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Melinda Dillon
Melinda Dillon
	Dillon c. 1976
Born	Melinda Ruth Clardy; October 13, 1939; Hope, Arkansas, U.S.
Died	January 9, 2023 (aged 83); Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Education	Hyde Park High School
Alma mater	Art Institute of Chicago
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1959–2007
Known for	Jillian Guiler in Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977); Teresa Perrone in Absence of Malice (1981); Mrs. Parker in A Christmas Story (1983);
Spouse	Richard Libertini (m. 1963; div. 1978)
Children	1

Melinda Ruth Dillon (October 13, 1939 – January 9, 2023) was an American actress. She received a 1963 Tony Award nomination for her Broadway debut in the original production of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, and she was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) and Absence of Malice (1981). She is well-known for her role as Mother Parker in the holiday classic A Christmas Story (1983). Her other film roles include Bound for Glory (1976), Slap Shot (1977), F.I.S.T. (1978), The Muppet Movie (1979), Harry and the Hendersons (1987), Captain America (1990), The Prince of Tides (1991), To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar (1995), How to Make an American Quilt (1995), Magnolia (1999), for which she was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award, and Reign Over Me (2007).

Early life

Dillon was born as Melinda Ruth Clardy on October 13, 1939, in Hope, Arkansas, but raised in Cullman, Alabama.^[2]^[a] After spending four years in Germany while her father was stationed on a base there, Dillon attended Hyde Park High School and the Goodman School of Drama at the Art Institute of Chicago (now at DePaul University) in Chicago.^[3]

Career

Though best known for her supporting performances in films, Dillon began as an improvisational comedian and stage actress. Recalling her performance as Sonya in a 1961 student production of Chekhov's Uncle Vanya, Alan Schneider wrote:

What distinguished and made the whole attempt worthwhile for me was casting the role of Sonya with a young actress named Linda [sic] Dillon, who was a senior acting student at Goodman as well as a hanger-on with a Second City troupe that included two young performers named Barbara Harris and Alan Arkin. During our tryouts, John Reich, then the Goodman Theatre's artistic director, had seriously tried to discourage me from using Linda. He admitted her talent but warned me that she was highly volatile and completely unpredictable as an actress. He had found another actress whom he found much more suitable for Sonya. I insisted on using Linda, no matter the consequences. I was fascinated by the combination of her fragility and sensuality, intrigued with the unconventional way in which she was able to make a line seem utterly spontaneous, and impressed with her emotional range and richness. During our four weeks of rehearsal [...], I wound up alternately adoring and hating Linda. She always did too much and yet not enough. She was never the same twice in a given scene, even when she had found something wonderful last time. She was always wanting to quit the cast or leave school or kill herself. And yet, at the same time, I felt she was extraordinary, the most talented young actress I'd ever worked with, the potential peer of Geraldine Page and perhaps even Kim Stanley. I was sure she'd be a big star one day, and I wanted to be with her when that happened.^[4]

Dillon's first major role was as Honey in the original 1962 Broadway production of Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, for which she was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play,^[5] and she also appeared in You Know I Can't Hear You When the Water's Running and Paul Sill's Story Theatre.

In 1959, she acted in The Cry of Jazz, a short film dealing with jazz music and Black culture.^[6] Dillon's first feature film was The April Fools in 1969. She also worked in television, including a guest-starring role in 1969 on an episode of the TV series Bonanza titled "A Lawman's Lot Is Not a Happy One" (Season 11). She co-starred with David Carradine in the 1976 Woody Guthrie biopic Bound for Glory and was nominated in the Best Female Acting Debut category of the Golden Globe for her role as Memphis Sue.^[7]

The following year she was nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for the role of a mother whose child is abducted by aliens in Steven Spielberg's Close Encounters of the Third Kind. That same year, she made an uncredited cameo in The Muppet Movie and had a role in the comedy Slap Shot with Paul Newman. Four years later, Dillon was again nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her performance as a suicidal teacher in Absence of Malice in 1981, working again with Newman.

