tommy Lee, drummer of Mötley Crüe, on February 19, 1995, after knowing him for only 96 hours and the couple eventually had two sons, Brandon Thomas Lee (b. June 6, 1996) and Dylan Jagger Lee (b. December 29, 1997), named after Pamela's great grandfather Dale Jagger Grosco who fought in World War II. During this time, she was known professionally as Pamela Anderson Lee. Anderson filed for divorce from Lee twice and reconciled with him twice, before the couple finally broke up for good, however, she admitted to newspapers that she still often had sex with him since their divorce.[20] In March 2002, Anderson publicly stated that she had contracted the Hepatitis C virus from Lee (supposedly from sharing tattoo needles), and began writing a regular column for Jane magazine. In October 2003, Anderson jokingly said on Howard Stern's radio show that she does not expect to live more than ten or fifteen years,[21] but this was misconstrued and taken seriously by many websites and tabloids.

A sex tape of Anderson and Tommy Lee on their honeymoon was stolen from their home, and made a huge stir on the Internet. Anderson sued the video distribution company, Internet Entertainment Group. Ultimately, the Lees entered into a confidential settlement agreement with IEG. Thereafter, the company began making the tape available to subscribers to its Web sites again, resulting in triple the normal traffic on the site.[22]

Anderson and Kid Rock in 2003

A second tape, which was made before the Tommy Lee tape, involving Anderson and musician Bret Michaels from Poison was later announced, and an abridged version of less than 60 seconds appeared on the internet. Frames of the video first appeared in Penthouse magazine in March 1998. The tape was successfully blocked by Michaels, but a four-minute sex tape is still available on the Internet.

Since her divorce, she was engaged to the model Marcus Schenkenberg and to the singer Kid Rock (Robert J. Ritchie). She broke up with Schenkenberg in 2001 and with Kid Rock in 2003. It was announced on July 18, 2006 that she would marry Kid Rock on July 29, 2006, on a yacht near St Tropez, France. "Feels like I've been stuck in a time warp," said Anderson in her blog entry. "Not able to let go of MY family picture ... it's been sad and lonely and frustrating ... I've raised my kids alone in hope of a miracle. Well my miracle came and went. And came back and back because he knew that I'd wake up one day and realize that I was waiting for nothing." "I'm moving on," she declared. "I feel like I'm finally free ... I'm in love." There was extensive unconfirmed media speculation that the marriage was pregnancy-related, but the theory was based only on Anderson's representative's refusal to comment on the question.[23]

On November 10, 2006, it was announced that Anderson miscarried while in Vancouver shooting a new film, Blonde and Blonder.[24] Seventeen days later, on November 27, 2006, Anderson filed for divorce in Los Angeles County Superior Court from Kid Rock, citing irreconcilable differences.[25] Some news reports have suggested that Kid Rock's outrage during a screening of Borat, in which she plays a cameo role, led to the filing for divorce two weeks later.[26]

Anderson told talk show host Ellen DeGeneres in September 2007 that she was engaged. On September 29, Anderson and Rick Salomon, applied for a marriage license in Las Vegas.[27] Anderson married Salomon between her two nightly appearances at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Hans Klok's magic show in a small wedding ceremony at The Mirage on October 6, 2007.[28] However, the couple separated on December 13, and on February 22, 2008, Anderson requested through the courts that the marriage be annulled citing fraud.[29]

Charitable work and activism

File:Pamela Anderson 2.jpg
Anderson promoting vegetarianism

Anderson is a vegan, an advocate for animal rights, and an active member of the animal protection organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), taking part in several campaigns for animal rights.[30][31] She became a vegetarian in her early teens when she saw her father cleaning an animal he had hunted.[32]

One of Anderson's campaigns as a member of PETA has been against the use of fur. In 1999, Anderson received the first Linda McCartney Memorial Award for animal rights protectors, in recognition of her campaign. In 2003, Anderson stripped down for PETA's "I'd Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur" advertising campaign. On June 28, 2006, Anderson posed naked with other protesters on a window display of the Stella McCartney boutique in London, England. It was a PETA gala event before the PETA Humanitarian Awards. Anderson went inside the boutique and said she would take her clothes off if the event raised enough money for PETA, which it did.

