Victoria Principal is the eldest of two daughters born to Victor Principal and Ree Veal. Her father, a US Air Force sergeant, was often transferred to different duty stations, so the family constantly, and Victoria grew up in London, Florida, Puerto Rico, Massachusetts and Georgia, among other places. She and her sister attended 17 different schools. Victoria's acting career began when she made a commercial at age five, and she began modeling in high school. She enrolled at Miami-Dade Community College, and wanted to study chiropractic medicine. However, being seriously injured in a car crash at age 18 made her refocus her energy on her love of acting. She moved to New York, where she worked as a model and actress. She then studied at London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, and moved to Los Angeles in 1971. Her first film was as a Mexican mistress in The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean, starring Paul Newman. Four years later she became so disappointed with her career that she quit acting and spent the next three years working as an agent. In 1978 she planned on going to law school and later become a studio executive, but Aaron Spelling offered her a year's tuition to accept a role in the pilot of Fantasy Island. She agreed, and soon after that she landed the role of Pamela Ewing on CBS' long-running soap Dallas. She left the show after nine years, and began her own production company, Victoria Principal Productions. She continues to work as an actress and producer, and has also created a line of skin care products and written three books about beauty and skin-care.
Earthquake (1974): $1,500 per week
Was honored by then President Ronald Reagan for her work on behalf of arthritis victims. Both of her parents suffered from the disease. When on an airplane once, the pilot came on over the loudspeaker, and threatened not to land the plane unless Victoria told him "Who Shot J.R.?", during the summer before the third season of Dallas. Named John Huston, Uta Hagen, and Vanessa Redgrave as her greatest influences. Dated Anthony Perkins Stated during an interview with Howie Mandel that she refuses to disclose her height, but is comfortable telling people her age. She spent two years studying at England's Royal Academy of Ballet, as one of the few Americans accepted into the program. She worked as a model in New York and Europe while pursuing early acting jobs. She worked as an agent for 3 years when she became unhappy with her acting career during the early 1970s. Miss Miami of 1969 Dated Andy Gibb Dated Frank Sinatra Dated Desi Arnaz Jr. Her husband is a plastic surgeon. Her father was in the U. S. Air Force. Studied at London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. Once posed nude for Playboy, in early 1970s Is the national chairperson for the LA-based Victory Over Violence, a non-profit organization dedicated to ending violence against women Bought a house in Montecito, California, from Priscilla Presley. [March 2000] Has sold the Montecito home. [October 2001] She ranked #60 in 1995 in FHM's 100 Sexiest Women. She ranked #3 in 1982 and #6 in 1984 on Richard Selzer's (aka Mr. Blackwell) Worst Dressed List. Measurements: 37C-22-35 (self-described 1987), (Source: Celebrity Sleuth magazine) Vital Statistics before dieting in the '80s: 35 1/2 - 24 1/2 - 34 1/4 Vital statistics in 1982: 36 - 23 - 35 Wore a wig for her role as "Rosa Amici" in Earthquake Attended South Dade Senior High school, in south Miami-Dade County, Florida. Currently battling a blood-clotting disorder [May 17, 2007]. Recently teamed up with Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic, planning an outer space journey in September, 2008. Will began training in January, 2008 [May 17, 2007].