History of Pamela Anderson in Timeline

Pamela Anderson is a Canadian-American actress, model, and media personality who gained initial fame as Playboy's February 1990 Playmate of the Month and for her numerous subsequent appearances on the magazine's cover. Her acting career began with a role on the sitcom Home Improvement (1991-1997), but she achieved international recognition for her role as C.J. Parker in the action drama series Baywatch (1992-1997). This role solidified her status as a prominent sex symbol.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Controversies & Scandals

1901: Grandmother's Immigration

In 1901, Pamela Anderson's grandmother, of Volga German descent, immigrated to Canada from Russia.

1908: Great-Grandfather's Immigration

In 1908, Pamela Anderson's great-grandfather, Juho Hyytiäinen, immigrated to Canada from Finland.

July 1, 1967: Pamela Anderson Born

On July 1, 1967, Pamela Denise Anderson was born in Canada.

Others born on this day/year

1971: Brother Gerry Born

In 1971, Pamela Anderson's younger brother Gerry was born.

1985: High School Graduation

In 1985, Pamela Anderson graduated from Highland Secondary School.

1988: Moved to Vancouver

In 1988, Pamela Anderson moved to Vancouver and worked as a fitness instructor.

October 1989: Playboy Cover Girl

In October 1989, Pamela Anderson appeared as the cover girl on Playboy magazine.

1989: Moves to California

In 1989, Pamela Anderson moved to California.

1989: Spokesmodel Opportunity

In 1989, Pamela Anderson was featured on the jumbotron at a BC Lions game and briefly hired as a spokesmodel for Labatt's Beer.

February 1990: Playboy Playmate of the Month

In February 1990, Pamela Anderson was chosen as Playboy's Playmate of the Month.

1991: Home Improvement Debut

In 1991, Pamela Anderson started her acting career on the ABC sitcom Home Improvement.

1992: Baywatch Career

In 1992, Pamela Anderson began her role as "C.J." Parker on Baywatch, achieving international recognition.

1993: Music Video Appearance

In 1993, Pamela Anderson appeared in Vince Neil's music video "Can't Have Your Cake".

1994: Raw Justice Film Role

In 1994, Pamela Anderson was cast in her first starring film role in Raw Justice.

February 19, 1995: Marries Tommy Lee

On February 19, 1995, Pamela Anderson married Tommy Lee after knowing him for only four days.

1995: Home video theft

In 1995, a personal home video of Anderson and Tommy Lee filmed on Lake Mead was stolen and sold as a sex tape, sparking controversy and a legal battle.

1995: Sex Tape Controversy

In 1995, a personal home video of Pamela Anderson with her then-husband Tommy Lee was stolen and sold, leading to a legal battle and controversy.

1996: Barb Wire Film Release

In 1996, Pamela Anderson starred in the film Barb Wire.

1996: Birth of Son Brandon Thomas

In 1996, Pamela Anderson's first son, Brandon Thomas, was born.

April 1997: Saturday Night Live Hosting

In April 1997, Pamela Anderson guest-hosted Saturday Night Live.

November 1997: Lawsuit against Internet Entertainment Group

In November 1997, Anderson sued Internet Entertainment Group after they posted the stolen sex tape on their website. She dismissed the case due to stress during her pregnancy after the company began making the tape available to subscribers, resulting in triple the normal traffic on the sites.

1997: Baywatch Departure

In 1997, Pamela Anderson's run on Baywatch concluded.

1997: Birth of Son Dylan Jagger

In 1997, Pamela Anderson's second son, Dylan Jagger, was born.

1997: End of Home Improvement and Baywatch

In 1997, Pamela Anderson's time on both Home Improvement and Baywatch concluded.

September 1998: V.I.P. Series Premiere

In September 1998, Pamela Anderson starred as Vallery Irons in the series V.I.P.

1998: Stars in V.I.P.

In 1998, Anderson starred as Vallery Irons on the syndicated series V.I.P.

1998: Divorces Tommy Lee

In 1998, Pamela Anderson divorced Tommy Lee after he was sentenced to six months in jail for spousal abuse.

1999: "Miserable" Music Video

In 1999, Pamela Anderson appeared in Lit's music video for "Miserable".

2001: Purchases Malibu Beach Home

In 2001, Pamela Anderson purchased a beach home in Malibu, California for $1.8 million.

2001: Sam Newman House and Miller Lite Commercial

In 2001, the Sam Newman House featuring Pamela Anderson's face was constructed, and she appeared in the Miller Lite TV commercial "Pillow Fight".

