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

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

Bonanza

Judging Amy

The Twilight Zone

The Jeffersons

The Defenders

CHiPs

Close Encounters of the Third Kind

All Movies (42)

• Hal2019 · as Self (archive footage)
• Reign Over Me2007 · as Ginger Timpleman
• Adam & Steve2005 · as Dottie
• Debating Robert Lee2004 · as Mrs. Lee
• A Painted House2003 · as Gran Chandler
• Cowboy Up2002 · as Rose Braxton
• The Making of 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind'2001 · as Self
• Magnolia1999 · as Rose Gator
• The Effects of Magic1998 · as Mom
• Christmas Unwrapped: The History of Christmas1997 · as Mrs. Parker (archive footage)
• Entertaining Angels: The Dorothy Day Story1996 · as Sister Aloysius
• How to Make an American Quilt1995 · as Mrs. Darling
• To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar1995 · as Merna
• Naomi & Wynonna: Love Can Build a Bridge1995 · as Polly Judd
• Sioux City1994 · as Leah Goldman
• State of Emergency1994 · as Betty Anderson
• Confessions: Two Faces of Evil1994 · as Carol Mothershed
• Judgment Day: The John List Story1993 · as Eleanor
• The Prince of Tides1991 · as Savannah Wingo
• Captain America1990 · as Mrs. Rogers
• Spontaneous Combustion1990 · as Nina
• Staying Together1989 · as Eileen McDermott
• Nightbreaker1989 · as Paula Brown
• Shattered Innocence1988 · as Sharon Anderson
• Harry and the Hendersons1987 · as Nancy Henderson
• Shattered Spirits1986 · as Joyce Mollencamp
• Songwriter1984 · as Honey Carder
• Right of Way1983 · as Ruda Dwyer
• A Christmas Story1983 · as Mother
• Absence of Malice1981 · as Teresa Perrone
• Hellinger's Law1981 · as Anne Gronouski
• Fallen Angel1981 · as Sherry Phillips
• The Shadow Box1980 · as Agnes
• Marriage Is Alive and Well1980 · as Jeannie
• The Muppet Movie1979 · as Woman with Balloon
• F.I.S.T.1978 · as Anna Zarinkas
• Close Encounters of the Third Kind1977 · as Jillian Guiler
• Enigma1977 · as Dora Herren
• Slap Shot1977 · as Suzanne Hanrahan
• Bound for Glory1976 · as Mary / Memphis Sue
• The April Fools1969 · as Leslie Hopkins
• The Cry of Jazz1959 · as Faye

All TV Shows (13)

• Heartland2007 · as Janet Jacobs
• The Lyon's Den2003
• Law & Order: Special Victims Unit1999 · as Jenny Rogers
• Judging Amy1999 · as Violet Loomis
• Picket Fences1992 · as Mrs. Klausner
• The Twilight Zone1985 · as (segment "A Little Peace and Quiet")
• Space1985 · as Rachel Mott
• The Critical List1978 · as Dr. Kris Lassiter
• CHiPs1977
• The Jeffersons1975
• The Defenders1961 · as Jeannie Birch
• Bonanza1959 · as Cissy Summers
• Hallmark Hall of Fame1951 · as Gran Chandler