Dillon was perhaps best known for her role as the mother of Ralphie and Randy in Bob Clark's 1983 movie A Christmas Story. The film was based on a series of short stories and novels written by Jean Shepherd about young Ralphie Parker (played by Peter Billingsley) and his quest for a Red Ryder BB gun from Santa Claus.^[8]^[9] She was replaced by Julie Hagerty in the 2022 direct sequel A Christmas Story Christmas.^[10]^[11] According to Peter Billingsley, she was retired from acting at that time, but gave her full support on the project.^[12]^[13]

Four years later, Dillon co-starred with John Lithgow in the Bigfoot comedy Harry and the Hendersons. She continued to be active in stage and film throughout the 1990s, taking roles in the superhero film Captain America, the Barbra Streisand drama The Prince of Tides, the low-budget Lou Diamond Phillips thriller Sioux City, the comedy To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar, and the drama How to Make an American Quilt.^[14]

In 1999, she appeared in Magnolia, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, as Rose Gator, the wife of terminally ill television game-show host Jimmy Gator (Philip Baker Hall). In 2005, she guest-starred in the episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit titled "Blood". Dillon's last major acting roles was in the 2007 film Reign Over Me and in three episodes of the short-lived TNT medical drama Heartland.

Personal life and death

Dillon married actor Richard Libertini, with whom she had a son, in 1963.^[15]^[16] They divorced in 1978.^[17]

Dillon was a Methodist.^[18] She was a staffer on Democrat Eugene McCarthy's 1968 presidential campaign.^[18]

Dillon died on January 9, 2023, at the age of 83.^[16] Following her death, she was cremated by the Neptune Society, with her ashes being given to her family.^[19]

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1959	The Cry of Jazz	Faye	short film
1969	The April Fools	Leslie Hopkins
1976	Bound for Glory	Mary	Nominated—Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year – Actress
1977	Slap Shot	Suzanne Hanrahan
1977	Close Encounters of the Third Kind	Jillian Guiler	Nominated—Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress Nominated—Saturn Award for Best Actress
1978	F.I.S.T.	Anna Zarinkas
1979	The Muppet Movie	Woman with Balloon	Uncredited
1981	Absence of Malice	Teresa Perrone	Kansas City Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actress Nominated—Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress Nominated—Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress
1983	A Christmas Story	Mother Parker
1984	Songwriter	Honey Carder
1987	Harry and the Hendersons	Nancy Henderson	Nominated—Saturn Award for Best Actress
1988	Shattered Innocence	Sharon Anderson
1989	Staying Together	Eileen McDermott
1990	Spontaneous Combustion	Nina
1990	Captain America	Mrs. Rogers
1991	The Prince of Tides	Savannah Wingo
1994	Sioux City	Leah Goldman
1995	To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar	Merna
1995	How to Make an American Quilt	Mrs. Darling
1996	Entertaining Angels: The Dorothy Day Story	Sister Aloysius
1999	Magnolia	Rose Gator	Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Cast Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
2001	Cowboy Up	Rose Braxton
2004	Debating Robert Lee	Mrs. Lee
2005	Adam & Steve	Dottie
2007	Reign Over Me	Ginger Timpleman

