The Tragic Death of Pop Star Andy Gibb & His Traumatic Romance with 'Dallas' Star Victoria Principle

Photo byPinterest.com

In 1981, pop-music sensation Andy Gibb was at the top of the charts. The younger brother of Barry, Robin, and Maurice, a.k.a. The Bee Gees, commenced a tumultuous romance with actress Victoria Principle, who played Pam Ewing on Dallas, TV's then-Number 1 prime-time series. But after the relationship ended, Andy's life, already challenged by substance abuse, did as well. This is their tragic story.

A Closer Look at Andy's Life and Career

The English-Austrialian Andy Gibb was born Andrew Roy Gibb. Following in the 1960s-'70s musical footsteps of his older siblings, The Bee Gees, Andy made a name for himself from the late '70s to the early-'80s with eight hit singles, three of which went to No. 1: "I Just Want To Be Your Everything, "Love Is Thicker Than Water, and "Shadow Dancing." In the early 1980s, Gibb co-hosted the American music television series Solid Gold. He also performed in live theatre productions of The Pirates of Penzance and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

A Closer Look at Victoria's Life and Career

Victoria Principal was born the elder daughter of Ree (née Veal) and Victor Rocco Principal. Her paternal grandparents were Italian, while her mother's family was from Gordon, Georgia, and South Carolina. Her father, a United States Air Force sergeant, was often transferred to different duty stations, so the family constantly moved, and Victoria grew up in London, Florida, Puerto Rico, Massachusetts, and Georgia, among other places. Victoria began acting, with a TV commercial when she was just 5 years old. She later modeled in high school, at then enrolled at Miami-Dade Community College to study chiropractic medicine. At 18, she was in a severe car accident and was subsequently inspired to pursue acting. Upon relocating to New York City, she found work as both a model and actress. She then studied her craft at London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and in 1971, Principle moved to Los Angeles. Just a few years later, she won the role of Pam Ewing in Dallas, and her life was never the same again.

When Two Entertainment Worlds Collided

Andy Gibb and Victoria Principle met and fell in love. However, she would end their association, even though she had initially tried to save it. Gibb blamed her for the unravelment, despite having long been challenged by a severe drug addiction.

Then the worst kind of tragedy struck: On March 19, 1988, Gibb died at just 30 years old. The cause: myocarditis; a heart infection.

Principle, now 71, lives a solitary life just outside of Los Angeles on a ranch with rescue animals.

In the End

The glimmer and glamour of the entertainment industry spotlight has for decades proven to be an overwhelming experience for many actors, singers, dancers, directors, and other creative sorts. Such was the case with Andy Gibb and Victorial Principle.