March 2002: Announces Hepatitis C Diagnosis

In March 2002, Pamela Anderson publicly stated that she had contracted hepatitis C by sharing tattoo needles with Tommy Lee.

October 2002: Granted Joint Custody of Sons

In October 2002, Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee were granted joint custody of their sons, finalizing a long custody dispute.

2002: End of V.I.P.

In 2002, the series V.I.P., starring Pamela Anderson, concluded.

October 2003: Comments on Life Expectancy

In October 2003, Pamela Anderson jokingly said on Howard Stern's radio show that she did not expect to live more than 10 or 15 years, which was taken seriously by many websites and tabloids.

2003: Scary Movie 3 Role

In 2003, Pamela Anderson appeared in Scary Movie 3.

2003: Baywatch Reunion

In 2003, Pamela Anderson reprised her role in the Baywatch: Hawaiian Wedding movie.

May 2004: Playboy Cover

In May 2004, Pamela Anderson appeared nude on the cover of Playboy magazine.

2004: Becomes a U.S. Citizen

In 2004, Pamela Anderson became a naturalized citizen of the United States while retaining her Canadian citizenship.

2004: Star Book Release

In 2004, Pamela Anderson released the book Star.

March 2005: Spokesperson for MAC AIDS Fund

In March 2005, Pamela Anderson became a spokesperson for MAC Cosmetics's MAC AIDS Fund, which helped people affected by AIDS and HIV. She raised money during events in Toronto, Tokyo, Dublin, and Athens.

August 14, 2005: Comedy Central Roast

On August 14, 2005, Comedy Central aired the Roast of Pamela Anderson.

December 2005: NBC Video Cut

In December 2005, NBC cut a video of Anderson pole dancing to Elton John's "The Red Piano".

2005: Starred in Stacked

In 2005, Pamela Anderson starred as Skyler Dayton on the Fox sitcom Stacked.

March 2006: Canada's Walk of Fame Star

In March 2006, Pamela Anderson received a star on Canada's Walk of Fame.

April 2006: Juno Awards Hosting

In April 2006, Pamela Anderson hosted Canada's Juno Awards.

May 18, 2006: Stacked Cancellation

On May 18, 2006, the Fox comedy series Stacked, starring Pamela Anderson, was cancelled.

2006: Borat Appearance and Stacked Cancellation

In 2006, Pamela Anderson appeared in Borat and the sitcom Stacked was cancelled.

September 2007: Announces Engagement to Salomon

In September 2007, Pamela Anderson announced her engagement to Rick Salomon on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

October 6, 2007: Marries Rick Salomon

On October 6, 2007, Pamela Anderson married Rick Salomon in a small wedding ceremony in Las Vegas.

2007: DirecTV Commercials

In 2007, Pamela Anderson appeared in commercials for DirecTV.

February 22, 2008: Requests Annulment

On February 22, 2008, Pamela Anderson requested that her marriage to Rick Salomon be annulled, citing fraud.

2008: Valentine's Day Act and Pam: Girl on the Loose

In 2008, Pamela Anderson performed a strip-tease act in Paris and starred in the reality series Pam: Girl on the Loose.

2008: Pam: Girl on the Loose Premiere

In 2008, Pamela Anderson starred in her own reality series, Pam: Girl on the Loose.

December 2009: Aladdin Pantomime

In December 2009, Pamela Anderson guest-starred as Genie of the Lamp in the pantomime Aladdin in London.

2009: Urges Legalization of Cannabis

In 2009, Pamela Anderson wrote an open letter to President Barack Obama urging the legalization of cannabis.

March 22, 2010: Dancing with the Stars Premiere

On March 22, 2010, Pamela Anderson's season of Dancing with the Stars premiered.

November 2010: Bigg Boss Appearance

In November 2010, Pamela Anderson appeared on season 4 of Bigg Boss, the Indian version of Big Brother.

2010: The Commuter Short Film

In 2010, Pamela Anderson appeared in the short film The Commuter.

2010: Dancing with the Stars Debut

In 2010, Pamela Anderson first appeared on Dancing with the Stars.

May 2011: Bailando 2011

In May 2011, Pamela Anderson was a contestant on Bailando 2011 (Argentina).

2011: Big Brother UK

In 2011, Pamela Anderson participated in the 12th season of Big Brother in the United Kingdom.

March 2012: Becomes spokesperson for FrogAds, Inc.