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1963	The Defenders	Jeannie Birch	Episode: "The Empty Heart"
1964	East Side/West Side	Stacey Barbella	Episode: "The Beatnik and the Policeman"
1969	Bonanza	Cissy Summers	Episode: "A Lawman's Lot Is Not a Happy One"
1970	Storefront Lawyers aka Men at Law	Connie Swann	Episode: "He Lies Better Than I Tell the Truth"^[20]
1975	The Jeffersons	Daphne	Episode: "Harry and Daphne"
1976	Sara	Lily Henchard	Episode: "Lady"
1976	Freeman	Madam Arkadina	Television pilot^[21]^[22]
1977	Enigma	Dora Herren	Television movie
1978	The Critical List	Kris Lassiter	Miniseries^[23]
1979	Transplant	Anne Hurley	Television movie^[24]
1979	CHiPs	Unknown	Episode: "Death Watch"
1980	Marriage Is Alive and Well	Jeannie	Television movie^[25]^[26]
1980	The Shadow Box	Agnes	Television movie
1981	Fallen Angel	Sherry Phillips	Television movie
1981	Insight	Janet	Episode: "A Decision to Love"
1981	Insight	Mysterious Woman	Episode: "Rendezvous"
1982	Insight	Susie	Episode: "The Fiddler"
1982	The Juggler of Notre Dame	Dulcy	Television movie
1983	The Mississippi	Unknown	Episode: "Cradle to Grave"
1983	Right of Way	Ruda Dwyer	Television movie
1984	Insight	Woman	Episode: "The Game Room"
1985	The Twilight Zone	Penny	Episode: "A Little Peace and Quiet"
1985	Space	Rachel Mott	Television movie
1986	Shattered Spirits	Joyce Mollencamp	Television movie
1988	Shattered Innocence	Sharon Anderson	Television movie
1989	Nightbreaker	Paula Brown	Television movie
1993	Judgment Day: The John List Story	Elanor List	Television movie
1994	State of Emergency	Betty Anderson	Television movie Nominated—CableACE Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie
1995	The Client	Verna Caldwell	Episode: "The Peach Orchard"
1995	Naomi & Wynonna: Love Can Build a Bridge	Polly Judd	Television movie
1996	Picket Fences	Mrs. Klausner	Episode: "Liver Let Die"
1997	Tracey Takes On...	Desiree	Episode: "Mothers"
2001	Judging Amy	Violet Loomis	Episode: "Surprised by Gravity"
2003	The Lyon's Den	Charlotte Barrington	Episode: "Pilot"
2003	A Painted House	Gran Chandler	Television movie
2005	Law & Order: Special Victims Unit	Jenny Rogers	Episode: "Blood"
2007	Heartland	Janet Jacobs	3 episodes

Notes

^ As Dillon explained in a 1962 interview, Hope was not her hometown, nor had her parents ever resided there. It was only because they had lost their previous child at birth that Floyd Clardy opted to bring Norine to Hope, where a doctor that he knew and trusted happened to practice.^[3]