She has also campaigned against Kentucky Fried Chicken. In 2001, Anderson released a letter in support of PETA's campaign against Kentucky Fried Chicken, stating "What KFC does to 750 million chickens each year is not civilized or acceptable." She later made a video about KFC's treatment of chickens.[33] In January 2006, Anderson requested that the Governor of Kentucky remove a bust of Colonel Sanders, the founder of KFC, from display but her request was refused even when she offered her own bust in exchange. In February 2006, Anderson decided to boycott the Kentucky Derby because of its support for Kentucky Fried Chicken.

She has also campaigned against seal hunting in Canada. In March 2006, Anderson asked to speak to Prime Minister Stephen Harper about the annual seal hunt but she was refused. In May 2006, she petitioned random individuals on the street for their opinion on the Canadian Seal Hunt. In December, 2009, Anderson, photographed in a t-shirt with a drawn picture of a seal pup on it, was featured in a new ad campaign for PETA. She appears next to the headline "Save the Seals" in the ad and urges the public to help end "Canada's annual seal slaughter."[34]

Anderson joined forces with PETA in a campaign for the boycott of fruit-juice maker POM. The "Pom Horrible Campaign"[35] has resulted in the company halting animal tests.

In March 2005, Anderson became a spokesmodel for MAC Cosmetics's MAC AIDS Fund, which helped people affected by AIDS and HIV. After becoming the official spokesmodel, Anderson raised money during events in Toronto, Tokyo, Dublin, and Athens.

Anderson became the celebrity spokesperson for the American Liver Foundation, and served as the Grand Marshal of the SOS motorcycle ride fundraiser.

She wrote an open letter to President Barack Obama urging the legalization of cannabis.[36]

Anderson became the center of controversy when she posed in a bikini nearly nude for a PETA ad that was banned in Canada because they said the ad was sexist. Anderson retorted saying, "In a city that is known for its exotic dancing and for being progressive and edgy, how sad that a woman would be banned from using her own body in a political protest over the suffering of cows and chickens. In some parts of the world, women are forced to cover their whole bodies with burqas – is that next? I didn't think that Canada would be so puritanical." [37]

Work

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1990 Playboy: Sexy Lingerie II Herself Self – video
1991 Playboy Video Playmate Calendar 1991 Herself Self – video
1991 Playboy: Wet & Wild III Herself Self – video
1991 Playboy: Sexy Lingerie III Herself Self – video
1991 The Taking of Beverly Hills Cheerleader Action film
1992 Playboy Video Centerfold: Pamela Anderson Herself Self – video
1992 Playboy: The Best of Sexy Lingerie Herself Self – video
1992 Playboy: Playmate Bloopers Herself Self – video
1992 Playboy: Playmates in Paradise Herself Self – video
1992 Playboy: Playmate Private Pleasures Herself Self – video
1993 Snapdragon Felicity Thriller film
1994 Raw Justice Sarah Thriller film
1995 Naked Souls Britt Independent thriller film
1995 Baywatch the Movie: Forbidden Paradise C.J Parker Television film
1995 Playboy: The Best of Pamela Anderson Herself Self – video
1995 Edenquest: Pamela Anderson Herself Self – video
1996 Barb Wire Barb Wire Sci-Fi film
1998 Pam & Tommy Lee: Stolen Honeymoon Herself Self – video
1998 Playboy: Celebrities Herself Self – video
1998 A Taste of Playboy: Personalities Volume 1 Herself Self – video
1998 Playboy: Blondes, Brunettes, Redheads Herself Self – video
1999 Playboy: Sexiest Home Videos Herself Self – video
1999 Celebrities Caught on Camera: Volume 1 Herself Self – video
1999 Playboy: Playmate Profile Video Collection Featuring Miss February 1999, 1996, 1993, 1990 Herself Self – video
2001 Playboy Exposed: Playboy Mansion Parties Uncensored Herself Self – video
2002 Playboy: Prime Time Playmates Herself Self – video
2002 Playboy: The Ultimate Pamela Anderson Herself Self – video
2002 Scooby-Doo Herself Uncredited
2003 Scary Movie 3 Becca Comedy spoof film
2003 Pauly Shore Is Dead Herself Comedy/mockumentary film
2004 Playboy: 50 Years of Playmates Herself Self – video
2005 No Rules Herself Action movie
2006 Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan Herself Mockumentary
2008 Superhero Movie Invisible Girl Comedy film
2008 Blonde and Blonder Dee Twiddle Comedy film
2010 Costa Rican Summer Herself Comedy film
2010 Hollywood & Wine Herself Comedy film
2010 The Commuter Female Guest in Hotel Short action/comedy film

