The 75-year-old actress and film producer is remembering her longtime co-star and on-screen mother, who has died at the age of 100.
Victoria Principal publicly shared her grief over the passing of her “Dallas” co-star Priscilla Pointer. On April 30, 2025, she took to Instagram to announce the loss.
“Priscilla Pointer, my favorite TV mama & a wonderful woman, passed away today. My sincere condolences to Amy Irving & all of Priscilla’s family. Always a special place in my heart. RIP,” expressed Victoria.
Priscilla, a celebrated actress known for her role as Rebecca Barnes Wentworth — mother to Victoria’s character, Pamela Barnes Ewing — held a special place in the hearts of “Dallas” fans and colleagues alike.
Their close bond continued long after the series ended, as evidenced by Victoria’s previous birthday tribute to Priscilla posted on May 18, 2024.
The post featured a keepsake gifted by Priscilla and read, “This is the photo and note that Priscilla Pointer gifted to me when she left the Dallas series. My Dallas mama turns 100 today. Happy Birthday dear Priscilla! Love, Victoria.”
The news of Priscilla’s demise prompted an outpouring of sympathy and shared memories from followers. One person wrote, “I’m so sorry to read this. I’ve been binge watching Dallas reruns on FreeVee and love watching her scenes. Lifting up in prayer you, her family and all impacted by her passing [sic].”
Another commented, “Very sorry for your loss. I know how close you remained until her passing [sic].” A third added, “I immediately thought of you, Victoria, because I know you loved her so much. My thoughts are with her two daughters and with you, Victoria.”
Priscilla’s death was confirmed by her daughter, actress Amy Irving, who shared a tribute via Instagram.
“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. She most definitely will be missed,” penned Amy.
Her grandson Gabriel Barreto also honored her legacy with a heartfelt message, “My grandmother, legend of stage and screen, Priscilla Pointer passed away peacefully in her sleep yesterday at 100 years old. She was a wonderful mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and a true gift to the craft of acting. She was vibrant and witty, had cheekbones that could cut glass, and loved dogs. She will be missed by so many.”
Born on May 18, 1924, in New York, Priscilla led a dynamic career that extended across stage, television, and film. Though often recognized as the mother of Amy, she built her own reputation through decades of work in the arts.
She trained in theater and appeared in numerous stage productions, including “A Streetcar Named Desire,” “The Country Wife,” and “The Condemned of Altona” — many directed by her first husband, Jules Irving, whom she married in 1947.
Along with Amy, she co-founded the San Francisco Actor’s Workshop with Herbert Blau and Beatrice Manley. After taking time away from her career to raise her children, she returned to acting in her 40s and transitioned into film and television.
Known for portraying mothers and strong authority figures, she appeared in “Carrie” (1976), “Looking for Mr. Goodbar” (1977), “The Falcon and the Snowman” (1985), and “Blue Velvet” (1986).
Following the death of Jules in 1979, she later married actor Robert Symonds, with whom she also performed in productions such as “Voices” and “The Road to Mecca.”
Priscilla’s passing marks the end of a remarkable life and career that touched audiences and colleagues alike. Her bond with Victoria and her memorable role on “Dallas” remain lasting tributes to her legacy on and off screen.
In the years since Dallas, Victoria’s own path has taken many turns — both personally and professionally. Despite her rise to fame, she suffered major setbacks in her personal life, including a string of failed relationships and her first marriage ending in divorce. Years of immense success made her realize she wanted something different in life.
Trading the spotlight for a quieter life, she now devotes herself to rescuing and caring for animals, a pursuit that fills her with joy every day. Take a look at her journey and how “beautiful” the star, who celebrated her 75th birthday in January 2025, looks now.
The Rise of the ‘Dallas’ Star
Victoria’s journey to fame began in the early 1970s, starting with a role in “The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean” alongside the legendary Paul Newman.
However, four years after her debut, she became so dissatisfied with the trajectory of her career that she stepped away from acting entirely. For the next three years, she shifted her focus and worked as an agent.
By 1978, her passion for law and her desire to enter the business side of the entertainment industry led to plans of attending law school and possibly becoming a studio executive.
But fate had a different plan when Aaron Spelling, the famed television producer, offered to cover a year of her law school tuition in exchange for her accepting a role in the pilot of “Fantasy Island” in 1977. She took the opportunity, which led to her landing one of the most significant roles of her career just a year later.
That life-changing role came in the form of Pamela on the hit CBS soap opera “Dallas,” which quickly became a fan favorite and one of the longest-running TV shows of its time.
“When I went in for the part on ‘Dallas,’ I had already fallen in love with the show and with the part. So my feeling from the moment I read it was that it was incredibly special, and I really, really wanted to be a part of it. I could not imagine not being Pam,” she shared.
Her portrayal of Pam cemented her as a staple of 1980s television. “The first five years were some of the best television I’ve ever seen,” the actress fondly recalled.
