Melinda Dillon was an actress known for roles in movies including “A Christmas Story” and “Close Encounters of the Third Kind.”
- Died: January 9, 2023 (Who else died on January 9?)
- Details of death: Died at the age of 83.
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Acting career
In one of her earliest roles, Dillon originated the role of Honey in “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” on Broadway in 1962, earning a Tony nomination. It was the first of several award nominations for her, another coming in 1976 when she starred in Hal Ashby’ “Bound for Glory” and was nominated for a Golden Globe for New Star of the Year. Her profile rose in 1977 when she played a hockey player’s wife in “Slap Shot,” with an extended scene in bed with Paul Newman (1925–2008). That same year, Dillon was nominated for an Academy Award for her performance in “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” as Jillian Guiler, whose son is abducted by aliens. She was nominated for a second Oscar for her performance in 1981’s “Absence of Malice,” again working opposite Newman in a tragic role as a Catholic woman who must publicly admit to having had an abortion.
Dillon’s most enduring role came in 1983’s “A Christmas Story” as she played Mother Parker, the sweet small-town mom who became a beloved part of the holiday classic. Her memorable scenes included giggling with her younger son as he ate his mashed potatoes “like the piggies eat” and washing her older son’s mouth out with soap after he let slip a profanity learned from his dad. Dillon played another mom in “Harry and the Hendersons” and starred opposite Philip Baker Hall (1931–2022) in “Magnolia.” Her other movies included “The Prince of Tides,” “To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar,” and How to Make an American Quilt.” Dillon also appeared on TV shows including “The Jeffersons,” “Picket Fences,” and “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.”
Tributes to Melinda Dillon
Full obituary: The New York Times
