Priscilla Marie Pointer (May 18, 1924 – April 28, 2025) was an American actress of theater, film and television.

Pointer began her career in the theater in the late 1940s, including productions on Broadway, and later moved to Hollywood to pursue a television and film career beginning in the early 1950s. She was widely known for her recurring role as Rebecca Barnes Wentworth in the popular television series, Dallas.

Background Pointer was born on May 18, 1924, in New York City. Her mother, Augusta "Gus" Leonora Pointer (née Davis; 1898–1970), was a sculptor and an illustrator, and her father, Kenneth Keith Pointer (1890–1984), was an artist. One of her maternal great-grandfathers, Jacob Barrett Cohen, was from a Jewish family who had lived in the United States since the 1700s. Pointer turned 100 in May 2024.

Pointer was married to film and stage director Jules Irving, former artistic director of Lincoln Center, from 1947 until his death in 1979; they were the parents of Katie Irving, director David Irving, and actress Amy Irving. Through her daughter, she was mother-in-law of filmmakers Steven Spielberg and Bruno Barreto, respectively. She was the widow of Robert Symonds, whom she married in 1980.

Career

Early career Pointer was a performer from the late 1940s on, starting her career in theatre and appearing on Broadway as well as several tours in "A Streetcar Named Desire", "The Country Wife" and "The Condemned of Altona", She also featured in the TV series China Smith (also known as The New Adventures of China Smith) in 1954. After a long hiatus, Pointer returned to acting in the early 1970s.

Pointer's first major starring role was on the TV soap opera Where the Heart Is as Adrienne Harris Rainey from 1972 and 1973.

Films Pointer appearances included Carrie (1976), in which she played the onscreen mother of Amy Irving's character; The Onion Field (1979); Mommie Dearest (1981); Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983); A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987); David Lynch's Blue Velvet; and Coyote Moon (1999). In addition to Carrie, she played the onscreen mother to Amy Irving in Honeysuckle Rose (1980) and Carried Away (1996). They were both in the films The Competition in 1980 and Micki & Maude in 1984.

Pointer appeared in three films directed by her son: Rumpelstiltskin (a 1987 musical version, which starred her daughter), Good-bye, Cruel World, and C.H.U.D. II: Bud the C.H.U.D.

Television Pointer made many guest appearances on television, including Adam-12, L.A. Law, The A-Team, Judging Amy, The Rockford Files, and Cold Case.

From 1981 to 1983, Pointer had a recurring role on the soap opera Dallas as Rebecca Barnes Wentworth, the mother of Cliff Barnes (Ken Kercheval), Pamela Barnes Ewing (Victoria Principal), and Katherine Wentworth (Morgan Brittany). She appeared in 44 episodes.

Death Pointer died of natural causes on Monday, April 28, 2025 at an assisted living facility in Ridgefield, Connecticut. She was 100 years old, as announced by her daughter Amy Irving.

Filmography Film YearTitleRole(s)Notes1976 Carrie Eleanor Snell Nickelodeon Mabel The Great Texas Dynamite Chase Miss Harris 1977 The 3,000 Mile Chase Emma Dvorak Looking for Mr. Goodbar Mrs. Dunn 1979 The Onion Field Chrissie Campbell 1980 Honeysuckle Rose Rosella Ramsey The Competition Mrs. Donellan 1981 Mommie Dearest Mrs. Chadwick1983 Good-bye, Cruel World Myra Twilight Zone: The Movie Miss Cox Segment: "Kick the Can"1984 Micki & Maude Diana Hutchison 1985 The Falcon and the Snowman Mrs. Lee 1986 Blue Velvet Mrs. Beaumont 1987 Rumpelstiltskin Queen Grizelda A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors Dr. Elizabeth Simms From the Hip Mrs. Martha Williams 1989 C.H.U.D. II: Bud the C.H.U.D. Doctor Berlin 1990 A Show of Force Alice Ryan Disturbed Nurse Francine 1992 Unbecoming Age Grandma 1993 Painted Desert Barbara 1996 Carried Away Lily Henson 1999 Inferno Mrs. Henry Howard 1999 The Rage: Carrie 2 Eleanor Snell Archive footage (uncredited) 2010 Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy Herself/Dr. Elizabeth Simms Documentary

Television YearTitleRoleNotes1954 China Smith (also known as The New Adventures of China Smith) Carla Tilson/Iris Clarke 2 episodes1969 N.Y.P.D. Woman with child in park Episode: "The Night Watch"1970 The High Chaparral Mrs. Colton Episode: "A Matter of Vengeance"1971 The Failing of Raymond History Teacher Television film1973 Adam-12 Jacqueline Carey Episode: "Van Nuys Division: Pete's Mustache"1977 Mary Jane Harper Cried Last Night Laura Atherton Television film1978 Quincy, M.E. Victim's mother Episode: "Dead and Alive"1981–1983 Dallas Rebecca Barnes Wentworth 44 episodes1984 The New Mike Hammer Edna Grundy Episode: "Seven Dead Eyes"Too Close for Comfort Betty FarnsworthEpisode: "The Sound of Mother"St. Elsewhere Marie HalloranEpisode: "In Sickness and in Health"1986–1988 L.A. Law Judge Dorothy M. Pehlman 4 episodes1987 Newhart Clara Whitscomber Episode: "Me and My Gayle"Rags to Riches RubyEpisode: "Vegas Rock"1990–1991 The Flash Nora Allen 3 episodes1994 ER Mrs. Abernathy Episode: "The Gift"1997 Alone Susan Hight Television film2001 Judging Amy Margaret Palmer Episode: "The Unforgiven"2006 Cold Case Lillian Vine Episode: "Debut"2008 Sweet Nothing in My Ear Sally (voice) Television film

References

External links