Melinda Dillon, Actress in 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind' and 'A Christmas Story,' Dies at 83

[The Grand Illuminist]

Source: Hollywood Reporter

Melinda Dillon, who received supporting Oscar nominations for her turns in Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Absence of Malice and portrayed the doting mom in the holiday perennial A Christmas Story, died Jan. 9, her family announced. She was 83.

Right out of the gate, Dillon earned a Tony nomination and Theatre World award in 1963 for her debut performance on Broadway as the childlike wife Honey in the original production of Edward Albee‘s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Later, the Arkansas native played two characters opposite David Carradine — Woody Guthrie’s first wife, Mary, and a dark-haired folk singer named Memphis Sue — in the biopic Bound for Glory (1976), directed by Hal Ashby; was a lesbian hockey wife in George Roy Hill’s Slap Shot (1977); and portrayed John Lithgow’s wife in the family film Harry and the Hendersons (1987).

Her big-screen résumé also included Norman Jewison’s F.I.S.T. (1978), as the girlfriend/wife of a Teamster played by Sylvester Stallone; Barbra Streisand’s The Prince of Tides (1991), as the suicidal sister of Nick Nolte’s character; and Paul Thomas Anderson’s Magnolia (1999), as the wife of a philandering quiz show host (Philip Baker Hall).

She was married to late actor Richard Libertini from 1963 until their 1978 divorce, and they had a son.

In Steven Spielberg’s Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977), Dillon portrayed Jillian Guiler, the single mother who heads to Devils Tower with her next-door neighbor (Richard Dreyfuss) in search of her 3-year-old son, who’s been abducted by aliens through the kitchen doggy door. Ashby had recommended her to Spielberg for the part, and she was hired just days before filming began.

Read more: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/melinda-dillon-dead-close-encounters-christmas-story-1235317335/

[NewHendoLib]

1. So sad. Best movie mom ever. Lifebuoy soap.

Dumping the bowling ball on her hubby's lap on Christmas morning. Red cabbage. "How do the little piggies eat". Priceless!

[peppertree]

3. Hear, hear

[LymphocyteLover]

4. yeah, she was so sweet in that movie

[rsdsharp]

6. I love that scene, but not because of the Lifebouy.

When I was eleven, a bunch of guys were playing baseball on the school yard. I was on deck when Lance Christensen took a mighty swing. The bat flew out of his hands — directly toward me. I was hit in the forehead, basically right between the eyes. I dropped like a pole axed steer.

The guys picked me and my huge goose egg up, and walked me toward the school, where we met Mrs. Sogard, the fourth grade teacher. She took me to the principal’s office and called my mother.

I still remember both sides of the conversation. Mrs. Sogard said, “Mrs. [Bobby’s mom]? Bobby has been hit in the head with a baseball bat. Do you want me to drive him home?” Mom’s response was basically the same as Mrs. Schwartz’s: “WHAT!? WHAT!? WHAAAAAT!!!!!!?”

Ah, great memories.

[Siwsan]

26. The first time I saw that I was babysitting my niece while my sister recuperated from a C section

My nephew was born on November 25, at nearly 10 lbs and the pregnancy and birth were a bit strenuous for my petit sister. She was napping on the couch and my niece and I were on the floor, watching the movie. For most of the film I was able to stifle laughing out loud and that scene pushed me to the limits. All of a sudden I heard my sister LAUGH and then sound in pain, and then laughed, again. I didn't realize she had woken up and was watching, too.

What a relief that I could let loose with a laugh, too. And then, of course, go and check on her.

Every single year after, we faithfully watched it. And still laughed. Now, every time I watch it, I remember that day and miss my sister.

This past Christmas my brother, niece and I watched 'A Christmas Story Christmas' and enjoyed every minute of it, although we all missed Melinda. And my sister.

[BlueMTexpat]

27. My husband and I first saw the

movie when it first came out in 1983. We had actually gone to see another movie and that one was sold out, so we picked this one because it fit our schedule although it wasn't even during the holiday season.

We had a wonderful time watching it: his childhood was in the 30s-40s and mine was in the 40s-50s. I think that one poster below made an apt comment by saying that it may mean more to those who grew up in certain eras. I also grew up in an area where winter snow abounded. Stuffing poor Randy into a snowsuit and Flick's tongue getting stuck to the pole on a dare reminded me very much of those days, as did Ralphie's dream of the Red Ryder bb gun, the "decoder" and the various breakfast cereal "deals" that we would send away for and that almost always disappointed.

