Priscilla Pointer, best known for her role in the iconic 1980s soap opera Dallas, has passed away at the age of 100.
The actress, who portrayed Rebecca Wentworth, the matriarch of one of the two main feuding families, died peacefully in her sleep on Monday.
Her daughter, actress Amy Irving, shared the sad news via Instagram, writing that her mother “hopefully ran off with her two adoring husbands and many dogs” and would “definitely be missed.”
A Long and Storied Career
Priscilla Pointer’s acting career spanned several decades, with notable appearances in a variety of beloved TV series.
She starred in The A-Team, The Flash, L.A. Law, Judging Amy, and ER.
She also graced the silver screen in several memorable films, including Blue Velvet, Carrie, and Mommie Dearest.
However, it was her role on Dallas that truly cemented her place in television history.
As Rebecca Wentworth, the wife of an oil tycoon, she shocked audiences when her character was revealed to be the long-lost mother of the Barnes siblings, Cliff and Pam, adding a dramatic twist to the show.
Early Life and Family
Priscilla Marie Pointer was born in 1924 in New York City to two artists.
She began her career in the theater in the 1940s, eventually branching out into television.
In the 1950s, she appeared in the adventure series China Smith, but took a break from acting to raise her three children, David, Katie, and Amy, with her first husband, filmmaker and theater director Jules Irving.
Her personal life was marked by both joy and tragedy.
After the sudden death of her husband Jules in 1979 at the age of 54, Priscilla married Robert Symonds, a former deputy director of the Repertory Theater Of Lincoln Center, in 1980.
They remained married until his death in 2007.
A Return to Acting in the ’70s and ’80s
Priscilla’s return to acting in the early ’70s saw her take on a variety of roles, including a supporting part in the iconic thriller Carrie, where she played Mrs. Snell, the mother of Sue Snell, a character portrayed by her real-life daughter, Amy Irving.
Priscilla also appeared in Looking For Mr. Goodbar (1977), alongside Diane Keaton and Tuesday Weld.
Her 1980s career was marked by a string of both television and film successes, including her 44-episode run on Dallas from 1981 to 1983.
She also appeared in the notorious Mommie Dearest, where she played the role of Mrs. Chadwick in a now-infamous scene opposite Faye Dunaway’s Joan Crawford.
A Lasting Legacy
Priscilla’s legacy will live on through her remarkable body of work in both television and film.
Her roles left an indelible mark on audiences, and her passing at 100 years old marks the end of an era in classic television and film history.