Melinda Dillon

Acting

Melinda Dillon

Born October 13, 1939Hope, Arkansas, USA55 credits

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.

Known For

Hal
6.5

Hal

Movie

2019

Heartland
6.5

Heartland

TV

2007

Reign Over Me
7.2

Reign Over Me

Movie

2007

Adam & Steve
5.5

Adam & Steve

Movie

2005

Debating Robert Lee
6.3

Debating Robert Lee

Movie

2004

The Lyon's Den
9.3

The Lyon's Den

TV

2003

Filmography

Hal
2019Halas Self (archive footage)Movie
Heartland
2007Heartlandas Janet JacobsTV
Reign Over Me
2007Reign Over Meas Ginger TimplemanMovie
Adam & Steve
2005Adam & Steveas DottieMovie
Debating Robert Lee
2004Debating Robert Leeas Mrs. LeeMovie
The Lyon's Den
2003The Lyon's DenTV
A Painted House
2003A Painted Houseas Gran ChandlerMovie
Cowboy Up
2002Cowboy Upas Rose BraxtonMovie
The Making of 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind'
2001The Making of 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind'as SelfMovie
Magnolia
1999Magnoliaas Rose GatorMovie
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
1999Law & Order: Special Victims Unitas Jenny RogersTV
Judging Amy
1999Judging Amyas Violet LoomisTV
The Effects of Magic
1998The Effects of Magicas MomMovie
Christmas Unwrapped: The History of Christmas
1997Christmas Unwrapped: The History of Christmasas Mrs. Parker (archive footage)Movie
Entertaining Angels: The Dorothy Day Story
1996Entertaining Angels: The Dorothy Day Storyas Sister AloysiusMovie
How to Make an American Quilt
1995How to Make an American Quiltas Mrs. DarlingMovie
To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar
1995To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmaras MernaMovie
Naomi & Wynonna: Love Can Build a Bridge
1995Naomi & Wynonna: Love Can Build a Bridgeas Polly JuddMovie
Sioux City
1994Sioux Cityas Leah GoldmanMovie
State of Emergency
1994State of Emergencyas Betty AndersonMovie
Confessions: Two Faces of Evil
1994Confessions: Two Faces of Evilas Carol MothershedMovie
Judgment Day: The John List Story
1993Judgment Day: The John List Storyas EleanorMovie
Picket Fences
1992Picket Fencesas Mrs. KlausnerTV
The Prince of Tides
1991The Prince of Tidesas Savannah WingoMovie
Captain America
1990Captain Americaas Mrs. RogersMovie
Spontaneous Combustion
1990Spontaneous Combustionas NinaMovie
Staying Together
1989Staying Togetheras Eileen McDermottMovie
Nightbreaker
1989Nightbreakeras Paula BrownMovie
Shattered Innocence
1988Shattered Innocenceas Sharon AndersonMovie
Harry and the Hendersons
1987Harry and the Hendersonsas Nancy HendersonMovie
Shattered Spirits
1986Shattered Spiritsas Joyce MollencampMovie
The Twilight Zone
1985The Twilight Zoneas (segment "A Little Peace and Quiet")TV
Space
1985Spaceas Rachel MottTV
Songwriter
1984Songwriteras Honey CarderMovie
Right of Way
1983Right of Wayas Ruda DwyerMovie
A Christmas Story
1983A Christmas Storyas MotherMovie
Absence of Malice
1981Absence of Maliceas Teresa PerroneMovie
Hellinger's Law
1981Hellinger's Lawas Anne GronouskiMovie
Fallen Angel
1981Fallen Angelas Sherry PhillipsMovie
The Shadow Box
1980The Shadow Boxas AgnesMovie
Marriage Is Alive and Well
1980Marriage Is Alive and Wellas JeannieMovie
The Muppet Movie
1979The Muppet Movieas Woman with BalloonMovie
The Critical List
1978The Critical Listas Dr. Kris LassiterTV
F.I.S.T.
1978F.I.S.T.as Anna ZarinkasMovie
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
1977Close Encounters of the Third Kindas Jillian GuilerMovie
CHiPs
1977CHiPsTV
Enigma
1977Enigmaas Dora HerrenMovie
Slap Shot
1977Slap Shotas Suzanne HanrahanMovie
Bound for Glory
1976Bound for Gloryas Mary / Memphis SueMovie
The Jeffersons
1975The JeffersonsTV
The April Fools
1969The April Foolsas Leslie HopkinsMovie
The Defenders
1961The Defendersas Jeannie BirchTV
Bonanza
1959Bonanzaas Cissy SummersTV
The Cry of Jazz
1959The Cry of Jazzas FayeMovie
Hallmark Hall of Fame
1951Hallmark Hall of Fameas Gran ChandlerTV