References

^ Thomas, Mike (2012). The Second City Unscripted: Revolution and Revelation at the World-Famous Comedy Theater. Evanston, IL: Northwestern University Press. p. 254. ISBN 9780810128446
^ Traub, Alex (February 5, 2023). "Melinda Dillon, 2-Time Oscar Nominee, Is Dead at 83". The New York Times. Archived from the original on February 5, 2023. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
^ ^a ^b Wahls, Robert (October 28, 1962). "90-Day Wonder: An Unknown Only Three Months Ago, 23-year-old Actress Melinda Dillon Shot to Stardom in Broadway Debut". New York Daily News. Sec. 2, p. 16. Retrieved March 18, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^ Schneider, Alan (1986). Entrances : An American Director's Journey. New York, NY: Viking p. 292–293. ISBN 0670806080.
^ Stevenson, Isabelle (1987). The Tony Award : A Complete Listing, With a History of the American Theatre Wing. New York: Crown Publishers. p. 76. ISBN 0-517-56664-8.
^ "New Film". The Negro History Bulletin. p. 59. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
^ "1977 Golden Globe Nominations Listed". Los Angeles Times. Part 4, p. 14. Retrieved March 19, 2022.
^ Kashner, Sam (November 30, 2016). "How A Christmas Story Went from Low-Budget Fluke to an American Tradition". Vanity Fair. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
^ Gachman, Dina (December 21, 2020). "Can We Talk About the Mom in 'A Christmas Story'?". The New York Times. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
^ Kroll, Justin (January 20, 2022). "'A Christmas Story' Sequel In The Works At Legendary And Warner Bros With Peter Billingsley Set To Reprise Ralphie Role". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
^ Kroll, Justin (February 18, 2022). "Erinn Hayes, River Drosche, Julianna Layne Join 'Christmas Story' Sequel, Julie Hagerty Confirmed". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
^ Lenker, Maureen Lee (November 18, 2022). "Why a grown-up Ralphie decided to make a sequel to A Christmas Story". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
^ Russell, Tim; Keenan, Alex (December 19, 2023). "Why Ralphie's Mom Was Recast For A Christmas Story Christmas". Screen Rant. Retrieved December 21, 2024.
^ Stevens, Tracy (2001). International Television & Video Almanac. New York: Quigley Publishing. p. 137. ISBN 0-900610-68-9.
^ Kleiner, Dick (April 20, 1985). "Libertini Trying to Avoid Typecasting". Ocala Star-Banner. Newspaper Enterprise Association. pp. 10, 54 (TV Week supplement). Retrieved December 15, 2013.
^ ^a ^b Barnes, Mike (February 3, 2023). "Melinda Dillon, Actress in 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind' and 'A Christmas Story,' Dies at 83". The Hollywood Reporter.
^ Pak, Eudie (December 14, 2012). "'A Christmas Story' Cast: Where Are They Now?". Biography.com (FYI / A&E Networks). Retrieved January 10, 2016.
^ ^a ^b "'Close Encounters' Says We Are Not Alone, but Melinda Dillon Often Has Been During a Traumatic Life". Retrieved 1 August 2018.
^ "Melinda Dillon Obituary - San Pedro, CA". Neptune Society. Retrieved December 22, 2024.
^ "TV Key: Best Bets". Wisconsin State Journal. September 23, 1970. p. 47. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
^ Bok (June 23, 1976). "Television Reviews: 'Freeman'". Variety. p. 46. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
^ "Comic Sparks on 'Freeman'". Kenosha News. p. 37. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
^ Clarey, Kathey (April 11, 1978). "Tonight's Best: Critical List". Argus-Leader. p. 13. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
^ Clarey, Kathey (April 17, 1979). "Please Stand By". The Fresno Bee. p. 18. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
^ Williams, Gail (January 25, 1980). "Marriage Is Alive and Well". The Hollywood Reporter. p. 6. "Under Russ Mayberry's direction, Dillon is the only member of the cast that comes through the battle with even a spark of genuine humanity." Retrieved March 19, 2022.
^ Warner Brothers. "Marriage Is Alive and Well (TV Movie) Feature Clip". YouTube.

External links

Melinda Dillon at IMDb
Melinda Dillon at the Internet Broadway Database
Melinda Dillon at the TCM Movie Database

[4] As Dillon explained in a 1962 interview, Hope was not her hometown, nor had her parents ever resided there. It was only because they had lost their previous child at birth that Floyd Clardy opted to bring Norine to Hope, where a doctor that he knew and trusted happened to practice.^[3]

[1] Thomas, Mike (2012). The Second City Unscripted: Revolution and Revelation at the World-Famous Comedy Theater. Evanston, IL: Northwestern University Press. p. 254. ISBN 9780810128446

[2] Traub, Alex (February 5, 2023). "Melinda Dillon, 2-Time Oscar Nominee, Is Dead at 83". The New York Times. Archived from the original on February 5, 2023. Retrieved February 5, 2023.

[1962NYDN-3] Wahls, Robert (October 28, 1962). "90-Day Wonder: An Unknown Only Three Months Ago, 23-year-old Actress Melinda Dillon Shot to Stardom in Broadway Debut". New York Daily News. Sec. 2, p. 16. Retrieved March 18, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.

[5] Schneider, Alan (1986). Entrances : An American Director's Journey. New York, NY: Viking p. 292–293. ISBN 0670806080.

