Priscilla Allen, Grand Dame of San Diego Theatre, passed away after a long illness on August 14, 2008 in her La Jolla home, surrounded by her daughters, grandchildren and beloved pets. She was 70 years old.

Priscilla delighted audiences over the past 40 years in her larger-than-life role as a fixture on the San Diego stage. With a long career at the San Diego Repertory Theatre and over two dozen roles with Starlight Musical Theatre, Lamb's Players Theatre,  the North Coast Repertory Theatre, Vantage Theatre and Diversionary Theatre, Priscilla always left an impression on her audiences with her talent and on her colleagues with her professionalism.

Mrs. Allen, a member of the Actor's Alliance of San Diego, also performed at Lawrence Welk, Moonlight, The Old Globe, Regional Theatre, Summer Stock, and in television and film. She was a USC guest artist in her featured role as Big Mama in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof at Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Priscilla entered the canon of American pop culture with her memorable role in the Arnold Schwarzenegger film, Total Recall.

Born in Buffalo New York on July 19, 1938, Priscilla moved to La Jolla California with her parents, Lawrence and Mildred Lawson when she was a child. She was a graduate of La Jolla High School and had since resided in La Jolla for over sixty years. She began her acting career as a student at San Diego State University where she earned her bachelor’s and masters degrees. She also received numerous education and acting awards throughout her 40 years of acting and teaching. Priscilla married Dennis Allen in 1963 and they had three beautiful daughters, Jennifer, Hillary and Meredith. They shared a passion for acting and performed together in numerous musicals and plays until Dennis, a San Diego Police Officer, died in the line of duty in 1977.

To generations of San Diegans, Priscilla will be remembered as a cherished mentor with a saucy personality that was as big as her heart. For many years Priscilla was a teacher of Theatre Arts and Public Speaking for San Diego City Schools at San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts, Point Loma High School, and Mesa College. She was also actively involved in San Diego Junior Theatre. Mrs. Allen is constantly listed as an inspiration to the many actors and entertainers in whom she fostered a love of performing. Her final film role was in Let Others Suffer (2007), written and directed by a former student.

In addition to her commitment to family and education, Priscilla was fiercely devoted to issues related to animal welfare. She was a member of Greenpeace and Project Wildlife as well as the English Springer Spaniel Rescue Association.

Priscilla Allen is survived by her three daughters, Jennifer Allen of New York City, Hillary Allen of San Diego and Meredith Christiansen of San Antonio, Texas as well as three grandchildren.

Services will be held on Thursday, August 21 from Noon to 2pm at  the San Diego Repertory Theatre, 79 Horton Plaza, San Diego, CA 92101-6144.  In lieu of flowers, please make donations on Priscilla’s behalf to Project Wildlife at www.projectwildlife.org or the English Springer Spaniel Rescue Association at www.springerrescue.org.