“Dallas,” the most successful primetime soap in TV history, is a show I hold dear. I could easily rewatch the entire series just to enjoy Victoria Principal’s performance.
Victoria Principal, known for her memorable role as Pamela Barnes Ewing, was one of the main reasons to watch “Dallas,” along with Larry Hagman, who played the infamous J.R. Ewing.
Now, at 74 years old, Victoria looks incredible. You’ll be amazed when you see her latest photos!
Victoria Principal, now 74, has had a diverse career as an actress, author, producer, and skincare business owner.
Her ability to succeed in many areas might be due to her childhood, which required her to adapt to different places.
Victoria was born on January 3, 1950, in Japan. Her father, a U.S. Air Force Sergeant, was stationed in Fukuoka, so Victoria spent her early months there.
As a child, Victoria and her mother moved frequently due to her father’s job. They lived in England, Puerto Rico, Massachusetts, Florida, and other places.
Victoria Principal attended 17 different schools during her childhood, including the famous Royal Ballet School in England.
Her childhood experiences are a bit mixed. According to the Daily Mail, Victoria and her mother, Ree Principal, had a complicated relationship, and Victoria described her childhood as unhappy in a 2009 report. In a 2012 interview with the Huffington Post, Victoria said she wished she had known earlier that her childhood would eventually end.
However, Victoria has also said, “I was very lucky. My parents raised me in such a way that it never occurred to me that I wasn’t equal.”
Victoria Principal began working early, landing her first job in a TV commercial at just 5 years old.
In 1968, she enrolled at Miami-Dade Community College, planning to become a doctor. However, her path changed dramatically after a serious car accident just months before finishing her first year. The crash forced her to spend months in recovery, and she had to repeat her first year of college.
Deciding to change direction, Victoria moved to New York City to pursue acting. After working as an actress and model in New York and Europe, she moved to Los Angeles in 1971 to chase major film roles. She eventually landed a role in the film “The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean,” playing the mistress of the main character, portrayed by Paul Newman.
Victoria Principal showed she had talent early on, earning a Golden Globe nomination for best newcomer. Her rising fame meant she started getting invited to more parties, but she soon realized that many people were more interested in her fame than in being genuine friends.
After her role in “The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean,” Victoria had a hard time finding satisfying roles. Her next film, “The Naked Ape,” didn’t do well, which really affected her confidence.
Victoria Principal wanted to be successful to protect herself from getting hurt. She became very cautious and guarded.
In 1974, she starred in the hit disaster film “Earthquake,” which did really well at the box office. However, while filming “Vigilante Force” in 1975, Victoria felt overwhelmed and collapsed under the pressure of maintaining a perfect image. She admitted that she was so unhappy that she didn’t want to continue living.
Victoria decided to step away from acting and study law. Between 1975 and 1977, she worked as a talent agent, which gave her relief from the constant focus on her looks and body. As an agent, she was valued for her skills and personality.
While working as an agent, Victoria came across the script for the TV series “Dallas.” She was intrigued and knew she wanted the role. She called the casting director and, in a surprising twist, sent herself in for the audition.
Victoria ended up landing the role of Pamela Barnes Ewing, and it became a defining moment in her career.
Victoria Principal knew that “Dallas” was going to be a big success. She loved the show and the role of Pamela Barnes Ewing from the moment she read the script. She felt like she was meant to play that part.
Victoria used her knowledge of the industry to negotiate her own contract with CBS. This gave her the freedom to work on other projects while “Dallas” became a global hit. She was the only cast member who did commercials, acted in TV movies, and wrote books, all while maintaining control over her own image.
Victoria took charge of her career and made sure that no one else controlled her.
In 1978, the TV show *Dallas* premiered and quickly became one of the most popular TV dramas ever. It was so popular that it’s hard for younger people today to grasp just how big of a deal it was worldwide.
The show focused on the Ewings, a rich Texas family involved in oil and cattle ranching.
Victoria Principal, who was 28 when the show started, played a big part in its success. As Pamela Barnes Ewing, the gorgeous wife of Bobby Ewing and sister-in-law to JR Ewing, she became a major crush for many fans of that generation.
During her nine years on *Dallas*, Victoria Principal was nominated for a Golden Globe and two Soap Opera Digest Awards.
Recently, she has shared stories from her time on the show and talked about working with Larry Hagman, who played the iconic character JR Ewing.
Victoria mentioned that working with Larry was always enjoyable. He was a generous actor who would discuss how to make their scenes even better before filming them.
Victoria Principal wasn’t very close with her *Dallas* castmates.
She explained that while they did talk on the phone, they didn’t often hang out together. They had different lives: Patrick, Steve, Larry, and Linda were all married with children, while Victoria was single. Their lifestyles were just too different.
Victoria left *Dallas* in 1987 for a few reasons. She felt that staying on the show longer would make it hard for her to be seen as more than just her character, Pam Ewing. She wanted to avoid being typecast and to explore other opportunities.