[6] Stevenson, Isabelle (1987). The Tony Award : A Complete Listing, With a History of the American Theatre Wing. New York: Crown Publishers. p. 76. ISBN 0-517-56664-8.

[7] "New Film". The Negro History Bulletin. p. 59. Retrieved March 18, 2022.

[8] "1977 Golden Globe Nominations Listed". Los Angeles Times. Part 4, p. 14. Retrieved March 19, 2022.

[9] Kashner, Sam (November 30, 2016). "How A Christmas Story Went from Low-Budget Fluke to an American Tradition". Vanity Fair. Retrieved May 31, 2023.

[10] Gachman, Dina (December 21, 2020). "Can We Talk About the Mom in 'A Christmas Story'?". The New York Times. Retrieved May 22, 2023.

[11] Kroll, Justin (January 20, 2022). "'A Christmas Story' Sequel In The Works At Legendary And Warner Bros With Peter Billingsley Set To Reprise Ralphie Role". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 16, 2023.

[12] Kroll, Justin (February 18, 2022). "Erinn Hayes, River Drosche, Julianna Layne Join 'Christmas Story' Sequel, Julie Hagerty Confirmed". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 16, 2023.

[13] Lenker, Maureen Lee (November 18, 2022). "Why a grown-up Ralphie decided to make a sequel to A Christmas Story". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved November 20, 2024.

[14] Russell, Tim; Keenan, Alex (December 19, 2023). "Why Ralphie's Mom Was Recast For A Christmas Story Christmas". Screen Rant. Retrieved December 21, 2024.

[15] Stevens, Tracy (2001). International Television & Video Almanac. New York: Quigley Publishing. p. 137. ISBN 0-900610-68-9.

[16] Kleiner, Dick (April 20, 1985). "Libertini Trying to Avoid Typecasting". Ocala Star-Banner. Newspaper Enterprise Association. pp. 10, 54 (TV Week supplement). Retrieved December 15, 2013.

[:0-17] Barnes, Mike (February 3, 2023). "Melinda Dillon, Actress in 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind' and 'A Christmas Story,' Dies at 83". The Hollywood Reporter.

[biography.com-18] Pak, Eudie (December 14, 2012). "'A Christmas Story' Cast: Where Are They Now?". Biography.com (FYI / A&E Networks). Retrieved January 10, 2016.

[people78-19] "'Close Encounters' Says We Are Not Alone, but Melinda Dillon Often Has Been During a Traumatic Life". Retrieved 1 August 2018.

[20] "Melinda Dillon Obituary - San Pedro, CA". Neptune Society. Retrieved December 22, 2024.

[21] "TV Key: Best Bets". Wisconsin State Journal. September 23, 1970. p. 47. Retrieved March 18, 2022.

[22] Bok (June 23, 1976). "Television Reviews: 'Freeman'". Variety. p. 46. Retrieved March 18, 2022.

[23] "Comic Sparks on 'Freeman'". Kenosha News. p. 37. Retrieved March 18, 2022.

[24] Clarey, Kathey (April 11, 1978). "Tonight's Best: Critical List". Argus-Leader. p. 13. Retrieved March 20, 2022.

[25] Clarey, Kathey (April 17, 1979). "Please Stand By". The Fresno Bee. p. 18. Retrieved March 20, 2022.

[26] Williams, Gail (January 25, 1980). "Marriage Is Alive and Well". The Hollywood Reporter. p. 6. "Under Russ Mayberry's direction, Dillon is the only member of the cast that comes through the battle with even a spark of genuine humanity." Retrieved March 19, 2022.

[27] Warner Brothers. "Marriage Is Alive and Well (TV Movie) Feature Clip". YouTube.

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PROFILPELAJAR.COM

Melinda Dillon

Early life

Career

Personal life and death

Filmography

Film

Television

Notes

References

Further reading

External links

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