Melinda Dillon

Melinda Dillon Headshot

Actress

Birth Date: October 13, 1939

Death Date: January 9, 2023

Birth Place: Hope, Arkansas

An original member of the Second City improv troupe, Melinda Dillon scored a Tony nomination for her supporting work as the vulnerable Honey in the original Broadway production of "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" After her Golden Globe-nominated turn in "Bound for Glory" (1976), she earned an Oscar nomination for one of her most famous roles, that of a mother in search of her alien-abducted child in "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" (1977). After roles in "Slap Shot" (1977) and "F.I.S.T." (1978), she earned another Oscar nomination as a woman driven to suicide by the machinations of a reporter (Sally Field) in "Absence of Malice" (1981) and achieved pop cultural immortality as the sweet, slightly goofy mother in the ultimate holiday classic, "A Christmas Story" (1983). Dillon scored important roles as John Lithgow's wife in "Harry and the Hendersons" (1987) and Nick Nolte's troubled sister in "The Prince of Tides" (1991), but notched smaller supporting turns in the ensemble pieces "To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar" (1995), "How to Make an American Quilt" (1995) and "Magnolia" (1999). Working steadily but quietly, the actress continued to pop up in character roles, including an uncredited turn in "Seeking a Friend for the End of the World" (2012). Equally adept at comedy as well as drama, Melinda Dillon was an exceptionally gifted actress who brought a unique spark to any project in which she appeared.

Credits

Reign Over Me

Actor
Ginger
Movie
2007

Adam & Steve

Actor
Dottie
Movie
2005

Debating Robert Lee

Actor
Mrs. Lee
Movie
2004

A Painted House

Actor
Gran Chandler
Movie
2003

Ring of Fire

Actor
Rose Braxton
Movie
2000

Law & Order: Special Victims UnitStream

Guest Star
Jenny Rogers
TV Show
1999
78%

Judging Amy

Guest Star
TV Show
1999

MagnoliaStream

Actor
Rose Gator
Movie
1999
83%

The Effects of Magic

Actor
Mom
Movie
1998

Entertaining Angels: The Dorothy Day Story

Actor
Sister Aloysius
Movie
1996

The Client

Guest Star
TV Show
1995

Naomi & Wynonna: Love Can Build a Bridge

Actor
Polly Judd
TV Show
1995

Naomi & Wynonna: Love Can Build a Bridge

Actor
Polly Judd
Movie
1995

To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar

Actor
Merna
Movie
1995

How to Make an American Quilt

Actor
Mrs. Darling
Movie
1995

State of Emergency

Actor
Betty Anderson
Movie
1994

Confessions: Two Faces of Evil

Actor
Movie
1994

Sioux City

Actor
Leah Goldman
Movie
1994

Judgment Day: The John List Story

Actor
Eleanor
Movie
1993

The Prince of TidesStream

Actor
Savannah Wingo
Movie
1991
68%

Spontaneous Combustion

Actor
Nina
Movie
1990

Captain America

Actor
Mrs. Rogers
Movie
1990

Nightbreaker

Actor
Paula Brown
Movie
1989

Staying Together

Actor
Eileen McDermott
Movie
1989

Le Souffle de l'enfer

Actor
Movie
1989

Shattered Innocence

Actor
Sharon Anderson
Movie
1988

Harry and the Hendersons

Actor
Nancy Henderson
Movie
1987

Big Foot et les Henderson

Actor
Movie
1987

Shattered Spirits

Actor
Joyce Mollencamp
Movie
1986

The Twilight Zone

Actor
TV Show
1985

Space

Actor
TV Show
1985

SongwriterStream

Actor
Honey Carder
Movie
1984
88%

Božićna priča

Actor
Movie
1983

Right of Way

Actor
Ruda Dwyer
Movie
1983

A Christmas Story

Actor
Mrs. Parker
Movie
1983
90%

Absence of MaliceStream

Actor
Teresa
Movie
1981
81%

Fallen Angel

Actor
Sherry Phillips
Movie
1981

The Shadow Box

Actor
Agnes
Movie
1980

Transplant

Actor
Ann Hurley
Movie
1979

Marriage Is Alive and Well

Actor
Jeannie
Movie
1979

The Critical List

Actor
Dr. Kris Lassiter
Movie
1978

F.I.S.T.

Actor
Anna Zarinkas
Movie
1978

Close Encounters of the Third KindStream

Actor
Jillian Guiler
Movie
1977
94%

Slap ShotStream

Actor
Suzanne Hanrahan
Movie
1977

Atado por el Deber

Actor
Movie
1976

Bound for Glory

Actor
Mary/Memphis Sue
Movie
1976
83%

En Route pour la gloire

Actor
Movie
1976

The JeffersonsStream

Guest Star
Daphne
TV Show
1975

Storefront Lawyers

Guest Star
TV Show
1970

The April Fools

Actor
Leslie Hopkins
Movie
1969

East Side/West Side

Guest Star
TV Show
1963

BonanzaStream

Guest Star
TV Show
1959

The Cry of Jazz

Actor
Faye
Movie
1959

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Melinda Dillon