Where Are Kevin Von Erich and Pam Adkisson Now?

Spoilers for The Iron Claw below.

A24’s The Iron Claw brings the tragic story of the Von Erich family and their wrestling empire to the big screen. Focusing on brothers Kevin (Zac Efron), Kerry (Jeremy Allen White), David (Harris Dickinson), and Mike (Stanley Simons), the Sean Durkin film follows their rise in 1970s Texas under the domineering hand of their father, Fritz (Holt McCallany), a former wrestler himself. But death strikes the family multiple times.

Kevin, now 66, takes up most of the spotlight, as the last surviving Von Erich brother. (He has since taken up the family surname of Adkisson.) But more than his struggles in and out of the ring, the film also includes his marriage to his wife, Pam (played by Lily James), and their growing family.

Writing Pam’s character was more difficult than Kevin’s, per Durkin, as her life isn’t as publicly documented as that of the former wrestler. So Durkin and James collaborated on crafting her story in a respectful way. “Sean is such a huge fan of wrestling, so I know it meant so much to him to get the family and the story and do it justice,” James told S Magazine.

The result is a free-spirited but warm woman who supports her husband through his wrestling career and family tragedies. She blends into Kevin’s clan seamlessly, but grounds him as he becomes preoccupied with the so-called “Von Erich curse.”

“Pam kind of represents unconditional love for Kevin,” Efron said in the film’s press notes. “As soon as she comes into his life, it’s just a completely different feeling than he’s ever had before, and it changes him. Pam, in a big way, helps him break this cycle of having to be the best or perfect, in wrestling and in life. He knows he has unconditional support.”

Added James, in an interview with the Associated Press, “She’s a slight horse whisperer. I was really intrigued by this woman that has such emotional intelligence and directness. She’s not afraid to be fragile. When Pam just goes around and hugs him [on one of their dates], you get the feeling that he never experiences that kind of physical, gentle intimacy. It felt really moving to do that moment because she kind of knew what he needed.”

Kevin Von Erich and Pam Adkisson at the Dallas, TX Iron Claw premiere in November 2023.

Kevin Von Erich and Pamela J. May married in 1980 and have four children—Kristen, Jill, Ross, and Marshall—and 11 grandchildren. (Although the film depicts the couple welcoming two boys, their daughters were actually born first.) Their sons are now professional wrestlers, too. Kevin retired from wrestling in 1993, and the Von Erichs were posthumously inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2009, but Kevin recently made a cameo with Ross and Marshall in the ring.

The family moved to Hawaii in 2006, per Dallas Morning News. While living on the Island of Kauai, “fish and duck replaced beef and pork at the dinner table. The family raised sheep and played in the jungle,” D Magazine reports.

“I was giving [the children] my idea of paradise, and I didn’t really realize that they’re out there 18 years now,” Von Erich told the outlet. “And I love it. But I really missed Texas.” So back to Texas they went. The family moved to a ranch just outside of Boerne, near San Antonio, earlier this summer, according to D.

Kevin embarked on his first public speaking tour this year, called Stories from the Top Rope, in which he reflects on his career and family. He, Pam, and their kids have been spotted at The Iron Claw premieres together ahead of the movie’s official release. The couple even attended Efron’s Hollywood Walk of Fame induction in December.

Pam and Kevin with their daughters Kristen (far left) and Jillian (far right) at the Iron Claw premiere in Los Angeles.

The couple with their children Marshall, Kristen, and Ross at the Dallas premiere.

Von Erich was minimally involved in the production of The Iron Claw, but he did give Efron his approval. “We went out to the patio, sat forehead to forehead, and talked about life for an hour and a half. And he told me that he did enjoy the movie,” Efron told Variety. “I can’t really put into words how that feels. It’s far and away the most important review to me on so many levels. It meant the world, and everything just came full circle.”

The Iron Claw is now playing in theaters. Get Tickets

Erica Gonzales is the Senior Culture Editor at ELLE.com, where she oversees coverage on TV, movies, music, books, and more. She was previously an editor at HarpersBAZAAR.com. There is a 75 percent chance she’s listening to Lorde right now.