In the 1980s, Pam Grier began picking up guest star work on television when she wasn't pursuing opportunities in the theater. Most notably, she recurred as Tubbs' girlfriend, Valerie Gordon, an NYPD officer, on "Miami Vice".

"Philip Michael Thomas' birthday is the same day as mine," she notes. "But I wanted to work with a very aggressive, radical director and producer, Michael Mann. He was cutting edge."

https://ew.com/movies/pam-grier-role-call-interview-coffy-jackie-brown/