Priscilla Pointer, a stage and screen actress known for roles in the film “Carrie” and the television series “Dallas,” died Monday in Ridgefield, Connecticut. She was 100.
Her death was confirmed by her son, filmmaker David K. Irving. She died of natural causes at an assisted-living facility.
Pointer played the mother of her real-life daughter, actress Amy Irving, in the 1976 horror film “Carrie.” She appeared in several other films with her daughter throughout her career.
In the supernatural horror classic, Pointer portrayed the mother of Sue Snell, a classmate of the title character. Amy Irving played Sue Snell.
Pointer also held a recurring role on the popular CBS soap opera “Dallas,” playing Rebecca Barnes Wentworth, the mother of Cliff Barnes. Ken Kercheval's portrayal of Cliff Barnes was a key part of the series narrative.
Her career spanned six decades, with roles portraying mothers in various films, including Diane Keaton’s in “Looking for Mr. Goodbar,” Kyle MacLachlan’s in “Blue Velvet” and Sean Penn’s in “The Falcon and the Snowman.”
Born in New York in May 1924, Pointer began her career in theater, performing in touring productions. Her first television appearance was in 1954. She later appeared on series like “McCloud,” “The Rockford Files,” “Kojak,” “Police Woman” and “Phyllis” in the 1970s. She continued television work in later decades, appearing on shows such as ER and “Touched by An Angel.” Her final role was a voiceover in 2008.
She married actor Jules Irving in 1947, and together they co-founded the Actor’s Workshop theater company in San Francisco. Jules Irving died in 1979. They had three children: David, Katie, and Amy Irving.
Amy Irving posted about her mother's passing on social media. (Source)
