Priscilla Pointer, ‘Dallas’ actress and SF Actor’s Workshop co-founder, dies peacefully at 100

Veteran actress Priscilla Pointer, known for her extensive work in theater, film, and television, and as co-founder of the San Francisco Actor’s Workshop, has died peacefully in her sleep at the age of 100, her family confirmed.

Pointer’s illustrious eight-decade career included memorable roles in Carrie, Blue Velvet, The Onion Field, The Falcon and the Snowman, Looking for Mr. Goodbar, and a long-running role on Dallas. On the iconic TV series, she portrayed the mother of Cliff Barnes, Pamela Barnes Ewing, and Katherine Wentworth across 44 episodes.

In 1947, Pointer married director Jules Irving, with whom she helped found the influential San Francisco Actor’s Workshop. Their group pioneered Off-Broadway-style productions on the West Coast, premiering works by Arthur Miller, Samuel Beckett, and Bertolt Brecht. In 1965, Pointer debuted on Broadway in Danton’s Death and later starred in A Streetcar Named Desire and The Country Wife.

Following Irving’s death in 1979, Pointer married Robert Symonds, his producing partner. Her television career thrived in the 1970s, with appearances on series like McCloud, The Rockford Files, and Kojak. She also shared the screen with her daughter Amy Irving in films such as Carrie (1976), The Competition (1980), and Honeysuckle Rose (1980).

Pointer is survived by her daughters Amy and Katie, son David, son-in-law Kenneth Bowser, and eight grandchildren, including actor Gabriel Barreto, who shared a heartfelt tribute on social media. Her daughter Amy described Pointer as having “run off with her adoring husbands and many dogs,” celebrating a life rich in artistry and love.