Veteran actress Priscilla Pointer, notable for her roles in the soap opera “Dallas” and the horror film “Carrie,” has passed away at the age of 100. Pointer died on April 28, 2025, at an assisted-living facility in Ridgefield, Connecticut, as confirmed by her son David Irving to USA TODAY on April 29.
Pointer’s career, which spanned six decades in theater, film, and television, ended due to natural causes. Her daughter, Oscar-nominated actress Amy Irving, paid tribute on Instagram with family photos taken throughout the years.
“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 to artists Augusta and Kenneth Pointer, she started her career in theater. She performed in touring productions such as “A Streetcar Named Desire,” “The Country Wife,” and “The Condemned of Altona.” Pointer was involved in the San Francisco Actor’s Workshop with the co-founders – her first husband, Jules Irving, whom she met during an army production of “Brother Rat” after World War II, and Herbert Blau.
Pointer made her television debut in 1954 with an appearance on “The New Adventures of China Smith.” During the 1970s, she secured roles on television shows like “McCloud,” “The Rockford Files,” “Kojak,” “Police Woman,” and “Phyllis.”
Her film career began in earnest in 1976 with roles in “The Great Texas Dynamite Chase,” “Carrie,” and “Nickelodeon.” In “Carrie,” Pointer acted alongside her daughter Amy, who played Sue Snell. Pointer portrayed Sue’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 David Lynch’s “Blue Velvet” (1986). She often played maternal and authoritative roles, establishing herself as a respected character actress.
In the early 1980s, Pointer was recognized for her recurring role on the soap opera “Dallas,” where she played Rebecca Barnes Wentworth, the mother of Cliff Barnes, from 1981 to 1983.
Throughout her career, Pointer frequently collaborated with family members. She appeared in seven films with her daughter Amy and worked on several projects directed by her son, David Irving, including “Rumpelstiltskin” (1987), which starred Amy alongside Billy Barty and Clive Revill.
Pointer’s personal life included two marriages. She married actor and director Jules Irving in 1947, and they remained together until his death in 1979. They had three children: Katie, David, and Amy Irving. After Jules’ passing, Pointer married actor Robert Symonds, with whom she also collaborated professionally.
Despite her advancing years, Pointer continued to work, appearing in television series like “The Flash,” “ER,” “Touched by An Angel,” “St. Elsewhere,” “Judging Amy,” and “A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors” (1987). Her last credit was a voice role in the 2008 TV movie “Sweet Nothing in My Ear.”
Before her extensive work in film and television, Pointer was a formidable presence on stage. Her work in Broadway productions and as a member of the Repertory Theater of Lincoln Center laid the foundation for her expansive career.
Pointer was known for her ability to portray complex maternal figures, playing on-screen mothers to actors including Diane Keaton, Sean Penn, Kyle MacLachlan, and Victoria Principal. This versatility sustained her lengthy career in a challenging industry.
Pointer’s longevity in life and career is a testament to her resilience and talent, with her work spanning from the golden age of television to modern entertainment, covering nearly every genre.
Pointer is survived by her three children, including David and Amy Irving, as well as several grandchildren.