Television

Playboy career

Pamela Anderson
Playboy centerfold appearance
February 1990
Preceded byPeggy McIntaggart
Succeeded byDeborah Driggs
Personal details
BornJuly 1, 1967
Heightftin (1.70 m)[1]

Anderson's Playboy career spans three decades (1989–2011), and she has appeared on more Playboy covers than anyone else.[38] She has also made appearances in the publication's newsstand specials. Anderson wrote the forward in the Playboy coffee table book Playboy's Greatest Covers.

Pro wrestling

  • During an appearance at the World Wrestling Federation's Royal Rumble in 1995, Anderson promised that she would accompany the winner of the Royal Rumble to WrestleMania. Anderson returned for her appearance at the World Wrestling Federation's WrestleMania XI on April 2, but as the guest valet for WWF World Heavyweight Champion Diesel and not the Royal Rumble winner, his opponent Shawn Michaels; Michaels ended up being accompanied to the ring by Jenny McCarthy. After pinning Michaels, Diesel left with both Anderson and McCarthy.
  • In anticipation of her appearance at the Royal Rumble, several skits were produced featuring wrestlers fawning over Anderson. One commercial featured Anderson coming home and checking her answering machine. As Anderson strips down behind a curtain, messages from wrestlers such as Shawn Michaels, Diesel, and Doink the Clown can be heard.
  • At the 2006 Canada's Walk of Fame induction ceremony, Anderson shared a kiss with WWE diva and fellow Canadian Trish Stratus.
  • She appeared on former Pro Wrestling commentator Mark Madden's Pittsburgh-based sports talk radio show in October, 2006.

Dancing with the Stars

Anderson was a contestant on the tenth season of Dancing with the Stars, partnered with professional Damian Whitewood. The season premiered on Monday, March 22, 2010,[39] and after seven weeks, Anderson was eliminated.[40]

'Newman House' in the Melbourne suburb of St Kilda, Australia

Newman House is a pop architecture building constructed in 2003 in St Kilda, Victoria, Australia, which features a large image of Anderson's face. Sam Newman commissioned local architect Cassandra Fahey to design the building, and used the image with Anderson's permission. Permits were issued retroactively when it became a major local landmark and won the award for Best New Residential Building in the RAIA Victorian Architecture Awards.[41]

Serbian comedy rock band Prljavi Inspektor Blaža i Kljunovi released the song "Lepa si, Pamela" (trans. "You're Beautiful, Pamela") on their 1998 album Seks, droga i Bodiroga (Sex, Drugs and Bodiroga). In the song the band's frontman Igor "Prljavi Inspektor Blaža" Blažević declares his love to Pamela and makes threats to Tommy Lee, and the album cover features an image of Pamela and Blažević in bed. In 2009 Blažević met Pamela in Belgrade, presenting her with the Seks, droga i Bodiroga disc.[42]

Anderson is also seen on the television series, Invader Zim, appearing in "Walk of Doom", "Dib's Wonderful Life of Doom", "Mortos de Soulstealer", and "The Girl Who Cried Gnome". However, she did not speak in her appearance on the show.

