Melinda Dillon
Biography
Melinda Rose Dillon (October 13, 1939 - January 9, 2023) was a twice Oscar nominated American actress. She was best known for her roles in Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Absence of Malice and the holiday classic A Christmas Story.
Gallery
Known For
Acting History
2019
Hal as Self (archive footage)
2007Heartland as Janet Jacobs
2007Reign Over Me as Ginger Timpleman
2005Adam & Steve as Dottie
2004Debating Robert Lee as Mrs. Lee
2003The Lyon's Den
2003A Painted House as Gran Chandler
2002Cowboy Up as Rose Braxton
2001The Making of 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind' as Self
1999Magnolia as Rose Gator
1999Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Jenny Rogers
1999Judging Amy as Violet Loomis
1998The Effects of Magic as Mom
1997Christmas Unwrapped: The History of Christmas as Mrs. Parker (archive footage)
1996Entertaining Angels: The Dorothy Day Story as Sister Aloysius
1995How to Make an American Quilt as Mrs. Darling
1995To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar as Merna
1995Naomi & Wynonna: Love Can Build a Bridge as Polly Judd
1994Sioux City as Leah Goldman
1994State of Emergency as Betty Anderson
1994Confessions: Two Faces of Evil as Carol Mothershed
1993Judgment Day: The John List Story as Eleanor
1992Picket Fences as Mrs. Klausner
1991The Prince of Tides as Savannah Wingo
1990Captain America as Mrs. Rogers
1990Spontaneous Combustion as Nina
1989Staying Together as Eileen McDermott
1989Nightbreaker as Paula Brown
1988Shattered Innocence as Sharon Anderson
1987Harry and the Hendersons as Nancy Henderson
1986Shattered Spirits as Joyce Mollencamp
1985The Twilight Zone as (segment "A Little Peace and Quiet")
1985Space as Rachel Mott
1984Songwriter as Honey Carder
1983Right of Way as Ruda Dwyer
1983A Christmas Story as Mother
1981Absence of Malice as Teresa Perrone
1981Hellinger's Law as Anne Gronouski
1981Fallen Angel as Sherry Phillips
1980The Shadow Box as Agnes
1980Marriage Is Alive and Well as Jeannie
1979The Muppet Movie as Woman with Balloon
1978The Critical List as Dr. Kris Lassiter
1978F.I.S.T. as Anna Zarinkas
1977Close Encounters of the Third Kind as Jillian Guiler
1977CHiPs
1977Enigma as Dora Herren
1977Slap Shot as Suzanne Hanrahan
1976Bound for Glory as Mary / Memphis Sue
1975The Jeffersons
1969The April Fools as Leslie Hopkins
1961The Defenders as Jeannie Birch
1959Bonanza as Cissy Summers
1959The Cry of Jazz as Faye
1951Hallmark Hall of Fame as Gran Chandler