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IMDbPro

Melinda Dillon(1939-2023)

  • Actress
  • Soundtrack
IMDbProStarmeterTop 5,000842
Melinda Dillon in F.I.S.T. (1978)
Home Video Trailer from Warner Home Video
Play trailer2:08
Entertaining Angels: The Dorothy Day Story (1996)
11 Videos
98 Photos
Melinda Dillon came to prominence with the role of Jillian Guiler, a mother whose child is abducted by aliens in Steven Spielberg's Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977). Dillon's performance in the film earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. A few years later, Dillon received another Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her performance as a devout Catholic woman in Absence of Malice (1981). The performance won the actress a KCFCC Award.
BornOctober 13, 1939
DiedJanuary 9, 2023(83)
BornOctober 13, 1939
DiedJanuary 9, 2023(83)
IMDbProStarmeterTop 5,000842
  • Nominated for 2 Oscars
    • 4 wins & 9 nominations total

Photos98

Todd Allen, Melinda Dillon, and Isabelle Walker in The Twilight Zone (1985)
Richard Dreyfuss and Melinda Dillon in Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
Melinda Dillon in Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
Melinda Dillon in Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
Richard Dreyfuss and Melinda Dillon in Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
Kevin Peter Hall, John Lithgow, Melinda Dillon, Margaret Langrick, and Joshua Rudoy in Harry and the Hendersons (1987)
Melinda Dillon and Cary Guffey in Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
Richard Dreyfuss and Melinda Dillon in Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
Melinda Dillon and Cary Guffey in Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
Melinda Dillon and Cary Guffey in Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
Melinda Dillon and Cary Guffey in Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
Melinda Dillon and Cary Guffey in Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)

Known for

Magnolia (1999)
Magnolia
8.0
  • Rose Gator
  • 1999
Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
7.6
  • Jillian Guiler
  • 1977
Peter Billingsley, Melinda Dillon, Jeff Gillen, and Darren McGavin in A Christmas Story (1983)
A Christmas Story
7.9
  • Mother Parker
  • 1983
Kevin Peter Hall, John Lithgow, Melinda Dillon, Margaret Langrick, and Joshua Rudoy in Harry and the Hendersons (1987)
Harry and the Hendersons
6.1
  • Nancy Henderson
  • 1987

Credits

Edit
IMDbPro

Actress

  • Heartland (2007)
    Heartland
    • Janet Jacobs
    • TV Series
    • 2007
  • Don Cheadle and Adam Sandler in Reign Over Me (2007)
    Reign Over Me
    • Ginger Timpleman
    • 2007
  • Mariska Hargitay in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999)
    Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
    • Jenny Rogers
    • TV Series
    • 2005
  • Parker Posey, Malcolm Gets, Chris Kattan, and Cary Curran in Adam & Steve (2005)
    Adam & Steve
    • Dottie
    • 2005
  • Beau Bridges, Dale Midkiff, Bradley Joseph, Kaley Cuoco, Edwin Hodge, Billy Kay, and Daniel Letterle in Debating Robert Lee (2004)
    Debating Robert Lee
    • Mrs. Lee
    • 2004
  • The Lyon's Den (2003)
    The Lyon's Den
    • Charlotte Barrington
    • TV Series
    • 2003
  • A Painted House (2003)
    A Painted House
    • Gran Chandler
    • TV Movie
    • 2003
  • Judging Amy (1999)
    Judging Amy
    • Violet Loomis
    • TV Series
    • 2001
  • Cowboy Up (2001)
    Cowboy Up
    • Rose Braxton
    • 2001
  • Magnolia (1999)
    Magnolia
    • Rose Gator
    • 1999
  • Kevin Clash, Stephanie D'Abruzzo, Joey Mazzarino, and Caroll Spinney in The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland (1999)
    The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland
    • Additional Muppet Performer (uncredited)
    • 1999
  • The Effects of Magic (1998)
    The Effects of Magic
    • Mom
    • 1998
  • Tracey Ullman in Tracey Takes On... (1996)
    Tracey Takes On...
    • Desiree
    • TV Series
    • 1997
  • Martin Sheen and Moira Kelly in Entertaining Angels: The Dorothy Day Story (1996)
    Entertaining Angels: The Dorothy Day Story
    • Sister Aloysius
    • 1996
  • Picket Fences (1992)
    Picket Fences
    • Mrs. Klausner
    • TV Series
    • 1996

Soundtrack

  • Sean Astin, Dermot Mulroney, and Tim Quill in Staying Together (1989)
    Staying Together
    • performer: "While We're Young"
    • 1989

Videos11

Trailer
Trailer 2:21
Trailer
Trailer
Trailer 2:39
Trailer
Official Trailer
Trailer 2:15
Official Trailer
A Christmas Story
Trailer 0:54
A Christmas Story
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Trailer 2:32
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
A Christmas Story
Trailer 1:22
A Christmas Story
The Muppet Movie
Trailer 0:58
The Muppet Movie
Entertaining Angels
Trailer 2:08
Entertaining Angels
Close Encounters of the Third Kind: 30th Anniversary Ultimate Edition
Trailer 1:34
Close Encounters of the Third Kind: 30th Anniversary Ultimate Edition
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Trailer 1:14
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Absence of Malice
Trailer 2:03
Absence of Malice

Personal details

Edit
  • Alternative name
    • Linda Dillon
  • Height
    • 5′ 8″ (1.73 m)
  • Born
    • October 13, 1939
    • Hope, Arkansas, USA
  • Died
    • January 9, 2023
    • Los Angeles, California, USA(undisclosed)
  • Spouse
    • Richard LibertiniSeptember 30, 1963 - January 18, 1978 (divorced, 1 child)
  • Children
    • Richard Libertini Jr.
  • Parents
      E. Norine Barnett
  • Other works
    She played the role of "Honey" in the original Broadway cast of 'Edward Albee''s "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" in 1962.
  • Publicity listings
    • 1 Article
    • 2 Pictorials

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    Was nominated for Broadway's 1963 Tony Award as Best Supporting or Featured Actress (Dramatic) for "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?"

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