References

  1. ^ a b c d 2 at Playboy Online
  2. ^ "Pamela Anderson became U.S. citizen". Moono.com. 2004-05-14. Retrieved 2007-04-26.
  3. ^ "Pamela Anderson Biography (1967–)". Filmreference.com. Retrieved 2010-08-02.
  4. ^ "News". Pamwatch. Retrieved 2010-08-02.
  5. ^ Bang Showbiz. "Pamela Anderson's mom wish", The Boston Globe, 19 June 2008.
  6. ^ "Pamela Anderson Biography". Yahoo! Movies. Retrieved August 17, 2010.
  7. ^ Joel Stein (10-31-1999) (October 31, 1999). "Babe Tube". TIME Magazine. Retrieved May 21, 2010.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ Rick Marin (10-08-2000) (October 8, 2000). "Television, Radio". The New York Times. Retrieved May 21, 2010.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) [dead link]
  9. ^ Martel, Ned (Retrieved on 12-01-2007). "V.I.P." The New York Times. Retrieved May 21, 2010. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  10. ^ Benjamin Svetkey (03-10-2000). "The Squad". Entertainment Weekly.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  11. ^ Marchese, David; and Willa Paskin. "What's real in 'Borat'?", Salon.com, 10 November 2006.
  12. ^ "Pamela Anderson to perform at nude revue", Reuters, 1 February 2008.
  13. ^ Ellis, Mark. "Pamela Anderson enters Australian Big Brother house", The Daily Mirror, 7 October 2008.
  14. ^ Sherwin, Adam (16 December 2009). "Pamela Anderson pops out of the lamp and casts a spell on adoring dads". The Times. London. Retrieved 31 December 2009.
  15. ^ Hitchings, Henry (16 December 2009). "Pamela Anderson's really quite a game genie in Aladdin". Evening Standard. London. Retrieved 31 December 2009.
  16. ^ "http://www.ambassadortickets.com/928/679/Wimbledon/New-Wimbledon-Theatre/Aladdin". Retrieved 31 December 2009. {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)
  17. ^ "Nokia N8 smartphone Product page".
  18. ^ "Official Nokia UK competition to star in a film with Pamela Anderson".
  19. ^ "Pamela Anderson in Indian TV show".
  20. ^ "Pamela and Tommy together again?". Archived from the original on 2007-04-19. Retrieved 2007-02-14.
  21. ^ Pamela Anderson Official Site and Fan Club – News Headlines Television Tabloids Magazines
  22. ^ Pelline, Jeff (1 December 1997). "Pamela Lee drops video case". CNET News. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 2 August 2010.
  23. ^ "Pattayadailynews.com". Retrieved 2007-02-26.
  24. ^ "Pamela Anderson Suffers a Miscarriage". People.com. Time Inc. 10 November 2006. Retrieved 2 August 2010.
  25. ^ "Access Hollywood". Archived from the original on 2007-07-12. Retrieved 2007-02-26.
  26. ^ "Spin.com". Retrieved 2007-02-26.
  27. ^ Anderson to marry Paris Hilton ex BBC News — October 1, 2007
  28. ^ Gray, Mark (2007-10-07). "Pamela Anderson Weds Rick Salomon — Weddings, Pamela Anderson, Rick Salomon". People.com. Retrieved 2010-08-02.
  29. ^ "Anderson seeks annulment of marriage to Salomon". USA Today. 26 February 2008. Retrieved 2 August 2010.
  30. ^ http://www.vegnews.com/web/articles/page.do?pageId=2549&catId=8
  31. ^ I'd Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur, retrieved on May 28, 2007.
  32. ^ "Shapefit.com". Retrieved 2007-02-26.
  33. ^ "Kentuckey Fried Cruelty". Retrieved 2007-02-26.
  34. ^ "Pam Anderson leads PETA campaign against seal hunt" Victoria Times Colonist via Canwest News Service in the Calgary Herald, December 30, 2009. Retrieved 2009-12-31.
  35. ^ "PETA". Retrieved 2009-07-21.
  36. ^ Playboy magazine; February 2009; Page 112.
  37. ^ "Pamela Anderson's Nearly Naked PETA Ad Banned in Canada". UsMagazine.com. 2010-07-15. Retrieved 2010-07-18.
  38. ^ "Casino City Times". Retrieved 2009-02-27.
  39. ^ Minty, Dawn (2 March 2010). "Dancing with the Stars 2010 pairings: Celebrities, dancers revealed". Ledger-Enquirer.com. McClatchy Company. Retrieved 2 August 2010.
  40. ^ "Pam Anderson on Leaving DWTS: "I Can't Eat Whatever I Want Anymore"". UsMagazine.com. 5 May 2010.
  41. ^ "Pavilions for New Architecture, Monash University Museum of Art". Monash.edu.au. Retrieved 2010-08-02.
  42. ^ "Pamela Anderson meeting Igor "Prljavi Inspektor Blaža" Blažević". Youtube.com. 2009-06-18. Retrieved 2010-08-02.

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