Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

53

Gender

Female

Birthday

1939-10-13

Day of Death

2023-01-09 (84 years old)

Place of Birth

Hope, Arkansas, USA

Also Known As

Melinda Rose Dillon

ملیندا دیلون

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.

Known For

Acting

Magnolia

1999

Magnolia

as

Rose Gator

Close Encounters of the Third Kind

1977

Close Encounters of the Third Kind

as

Jillian Guiler

A Christmas Story

1983

A Christmas Story

as

Mother

Reign Over Me

2007

Reign Over Me

as

Ginger Timpleman

The Prince of Tides

1991

The Prince of Tides

as

Savannah Wingo

How to Make an American Quilt

1995

How to Make an American Quilt

as

Mrs. Darling

Confessions: Two Faces of Evil

1994

Confessions: Two Faces of Evil

as

Carol Mothershed

Harry and the Hendersons

1987

Harry and the Hendersons

as

Nancy Henderson

Staying Together

1989

Staying Together

as

Eileen McDermott

F.I.S.T.

1978

F.I.S.T.

as

Anna Zarinkas

Captain America

1990

Captain America

as

Mrs. Rogers

Bound for Glory

1976

Bound for Glory

as

Mary / Memphis Sue

A Painted House

2003

A Painted House

as

Gran Chandler

Adam & Steve

2005

Adam & Steve

as

Dottie

Christmas Unwrapped: The History of Christmas

1997

Christmas Unwrapped: The History of Christmas

as

Mrs. Parker (archive footage)

Absence of Malice

1981

Absence of Malice

as

Teresa Perrone

Songwriter

1984

Songwriter

as

Honey Carder

The April Fools

1969

The April Fools

as

Leslie Hopkins

Cowboy Up

2002

Cowboy Up

as

Rose Braxton

Fallen Angel

1981

Fallen Angel

as

Sherry Phillips

Entertaining Angels: The Dorothy Day Story

1996

Entertaining Angels: The Dorothy Day Story

as

Sister Aloysius

Judgment Day: The John List Story

1993

Judgment Day: The John List Story

as

Eleanor

State of Emergency

1994

State of Emergency

as

Betty Anderson

Nightbreaker

1989

Nightbreaker

as

Paula Brown

Right of Way

1983

Right of Way

as

Ruda Dwyer

Naomi & Wynonna: Love Can Build a Bridge

1995

Naomi & Wynonna: Love Can Build a Bridge

as

Polly Judd

Shattered Innocence

1988

Shattered Innocence

as

Sharon Anderson

Spontaneous Combustion

1990

Spontaneous Combustion

as

Nina

Debating Robert Lee

2004

Debating Robert Lee

as

Mrs. Lee

Sioux City

1994

Sioux City

as

Leah Goldman

The Effects of Magic

1998

The Effects of Magic

as

Mom

Slap Shot

1977

Slap Shot

as

Suzanne Hanrahan

The Making of 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind'

2001

The Making of 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind'

as

Self

Hellinger's Law

1981

Hellinger's Law

as

Anne Gronouski

The Shadow Box

1980

The Shadow Box

as

Agnes

Shattered Spirits

1986

Shattered Spirits

as

Joyce Mollencamp

To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar

1995

To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar

as

Merna

The Muppet Movie

1979

The Muppet Movie

as

Woman with Balloon

Marriage Is Alive and Well

1980

Marriage Is Alive and Well

as

Jeannie

Hal

2019

Hal

as

Self (archive footage)

The Cry of Jazz

1959

The Cry of Jazz

as

Faye

CHiPs

CHiPs

as

Judging Amy

Judging Amy

as

Violet Loomis

The Twilight Zone

The Twilight Zone

as

(segment "A Little Peace and Quiet")

The Jeffersons

The Jeffersons

as

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

as

Jenny Rogers

Heartland

Heartland

as

Hallmark Hall of Fame

Hallmark Hall of Fame

as

Gran Chandler

The Lyon's Den

The Lyon's Den

as

The Defenders

The Defenders

as

Jeannie Birch

Bonanza

Bonanza

as

Cissy Summers

Space

Space

as

Rachel Mott

The Critical List

The Critical List

as

Dr. Kris Lassiter

Production

Crew

Directing