In March 2012, Pamela Anderson became a company spokesperson for FrogAds, Inc.

2012: VIP Brother Bulgaria

In 2012, Pamela Anderson appeared as a Special Houseguest on the fourth season of VIP Brother in Bulgaria.

2012: Dancing with the Stars

In 2012, Pamela Anderson participated in the Dancing with the Stars franchise again.

June 2013: Brazilian Vogue Editorial

In June 2013, Pamela Anderson was featured in a beach-themed editorial for Brazilian Vogue's "Body Issue".

October 2013: Describes Relationship with Salomon

In October 2013, Pamela Anderson stated on The Ellen DeGeneres Show that she and Rick Salomon were "friends with benefits".

2013: Dancing on Ice

In 2013, Pamela Anderson appeared on the British reality TV show Dancing on Ice.

2013: Attempts to Sell Malibu Home

In 2013, Pamela Anderson attempted to sell her Malibu home for $7.75 million, but later took it off the market.

January 2014: Remarries Rick Salomon

In January 2014, Pamela Anderson announced that she had remarried Rick Salomon on an unspecified date.

February 2014: Stripped for PETA ad

In February 2014, Pamela Anderson stripped for a Valentine's Day-themed ad for PETA, urging dog lovers to cuddle up with their pets during winter.

2014: Revealed Sexual Abuse

In 2014, Pamela Anderson publicly revealed she suffered sexual abuse as a child.

2014: Rolling Stone article rights optioned

In 2014, the producers of 'Pam & Tommy' optioned the rights to an article published by Rolling Stone, allowing them to develop the series without Anderson's participation, permission, or consent.

February 2015: Files for Divorce from Salomon

In February 2015, Pamela Anderson filed for divorce from Rick Salomon.

April 29, 2015: Divorce from Salomon Finalized

On April 29, 2015, Pamela Anderson's divorce from Rick Salomon was finalized.

July 8, 2015: Anderson writes to Putin to save whales

On July 8, 2015, Pamela Anderson wrote to Putin to advocate for whale conservation.

December 15, 2015: Meets with Kremlin Officials

On December 15, 2015, representing the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), Pamela Anderson met with top Kremlin officials to discuss animal rights in Russia.

December 2015: Joins Sea Shepherd Conservation Society Board

In December 2015, Pamela Anderson, a long-time supporter of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, became a full board member to further efforts in opposing whale hunting.

2015: Cured of Hepatitis C

By 2015, Pamela Anderson had been cured of hepatitis C.

November 2016: Stars in PSA on Limousine Safety

In November 2016, Pamela Anderson starred in "The Driving Game", a video public service announcement by the National Limousine Association and the National Sexual Violence Resource Center to raise awareness about driver regulations.

December 15, 2016: Meets with Kremlin Officials Again

On December 15, 2016, Pamela Anderson and IFAW officials met with Kremlin officials for a continued discussion on animal welfare and conservation.

December 2016: Defends Julian Assange

In December 2016, Pamela Anderson called WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange a "hero", stating he had done everyone "a great service" and decrying "elaborate plots against him".

2016: Co-Authors Article on Pornography

In 2016, Pamela Anderson co-authored an opinion article in The Wall Street Journal with Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, calling online pornography a "public hazard" and advocating for a "sensual revolution".

2016: Tattoo Removal

In 2016, Pamela Anderson had her barbed wire tattoo removed.

2017: Baywatch Film

In 2017, Pamela Anderson appeared in the Baywatch film.

2017: Relationship with Adil Rami Begins

In 2017, Pamela Anderson began a relationship with Adil Rami.

January 2018: Stars in PSA on Limousine Safety

In January 2018, Pamela Anderson starred in "The Signs", a video public service announcement produced by the National Limousine Association in partnership with Promoting Awareness | Victim Empowerment (PAVE) pushing for passenger safety.

September 29, 2018: French Dancing with the Stars Premiere

On September 29, 2018, Pamela Anderson's season of French Dancing with the Stars premiered.

November 8, 2018: Dancing with the Stars Elimination

On November 8, 2018, Pamela Anderson was eliminated on French Dancing with the Stars.

2018: Publishes Lust for Love

In 2018, Pamela Anderson and Shmuley Boteach published a book titled Lust for Love, calling for a sensual revolution that emphasizes partners connecting in the bedroom.

2018: City Hunter Film

In 2018, Pamela Anderson appeared in the film City Hunter.

