Priscilla Pointer, a distinguished actress whose career spanned over eight decades, has passed away peacefully at the age of 100. Renowned for her memorable maternal roles across both film and television, Pointer frequently shared the screen with her daughter, celebrated actress Amy Irving.”
Priscilla Pointer, a versatile actress with an illustrious career spanning over 80 years, has peacefully passed away at the age of 100. Renowned for her unforgettable performances, Pointer’s career included iconic roles in films such as Carrie, Blue Velvet, The Onion Field, The Falcon and the Snowman, Looking for Mr. Goodbar, and the beloved TV series Dallas, where she portrayed Rebecca Barnes Wentworth from 1981 to 1983.
Born on May 18, 1924, in New York City to artist parents Augusta Leonora Davis and Kenneth Keith Pointer, Priscilla embarked on her stage career in the late 1940s, starring in acclaimed Broadway productions like A Streetcar Named Desire and The Country Wife. In the 1950s, she appeared on television in shows like China Smith, before stepping away to focus on family life.
She made her return to acting in the 1970s, gaining widespread recognition for her role on the soap opera Where the Heart Is. Throughout her career, many of her roles mirrored her own life experiences, including playing the mother of her daughter, Amy Irving, in Carrie (1976). She also worked alongside her children, with her son, David Irving, directing her in Rumpelstiltskin (1987).
A true trailblazer, Pointer co-founded the San Francisco Actor’s Workshop with her first husband, Jules Irving, and later married actor Robert Symonds. Her last film appearance was in The Rage: Carrie 2 (1999), and she made her final TV appearance in Cold Case (2006).
Priscilla is survived by her children David, Katie, and Amy, and will be remembered for her remarkable legacy both on and off the screen.”
