Pamela Denise Anderson (born July 1, 1967) is a Canadian-American actress, model, and media personality. She rose to fame after being selected as the February 1990 Playboy Playmate of the Month. Anderson quickly became a prominent figure in the media, holding the record for the most Playboy covers by any individual.
She began her acting career with a recurring role on the ABC sitcom Home Improvement (1991–1997) before gaining international recognition for her role as “C.J.” Parker on the hit action drama series Baywatch (1992–1997). Her role in the series solidified her image as a pop culture and sex symbol of the 1990s.
In 1995, Anderson became the center of public controversy when a private sex tape involving her and then-husband Tommy Lee was stolen and distributed without consent, leading to a legal battle and widespread media coverage.
She later starred as Vallery Irons in the syndicated action-comedy series V.I.P. (1998–2002) and as Skyler Dayton on the Fox sitcom Stacked (2005–2006). Her film work includes appearances in Barb Wire (1996), Scary Movie 3 (2003), Borat (2006), Baywatch (2017), and City Hunter (2018). Anderson also appeared in the reality series Pam: Girl on the Loose (2008) and competed on Dancing with the Stars during various seasons (2010–2012, 2018).
In the 2020s, Anderson experienced a career resurgence. She made her Broadway debut in 2022, portraying Roxie Hart in the long-running musical Chicago. This was followed by the 2023 Netflix documentary Pamela, a Love Story and the simultaneous release of her memoir, Love, Pamela. Her performance in the 2024 indie-drama film The Last Showgirl earned her nominations for both the Golden Globe Award and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Actress.
Beyond her entertainment career, Anderson is a passionate animal rights advocate, publicly supporting various causes and frequently endorsing PETA campaigns. She also promotes plant-based cooking and currently hosts the Flavour Network series Pamela’s Cooking with Love (2025–present). In 2024, she released a plant-based cookbook titled I Love You: Recipes from the Heart.