2018: Executive Producer of The Game Changers

In 2018, Pamela Anderson served as an executive producer for the plant-based documentary, The Game Changers, along with James Cameron, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Jackie Chan, promoting a plant-based diet.

2018: Prime Minister makes 'disparaging remarks'

In 2018, Prime Minister Scott Morrison made disparaging remarks regarding Pamela Anderson, which she references in her challenge for him to debate the matter in front of the Australian people in 2019.

April 2019: Expresses Anger at Assange's Expulsion

In April 2019, Pamela Anderson expressed anger on Twitter at Julian Assange's expulsion from Ecuador's London embassy.

May 2019: Visits Assange in Prison

In May 2019, Pamela Anderson visited Julian Assange in Belmarsh prison, expressing her belief in his innocence and affection for him.

October 2019: Challenges Australian Prime Minister

In October 2019, Pamela Anderson announced her intention to travel to Australia to challenge Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Julian Assange's situation.

November 2019: Travels to Australia to Advocate for Assange

In November 2019, Pamela Anderson traveled to Australia to challenge Prime Minister Scott Morrison regarding Julian Assange, stating he was suffering "psychological torture" in jail.

2019: Relationship with Adil Rami Ends

In 2019, Pamela Anderson's relationship with Adil Rami ended.

2019: Supports European Spring

In 2019, after supporting the yellow vests movement, Pamela Anderson attended a meeting of the European Spring with Yanis Varoufakis and Benoît Hamon and supported the German DiEM25 campaign.

2019: Endorses Green Party of Canada

In the 2019 Canadian federal election, Pamela Anderson endorsed the Green Party of Canada.

December 24, 2020: Marries Dan Hayhurst

On December 24, 2020, Pamela Anderson married Dan Hayhurst, her bodyguard.

January 18, 2021: Asks Trump to Pardon Assange

On January 18, 2021, Pamela Anderson spoke on Tucker Carlson Tonight, requesting President Donald Trump to pardon Julian Assange.

January 21, 2022: Files for Divorce from Hayhurst

On January 21, 2022, Pamela Anderson announced that she had filed for divorce and split with Dan Hayhurst.

April 12, 2022: Broadway Debut

On April 12, 2022, Pamela Anderson made her Broadway debut playing Roxie Hart in the Broadway production of Chicago.

June 5, 2022: Chicago Performance

On June 5, 2022, Pamela Anderson's eight week run in Chicago concludes.

2022: Broadway Debut in Chicago

In 2022, Pamela Anderson made her Broadway debut as Roxie Hart in Chicago.

2022: Hulu miniseries Pam & Tommy

In 2022, the Hulu miniseries 'Pam & Tommy' portrayed the story of the stolen tape. Anderson stated she was not consulted about the production.

2023: Anderson comments on Pam & Tommy in documentary

In 2023, in her Netflix documentary 'Pamela, a Love Story', Anderson said that she was not consulted about the production of the 'Pam & Tommy' series.

2023: Pamela, a Love Story documentary release

In 2023, the Netflix documentary 'Pamela, a Love Story' was released, where Anderson stated that there was no confidential agreement over releasing rights to the video, and that she never made money from it by choice.

February 2024: Cast in The Last Showgirl

In February 2024, Pamela Anderson was officially cast in Gia Coppola's drama film, The Last Showgirl, after initially being unaware of the opportunity. She stars alongside Jamie Lee Curtis and others, marking a return to acting after a period of relative inactivity.

September 2024: The Last Showgirl Premieres at TIFF

In September 2024, The Last Showgirl premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. Anderson hailed it as "the role I have been waiting for my entire career". Her performance was critically acclaimed, with some calling it a transformative moment and a potential turning point in her career.

November 12, 2024: Appears in Criterion Closet

On November 12, 2024, Pamela Anderson appeared in the Criterion Closet, where she discussed her lifelong interest in cinema and selected films by directors like Jean-Luc Godard and David Lynch.

2024: Lives in Ladysmith, British Columbia

As of 2024, Pamela Anderson lives in Ladysmith on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, with her dogs and has a vegetable farm called Arcady.

2024: I Love You: Recipes from the Heart Release

In 2024, Pamela Anderson authored and released the cookbook I Love You: Recipes from the Heart.

2024: The Last Showgirl Nominations

In 2024, Pamela Anderson earned Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award nominations for her role in The Last Showgirl.

2024: Publishes plant-based cookbook

In 2024, Pamela Anderson published her plant-based cookbook, I Love You: Recipes From the Heart, receiving positive reviews and recognition from various media outlets.