Pamela Anderson's parents and siblings: A look at her family background
I certainly don’t blame my parents for my upbringing. I’m grateful because I gained a lot of good qualities along with the bad.
Those were the words of actress and model Pamela Anderson during a candid interview with Vanity Fair. Pamela Anderson's parents, Barry Anderson and Carol, played a significant role in her life. She was raised in British Columbia alongside her brother, Gerry. Her family’s support and humble background helped shape her early years and laid the foundation for her future fame.
Source: Getty Images
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Pamela Anderson's parents are Barry and Carol Anderson.
- Her father was a furnace repairman, while her mother was a waitress.
- The actress' parents married each other twice.
- Pamela grew up alongside her younger brother, Gerry Anderson.
Get to know Pamela Anderson's parents
The famous actress was born in Ladysmith, British Columbia, Canada, to Barry and Carol Anderson. Her parents met when they were teenagers and shared a passionate but rocky relationship.
According to Pamela, they broke up and got back together multiple times, and even married each other twice. Their relationship was often unstable during her childhood, which left a lasting impact on her, though they remained a big part of her life growing up. In her Netflix documentary, she said:
My parents were married, I think when they were like, 17 and 19, when my mom was pregnant with me. They were still just raging.
Barry Anderson
Pamela Anderson's father, Barry Anderson, was born in British Columbia and worked as a furnace repairman. Barry's father, Herman Anderson, was a Finnish immigrant from Saarijärvi, Finland. He changed his name to Herman Anderson after arriving in Canada in 1908.
Barry appeared in Pamela’s Netflix documentary Pamela: A Love Story, where his influence on her life was explored in depth. He has also featured in her reality show Pam: Girl on the Loose and other media appearances alongside his wife, Carol.
In a September 2024 interview with Glamour, Pamela Anderson candidly spoke about her parents' frequently violent relationship, saying:
Well, I know my parents, my dad was a terrible drinker, and my mom kind of figured out a way… And I blamed her, too, because why was she staying in this kind of relationship? There were many times where I didn’t want her to stay in it. But they worked it out. They’re madly in love.
She also openly discussed her father's personality and background, saying:
I love my dad. My dad is such an interesting person. He’s in Mensa, the family’s Finnish. He’s very poetic… Growing up, playing pker and all the things that he did, I guess people would’ve considered him kind of like the wild man of the neighborhood, very like the bad boy.
While accepting the Muse Award at the New York Women in Film & Television luncheon, Pamela shared that her father, Barry Anderson, had recently undergone successful cancer surgery. According to USA Today, she said:
My father was undergoing cancer surgery, and I couldn't have anticipated being here unless all went smoothly and my parents had all they needed. The good news is he's OK.
Carol Anderson
Source: UGC
Carol Anderson is Pamela Anderson’s mom. She was born in British Columbia, Canada, and comes from a Russian background. Carol worked as a waitress at places like Smitty’s Pancake House and the Hideaway Restaurant in Chemainus.
Carol was a big influence on Pamela’s career. She supported Pamela’s decision to try a modelling career and even encouraged her to take part in Playboy, which helped launch her fame. Carol has also showed up in Pamela’s shows and documentaries, including Pamela: A Love Story and Pam: Girl on the Loose.
On 24 January 2025, in an Elle interview with Martha Stewart, Pamela recalled how her mother's encouragement helped her overcome her shyness and launch her modelling career. She said:
I was such a shy young girl, if you can believe it — I wanted to do anything to stop being shy. When the Playboy cover [opportunity] came up, my mom said, ‘Do it.’ I didn’t know what it was going to lead to, but then it led to this wild and crazy life,
Currently, the Canadian-American actress resides on Vancouver Island in Canada, next to her parents. She told Glamour:
We have a big property, and it used to be nine cabins; now we have three. So [my parents] live in one cabin, and I have two houses that are mine. I always say I meet my mom in the vegetable garden and we get along just fine. If we’re in the garden, it’s all roses, really!
Does Pamela Anderson have siblings?
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Pamela Anderson has one sibling, a younger brother named Gerry Anderson, who was born in 1971 in Ladysmith, British Columbia. According to his IMDb profile, Gerry has worked as an actor, producer, and director, and has collaborated with Pamela on various television shows and films.
He is best known for his roles in Kilo, The Beach House and Blonde and Blonder (2008). Pamela Anderson has a strong bond with Gerry, and they have supported each other over the years. In November 2013, after running the New York City Marathon together, the actress posted on X:
So proud of my brother Gerry. Thank G. For running next to me today—love you lots.
FAQs
- Who is Pamela Anderson? She is a Canadian-American actress, model and media personality who came into the spotlight after being selected as the February 1990 Playboy Playmate of the Month.
- Where is Pamela Anderson from? The actress was born in Ladysmith, British Columbia, Canada.
- What is Pamela Anderson's age? The Canadian-born model is 58 years old as of 2025. She was born on 1 July 1967.
- What is Pamela's ethnicity? She is of English-German-Finnish-Irish-Scottish heritage.
- Who are Pamela Anderson's parents? The actress's parents are Barry and Carol Anderson.
- Does Pamela Anderson have siblings? She has one younger brother named Gerry Anderson.
- What does Gerry Anderson do? He is a film producer, actor and director.
- Where does Pamela Anderson live? The actress resides in Vancouver Island, Canada, next to her parents.
Pamela Anderson's parents, Barry Anderson and Carol, have always been a big part of her life, offering support and influence that helped shape her path in the entertainment industry. She grew up alongside her younger brother named Gerry Anderson in a small town in British Columbia.
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