Victoria Principal Family Life And California Roots

When people look back at the golden era of prime-time television, Victoria Principal stands out as a defining icon. Best known for her unforgettable portrayal of Pamela Barnes Ewing on the megahit series Dallas, she captured the attention of millions worldwide. Yet away from the television screen and Hollywood soundstages, her personal narrative tells a different story—one rooted in a nomadic military childhood, a transition to business and authoring, and a deeply private life settled along the coast of California.

A persistent point of curiosity among followers involves her family structure and whether she has children. To clear up any confusion right away: Victoria Principal does not have any children. Across two marriages and high-profile relationships, she chose a path focused on entrepreneurship, animal rescue, and writing rather than starting a family. Examining her life reveals how her upbringing, career pivots, and connection to California shaped the legacy she built outside of the spotlight.

Nomadic Beginnings and Global Roots

Born in Fukuoka, Japan, on January 3, 1950, Victoria Ree Principal experienced a childhood defined by movement. Her father, Victor Rocco Principal, served as a sergeant in the United States Air Force, which meant the family packed up and relocated frequently. Her mother, Bertha Ree, managed a household that bounced between diverse military bases and international postings.

• Childhood relocations spanned London, Puerto Rico, Florida, Massachusetts, and Georgia.
• She attended roughly seventeen different schools before graduating.
• While living in England, she trained briefly at the Royal Ballet School.

This constant shifting forced her to adapt quickly to new environments. Instead of putting down permanent geographic roots early on, she learned how to reinvent herself—a skill that served her well when she walked away from a lucrative acting career to build a business empire.

Marriages, Relationships, and Personal Choices

Principal's romantic life often played out under the media microscope, particularly during her nine-year run on Dallas and her subsequent high-profile relationships. She has been married and divorced twice. Her first marriage was to writer and producer Christopher Skinner, whom she met on the set of Dallas in 1978. That union lasted two years before ending in divorce.

Following her divorce from Skinner, she had a widely publicized romance with singer Andy Gibb in the early 1980s, which drew intense tabloid attention. In 1985, she married prominent Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Dr. Harry Glassman. The couple remained together for over twenty years before filing for divorce in 2006.

Throughout these decades, questions about children frequently surfaced in interviews. In archival statements, Principal addressed the rumors directly, clarifying that her decisions were intentional and independent of public speculation. Rather than following a conventional domestic template, she redirected her maternal and nurturing instincts toward animal rescue, philanthropic ventures, and building her lifestyle brand.

Shifting Focus: From Acting to Entrepreneurship

Leaving Dallas in 1987 marked a permanent turning point. While many actors spend their later years chasing similar television roles, Principal transitioned into an entirely different professional sphere. She established Victoria Principal Productions, producing and starring in several made-for-television movies.

More significantly, she authored multiple best-selling health and wellness books, including The Body Principal and The Beauty Principal, which topped the New York Times best-seller lists in the 1980s. Capitalizing on this momentum, she launched Principal Secret, a skincare enterprise that evolved into a major commercial success over a thirty-year span.

• Writing Success: Published four major lifestyle books focused on fitness, nutrition, and well-being.
• Cosmetic Science: Became an active member of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists in 2000.
• Philanthropy: Redirected significant resources toward environmental causes and animal rehabilitation ranches in California.

Settling Into California Roots

After decades in the Hollywood rhythm, Principal retreated from public view to live a quiet life anchored by her California properties. While she maintained residences in Beverly Hills for years, she ultimately found her sanctuary along the coast in Malibu and the rugged landscape of Big Sur.

Her properties reflect her affinity for nature and privacy. On her ranch land, she established a rescue sanctuary dedicated to rehabilitating abused and neglected farm animals and domestic pets. This hands-on conservation work replaced the fast-paced television sets of her youth, anchoring her identity in practical, quiet stewardship rather than celebrity culture.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did Victoria Principal have children from either of her marriages?

No, she did not have children during her marriage to Christopher Skinner or her twenty-year marriage to Dr. Harry Glassman.

Why did Victoria Principal leave the television show Dallas?

She left Dallas in 1987 to focus entirely on her entrepreneurial ambitions, including building her production company and launching her skincare line, Principal Secret.

Where does Victoria Principal live now?

She resides primarily in Malibu, California, alongside properties she maintains in Big Sur and Switzerland, focusing her time on philanthropy and animal rescue.

What was Victoria Principal's first major acting break?

Her early breakthrough came when she landed a role in the 1972 John Huston film The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean, which earned her a Golden Globe nomination.