Priscilla Pointer, 'Dallas' and 'Carrie' star and mother of actress Amy Irving, dead at 100
Updated: 8:39 AM CDT Apr 30, 2025
Priscilla Pointer, the actress best known for playing formidable mothers in 鈥淒allas鈥� and 鈥淐arrie,鈥� has died at age 100.Pointer鈥檚 daughter, the Oscar-nominated actress Amy Irving, announced her death Tuesday on Instagram, writing that she had 鈥渄ied peacefully in her sleep at the age of 100, hopefully to run off with her 2 adoring husbands and her many dogs.鈥滻rving, who was married to famed director Steven Spielberg from 1985 until 1989, added: 鈥淪he most definitely will be missed.鈥漌ith a screen career that spanned six decades, Pointer was a familiar face in both television and film. In 鈥淒allas,鈥� she portrayed the wealthy and enigmatic Rebecca Barnes Wentworth until her character鈥檚 dramatic exit in a midair plane collision during the show鈥檚 sixth season.In the 1976 horror classic 鈥淐arrie,鈥� Pointer played the mother of Sue Snell 鈥� a high school student portrayed by her real-life daughter Amy in her film debut. The casting became the first of several collaborations between the two. Pointer played Irving鈥檚 on-screen mother in 鈥淗oneysuckle Rose鈥� (1980) and 鈥淎cts of Love鈥� (1996), and they both appeared in 鈥淭he Competition鈥� (1980) and 鈥淢icki & Maude鈥� (1984).Pointer鈥檚 film credits include 鈥淟ooking for Mr. Goodbar鈥� (1977) and 鈥淏lue Velvet鈥� (1986).She also appeared in several independent projects, directed by her son, David Irving. On television, she guest-starred in a wide range of shows from 鈥淭he Rockford Files鈥� to 鈥淛udging Amy,鈥� and had a recurring role on 鈥淟.A. Law.鈥滲orn in New York City on May 18, 1924, Pointer trained in theater and appeared in multiple Broadway and touring productions. Many of her early stage credits came under the direction of her husband Jules Irving, a former actor and theater director, whom she married in 1947 and with whom she had three children before his death in 1979. Together, they co-founded the San Francisco Actor鈥檚 Workshop.Pointer died Monday at an assisted living facility in Ridgefield, Connecticut, David Irving told The Hollywood Reporter.Her final acting credit was a voice role in the 2008 television movie 鈥淪weet Nothing in My Ear.鈥漃ointer, who celebrated her 100th birthday last May, is survived by her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, including actor Gabriel Barreto, who posted a tribute to his grandmother on X Tuesday.鈥淪he was a wonderful mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and a true gift to the craft of acting,鈥� he said. 鈥淪he will be missed by so many.鈥�
RIDGEFIELD, Conn. — Priscilla Pointer, the actress best known for playing formidable mothers in 鈥淒allas鈥� and 鈥淐arrie,鈥� has died at age 100.
Pointer鈥檚 daughter, the Oscar-nominated actress Amy Irving, announced her death Tuesday on , writing that she had 鈥渄ied peacefully in her sleep at the age of 100, hopefully to run off with her 2 adoring husbands and her many dogs.鈥�
Irving, who was married to famed director Steven Spielberg from 1985 until 1989, added: 鈥淪he most definitely will be missed.鈥�
With a screen career that spanned six decades, Pointer was a familiar face in both television and film. In 鈥淒allas,鈥� she portrayed the wealthy and enigmatic Rebecca Barnes Wentworth until her character鈥檚 dramatic exit in a midair plane collision during the show鈥檚 sixth season.
In the 1976 horror classic 鈥淐arrie,鈥� Pointer played the mother of Sue Snell 鈥� a high school student portrayed by her real-life daughter Amy in her film debut. The casting became the first of several collaborations between the two. Pointer played Irving鈥檚 on-screen mother in 鈥淗oneysuckle Rose鈥� (1980) and 鈥淎cts of Love鈥� (1996), and they both appeared in 鈥淭he Competition鈥� (1980) and 鈥淢icki & Maude鈥� (1984).
MediaPunch/Shutterstock via CNN Newsource
Priscilla Pointer
Pointer鈥檚 film credits include 鈥淟ooking for Mr. Goodbar鈥� (1977) and 鈥淏lue Velvet鈥� (1986).
She also appeared in several independent projects, directed by her son, David Irving. On television, she guest-starred in a wide range of shows from 鈥淭he Rockford Files鈥� to 鈥淛udging Amy,鈥� and had a recurring role on 鈥淟.A. Law.鈥�
Born in New York City on May 18, 1924, Pointer trained in theater and appeared in multiple Broadway and touring productions. Many of her early stage credits came under the direction of her husband Jules Irving, a former actor and theater director, whom she married in 1947 and with whom she had three children before his death in 1979. Together, they co-founded the San Francisco Actor鈥檚 Workshop.
Pointer died Monday at an assisted living facility in Ridgefield, Connecticut, David Irving told .
Her final acting credit was a voice role in the 2008 television movie 鈥淪weet Nothing in My Ear.鈥�
Pointer, who celebrated her 100th birthday last May, is survived by her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, including actor Gabriel Barreto, who Tuesday.
鈥淪he was a wonderful mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and a true gift to the craft of acting,鈥� he said. 鈥淪he will be missed by so many.鈥