Victoria Principal, now 71, has always been in the spotlight, but she’s also made a name for herself off-screen. After marrying plastic surgeon Dr. Harry Glassman, rumors suggested he might have helped her maintain her youthful appearance. However, in a 2007 interview, Victoria denied using any of his services for cosmetic procedures. She stated, “I’ve never had a face-lift. Or a professional peel or lasers.”
Victoria and Dr. Glassman divorced in December 2006 after being together for over 20 years. While she doesn’t have biological children, she grew close with Dr. Glassman’s children from a previous relationship, Andrew and Brooke.
These days, Victoria stays active on social media and spends much of her time on her ranch near Los Angeles, where she focuses on rehabilitating animals. Seeing her happy and thriving brings tears of joy to many of her fans!
Lynda Wiesmeier: Cause of death, Playboy career, movies
Lynda Wiesmeier was an actress who made a splash with a few notable films.
Yet, it’s a particular image of her that has gained attention in recent years, capturing something that feels like a glimpse into a bygone era…
Her journey began in Bitburg, Germany, where her father served as a doctor in the U.S. Air Force. The family moved around quite a bit before Lynda finally landed in sunny Los Angeles. She also spent some time in Bound Brook, New Jersey, where she became a regular sunbather at the Jersey shore.
Starring in zombie movie
Lynda loved working and keeping busy, balancing three careers: modeling, acting, and clerical work in a medical office.
In 1982, her beauty caught the eye of Playboy, and she was featured as the centerfold Playmate in their July issue. After becoming a Playmate, Lynda entered a whirlwind phase in her show business career, starring in films that showcased her stunning natural physique. She appeared in movies like Real Genius (1985), Teen Wolf (1985), Malibu Express (1985), and R.S.V.P. (1984).
Final movie
But it was her final film that might just be the one to put Lynda Wiesmeier on the map. In 1987, she was cast as Dianne in the zombie horror flick Evil Town.
The film starred none other than the legendary Dean Jagger, who took on the role of a mad scientist on a quest for eternal youth. His method? Synthesizing a drug from human pituitary fluid, of course. As he extracted the fluid, things took a turn for the worse — the process resulted in mindless zombies created from the unfortunate donors.
By an interesting twist of fate, Evil Town also featured Keith Hefner, the younger brother of Playboy founder Hugh Hefner. With both Lynda and Keith on board, the film had quite the Playboy connection.
The film was set to hit theaters on June 3, 1987, but excitement was so high that many theaters started showing it a day early, on June 2. However, despite the buzz, Evil Town didn’t quite live up to expectations.
Critics panned it, calling it a “silly horror film.” Cavett Binion of All Movie Guide pointed out that the movie was a mishmash of scenes from earlier films, including an unfinished project from the 1970s, and added that it was “spiced up with some gratuitous nudity courtesy of former Playboy Playmate Lynda Wiesmeier.” Ouch!
Luckily, Lynda Wiesmeier was destined for a bit of a comeback. Somehow, a particular scene from Evil Town has gone viral in the years since its release.
However, it’s not for the reasons some might assume.
Lynda Wiesmeier photo
In this memorable moment, Lynda shares the screen with the nearly unknown actor Scott Hunter.
At first glance, this looks like your classic 1980s snapshot. In front of a Dodge car, a young man and woman strike a pose, both rocking quintessential ’80s attire. But take a closer look, and you might uncover something unexpected!
The man sports dark shorts and a gray hoodie splashed with colorful motifs, while Lynda shows off high-waisted white shorts paired with a bright red top, artfully knotted at the waist. Short shorts were just the style back then, and Scott wore them with corduroy shirts, which everyone seemed to have.
Their retro outfits scream ’80s fashion, making it a delightful throwback to the era for many. And that’s exactly what has people falling in love with this image.
Fashion in the 1980s was big, bright and bold – and we embraced a mix of styles, including punk, glam rock, and preppy looks.
We could play with colors, hair, makeup and lots of plastic jewelry and other crazy accessories. And sometimes, all it takes is a simple image from a lesser-known film to transport us back to this fantastic era – thanks for that, Lynda and Scott.
Left the industry
After leaving the film industry, Lynda embraced family life, marrying and welcoming two wonderful children —a son and a daughter— from her first marriage.
According to Joyce’s Take, the family settled in Lafayette, Louisiana, where Lynda took on the role of records manager in a law office.
However, life took a turn, and after a divorce in 2004, Lynda packed her bags and headed to sunny California, ready to start anew. Even as she moved on, Lynda cherished her connection with her fans. She became a familiar face at various fan conventions, like Glamourcon, The Hollywood Collectors Show, and WonderCon, where she shared her stories and signed autographs.
Cause of death
Sadly, Lynda’s journey was cut short when she passed away at just 49 in December 2012, following a brave battle with a brain tumor.
It’s bittersweet to think about what she might have shared about her time in films like Evil Town — a charming piece of cinematic history that captures a different era.
But even in her absence, we can still celebrate Lynda’s legacy and the joy she brought to her fans. Share this article if you also miss the 80s!
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