While working on “Dallas,” the star met her first husband, actor Christopher Skinner. The pair found themselves in a whirlwind romance and after just three dates, the couple married in a private Las Vegas ceremony.
However, cracks soon began to show. The actress reflected on their relationship, “After a while, Christopher realized he really did want somebody who was home more, who had more traditional hours. He wanted a more traditional marriage. Now, that wasn’t his fault, and it wasn’t my fault. Needs change.”
She added, “The reason we got divorced was not because we didn’t love each other, but because he couldn’t live within the way I lived, and I couldn’t live the way he wanted. There was no hate involved, just sorrow.”
The breakup with Christopher wasn’t the only romantic disappointment in the actress’s life. She was briefly involved with financier Bernie Cornfeld, a notorious figure of the time. She also dated legendary crooner Frank Sinatra before starting a relationship with pop star Andy Gibb.
Then, after nine years of portraying Pamela, the “Dallas” star decided to leave the show. By that time, her dissatisfaction with the series had grown.
“[…] After year seven, there was a definitive decline. At year seven, it was time for me to renegotiate my contract, and I was very candid about my concern and my disappointment,” she explained.
The Hollywood star cited frustrations over the changing quality of the writing and left after her contract negotiations.
“We had had such good writing and so many wonderful plots, and that when the time came to renegotiate the writers’ contracts, I felt that a number of writers had left because they had not gotten the right deal,” disclosed the actress while speaking to People magazine in 2018.
However, her career didn’t slow down. She launched her own production company and focused on producing and starring in various TV movies.
In 1983, she authored “The Body Principal,” the first of four health and wellness books. Her entrepreneurial spirit reached new heights in 1991 when she founded a successful skincare company, Principal Secret, which she led for nearly 30 years.
“My interest had shifted in such a way that to not pursue my passion, which more and more really was my skincare company and creating products that could help many people,” the star shared.
Then by the early 2000s, after a string of successful business ventures and TV appearances, including a role on “Titans” from 2000 to 2001, Victoria felt a shift in her priorities. “By the time I turned 50, I felt that I wanted to make a change in my life,” she said of her decision to leave Hollywood for good.
From Hollywood Glamour to Ranch Life
After her fair share of heartbreaks, Victoria found love once again in the mid-1980s. After her and Andy’s emotional divorce, she met Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Harry Glassman.
Their relationship blossomed as both were navigating the end of previous marriages. Harry was in the process of divorcing his first wife, Jane, when he and Victoria began dating.
They later married in 1985. However, Harry once revealed, “One of the things about the relationship with Victoria I’ve grown to resent is the lack of privacy.” The couple eventually parted ways in 2006 after over two decades together.
Over the years, Victoria’s dedication to her skincare line Principal Secret remained strong, but her heart was pulling her toward something else. In 2019, she officially stepped down from the business.
“[…] I will be stepping down to devote myself full-time to my philanthropic work through The Victoria Principal Foundation for Thoughtful Existence and my rescue work with animals,” she shared in a statement.
The actress’s animal rescue work took center stage after she moved to a ranch outside of Los Angeles. As of 2012, the former actress lived a quieter life, far removed from the Hollywood scene.
On the “Vigilante Force” talent’s ranch, she rescues and rehabilitates animals that have been neglected or abused.
“They need medical care, patience, and love to recover physically, emotionally, and in spirit. This is not a charitable organization but rather something I have dreamed of, and they all live out the rest of their lives with me,” she said.
“It’s something that fills me with joy every day,” she added. As for acting, the former Hollywood star admitted, “I have no plans to resume acting, but I learned a long time ago to ‘never say never’ as life has a way of offering us unexpected gifts if we are paying attention.”
Despite moving away from the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, Victoria has remained a beloved public figure. In August, the actress took to social media to share a stunning snap of herself embracing her horse, and netizens buzzed over how stunning she looks at 75.
“You are so beautiful Victoria,” one fan commented. “Such a lovely picture. You are beautiful inside and out,” another shared. A third typed, “Two beauties. Have a great weekend.”
A fourth admirer added, “So beautiful, dear Victoria. Love is always in my heart. I sure hope to meet you sometime. I love you my friend. Happy Saturday to you and your precious fur family. 🐾☀️🌊💐💛❤️⭐️.”
After leaving the entertainment industry, Victoria Principal found fulfillment in caring for animals and dedicating herself to philanthropy.
Her philanthropic work and animals mean so much to her that she even commemorated her 75th birthday with an endearing Instagram post showcasing one of her horses.
In the video post, Victoria’s beloved horse Hargill was seen prancing around and hopping about. “Today is my birthday and Hargill gave me the ‘Hargill Happy Dance.’ We all watched (and listened) with belly laughs! It’s the simple things…😊🎂,” captioned the star alongside the post.
At 75, she remains a radiant figure, proving that true happiness comes from following one’s passion and living authentically.
