Veteran actress Priscilla Pointer, renowned for her roles in “Dallas” and “Carrie,” has passed away at 100. She died on April 28, 2025, at an assisted-living facility in Ridgefield, Connecticut. Her son, David Irving, confirmed her death to USA TODAY on April 29.
Pointer’s career spanned six decades in theater, film, and television. She died of natural causes. Her daughter, actress Amy Irving, shared an Instagram tribute featuring photos of Pointer and her family.
“Priscilla Pointer, acclaimed stage television and film actress, and mother of David, Katie, and Amy Irving, died peacefully in her sleep at the age of 100, hopefully to run off with her 2 adoring husbands and her many dogs,” Amy wrote. “She most definitely will be missed.”
Born on May 18, 1924, in New York City, New York, to artists Augusta and Kenneth Pointer, she started her career in theater. She performed in touring productions like “A Streetcar Named Desire” and “The Country Wife.” After World War II, she co-founded the San Francisco Actor’s Workshop with her first husband, Jules Irving.
Pointer made her television debut in 1954 with a role in “The New Adventures of China Smith.” In the 1970s, she secured roles in various television shows, including “McCloud,” “The Rockford Files,” and “Kojak.”
Her film career started in 1976 with “The Great Texas Dynamite Chase,” “Carrie,” and “Nickelodeon.” In “Carrie,” she acted alongside her daughter Amy, portraying Sue Snell’s mother, a role that became one of her most recognized.
Pointer’s filmography includes “Looking for Mr. Goodbar” (1977), “The Onion Field,” “Mommie Dearest,” “The Falcon and the Snowman,” and “Blue Velvet” (1986). She frequently played mothers and authority figures, solidifying her status as a respected character actress.
In the early 1980s, television audiences knew Pointer for her role in “Dallas,” where she played Rebecca Barnes Wentworth from 1981 to 1983, making her a household name.
Pointer often collaborated with family, appearing in films with her daughter and working on projects directed by her son, David Irving, including the 1987 film “Rumpelstiltskin.”
Pointer was married twice, first to Jules Irving in 1947 until his death in 1979, with whom she had three children: Katie, David, and Amy Irving. Afterward, she married actor Robert Symonds, with whom she frequently collaborated.
Pointer continued working into the 1990s, appearing in “The Flash,” “ER,” and “St. Elsewhere.” Her last credit was a voice role in the 2008 TV movie “Sweet Nothing in My Ear.”
Before her work in film and television, Pointer was an established stage actress. She appeared in Broadway productions and was a member of the Repertory Theater of Lincoln Center. Her stage work laid the foundation for her extensive career.
Pointer’s ability to portray maternal figures made her a sought-after actress. She played on-screen mothers to characters portrayed by Diane Keaton, Sean Penn, and Victoria Principal, among others.
Pointer’s longevity in her career and life highlights her resilience and talent, spanning from the golden age of television to modern entertainment, with credits in nearly every genre.
Pointer is survived by her three children, including David and Amy Irving, as well as several grandchildren.