When the movie finished, we looked at each other and both said: "This is a classic, for sure."

MANY years later I had to have cancer surgery on Christmas Eve and spend one night in the hospital. When I woke up and turned on the tv, "A Christmas Story" was playing on TBS. It made the whole ordeal MUCH less stressful. Your story about being in the hospital with your sister resonated with me very much.

As most afionoados already know and I have since learned, TBS has a Christmas Day marathon showing this movie. I have watched it as often as possible and have enjoyed it EVERY time. https://www.nexttv.com/news/tbs-tnt-prep-for-a-christmas-story-marathon

Melinda Dillon and Darren McGavin made a wonderful screen couple. RIP, Ms Dillon! You will continue to brighten lives for a LONG time!

[Glorfindel]

2. I'm sorry to hear it. She was a radiant presence

and a terrific actor. Thanks to her, I'll always know the name of the Lone Ranger's nephew's horse.
R.I.P.

[Texaswitchy]

28. Victor

Seen the movie to many times

[Glorfindel]

29. Nah, that's one movie you can't see too many times!

[Texaswitchy]

30. I agree

Great movie.

[vercetti2021]

5. Aw man

&ab_channel=GeneLea

RIP

[DownriverDem]

7. Loved her

as Ralphie's Mom. One of my favorite movies.

[mzmolly]

8. Sad news.

[Bayard]

9. Aww, damn......

[mcar]

10. RIP

Christmas Story is my fave holiday movie.

[llmart]

25. +1

Mine too. I rarely watch any movie more than once, but I've watched that movie many, many times at Christmas. I guess you have to be of a certain age to relate to the family and times portrayed. My sister lives not too far from the house where it was filmed and she took me there about ten years ago.

[IrishAfricanAmerican]

11. RIP 💐

She was a fav of mine.

[Javaman]

12. Wow! I would have never guess she was that old

I’ve loved her work ever since I saw her in close encounters

Rest in peace, you were one of the good ones

[crickets]

18. Couldn't have said it better.

[Ilsa]

13. A nice, long life. RIP. I can remember the scene

in Absence of Malice when she runs from one neighbor's house to another, collecting the newspapers, trying to hide the news article that said Newman's character has an alibi because he took her to Atlanta for an abortion. She worked with young children at a Catholic school, and couldn't bear the idea of the nuns discovering her secret.

[Grokenstein]

21. That scene broke my heart.

Sydney Pollack's Absence of Malice is underrated film and occasionally uncomfortable to watch, but it has a fantastic Dave Grusin score (the opening credits theme is one of my top five faves) and everyone turns in a great performance. To anyone reading this: if you haven't seen it, do so.

[PCIntern]

31. I agree 100%

I think it’s Newman’s most sensitive performance as an older actor. The cast, direction and thesis were superb in addition to your attributes listed in your post.

[DownriverDem]

14. Had a feeling she wasn't well

when she did appear in The Christmas Story Christmas recently released. RIP

[dflprincess]

17. I really thought the sequel suffered by recasting her part

and I also wondered if she was not up to appearing in it.

The sequel suffered enough from not having Jean Shepherd's writing though a valiant attempt was made to imitate it. But not having Melinda Dillon in it just gave it a really "off" feeling.

She will always be Ralphie's mom to me.

[tenderfoot]

19. I was initially disappointed with the recasting...

but I think Julie Hagerty did a decent job.

[dflprincess]

20. She did & I generally like Julie Hagerty

And it was brave of her to step into the part. My comment wasn't really a criticism of her, just my feeling about the movie in general.

[tenderfoot]

24. Agreed

[The Grand Illuminist]

15. The story here got one thing wrong.

In Close Encounters, her character and Dryfuss' character aren't next door neighbors. She lived across town in Muncie, IN.

[ZonkerHarris]

16. She was wonderful. RIP

[blogslug]

22. She was just lovely

Goodbye, Ms Dillon. ❤️

[pansypoo53219]

23. i put fra gee lay on my ebay boxes for years.

[Upthevibe]

32. The Grand Illuminist............

Thank for this post.....I just LOVED her and am sorry she's no longer with us...

I enjoy A Christmas Story every season. It wouldn't be Christmas for me without that classic movie....

[The Grand Illuminist]

33. Close Encounters and FIST were great movies too.

[MissMillie]

34. I had forgotten that she was in The Prince of Tides

But remember her other performances. Talented, for sure.

RIP