Pamela Anderson is famous primarily for her role as lifeguard CJ Parker on the television series Baywatch, which she joined in 1992. The show’s immense popularity—reaching over a billion weekly viewers—helped establish her as a global icon and one of the highest-paid actresses on television during its run[1][3][7]. Anderson’s signature look and persona on Baywatch made her an international sex symbol and pop culture phenomenon.
Before Baywatch, Anderson rose to prominence as the February 1990 Playboy Playmate of the Month. She became one of the magazine’s most frequently featured cover models, holding the record for the most Playboy covers by any individual[2]. Her high-profile modeling career further propelled her visibility in the entertainment industry.
Anderson also acted in several other television series, including a recurring role on Home Improvement and starring in the syndicated action-comedy V.I.P. She appeared in films such as Barb Wire, Scary Movie 3, and Borat, and continued to make public appearances and participate in reality TV, maintaining her public profile over decades[3][4][5].
Her fame was amplified by a highly publicized personal life, including the unauthorized distribution of a sex tape with then-husband Tommy Lee in the 1990s, which made her a subject of extensive media attention and controversy[2][3]. Anderson later embraced roles that played on her public persona, even starring as herself in parody films and reality shows.
In recent years, Anderson has received critical acclaim in new projects, such as her Golden Globe-nominated performance in The Last Showgirl, and has published bestselling books and memoirs, demonstrating her ongoing relevance and reinvention as a celebrity[1][4][5].