Priscilla Pointer, Amy Irving’s Mother and ‘Carrie’ and ‘Dallas’ Actress, Dies at 100

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On Monday, Priscilla Pointer, known for portraying her actual daughter Amy Irving’s mother in “Carrie” and making an appearance on “Dallas,” passed away at the age of 100 in Ridgefield, Connecticut.

Pointer’s death was confirmed to EbMaster by her son, USC professor David K. Irving.

In the world of film, I’ve always admired Piper Laurie, who played the iconic role of Carrie’s mom in “Carrie” and graced the screen alongside her daughter in six other films. Her talent was not limited to this role, as she portrayed several renowned mothers during the ’70s and ’80s, such as Diane Keaton’s mother in “Looking for Mr. Goodbar,” Kyle MacLachlan’s mother in “Blue Velvet,” and Sean Penn’s mother in “The Falcon and the Snowman.” Her versatility extended even beyond films, with a notable role on the CBS soap opera “Dallas” as the mother of Victoria Principal’s character. Truly, she left an indelible mark on the silver screen.

Through various stages of her career, Pointer made appearances in several productions such as “A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors”, “Twilight Zone: The Movie”, “ER”, “Judging Amy”, “St. Elsewhere”, “McCoy”, “McCloud” and “N.Y.P.D.”. Additionally, she starred in three films directed by her son David Irving, including the 1987 musical version of “Rumpelstiltskin”, “Good-bye, Cruel World” and “C.H.U.D. II: Bud the C.H.U.D.”.

Pointer began her career as a performer in New York, before moving to film and television. Her initial steps were on the stage, where she featured in numerous Broadway productions such as “A Streetcar Named Desire,” “The Caucasian Chalk Circle,” “The Condemned of Altona,” “Yerma” and “The East Wind.” Many times, her husband Jules Irving directed these performances. They first met following an army production of “Brother Rat” in Europe.

Together with her spouse, Pointer helped establish the San Francisco Actor’s Workshop along with Herbert Blau and Beatrice Manley. Over time, this company was assumed by the Vivian Beaumont Theater based in New York City.

Pointer is survived by her three children.

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2025-04-29 22:18