Actress Melinda Dillon passes away at the age of 83

Melinda Dillon, an actress, has died at the age of 83. Dillon grew up in both Arkansas and Alabama. In the 1960s, she moved to Hollywood and began an acting career that would last for decades. Dillon is best known for her roles in Close Encounters of the Third Kind and A Christmas Story, both of which were made by Steven Spielberg. Dillon has been nominated for many awards. She won a Golden Globe for her role as Memphis Sue in 1976’s Bound for Glory, and she was nominated for two Academy Awards for her roles as Jillian Guiler in Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Teresa in 1981’s Absence of Malice.

Rencontres du troisieme type CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND de Steven Spielberg avec Melinda Dillon et Cary Guffey, 1977

Deadline says that Dillon died on January 9 in Los Angeles. He was 83 years old. In their statement, her family didn’t say what caused her death, but they did say that her body would be burned. Before she retired in 2007 after almost 50 years in the business, Dillon played Ginger Timpleman in the Adam Sandler movie Reign Over Janet Jacobs and Me in the medical drama series Heartland. Her son, with the late actor Richard Libertini, is still alive.

Remembering Melinda Dillon’s life and work
Early in her career, Dillon worked in student theater productions. She starred in a few Broadway shows and became better known for her role in the original Broadway production of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, which earned her a Tony Award nomination. In 1969, she had her first role in a full-length movie. It was in the romantic comedy The April Fools. The same year, she made her first appearance on TV as a guest star on the popular Western show Bonanza. Aside from her well-known roles in Close Encounters of the Third Kind and A Christmas Story, for which she was nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for the former, Dillon is also known for her roles in Harry and the Hendersons, Magnolia, and the anthology series Insight.

Dillon was talented enough to act in comedic and dramatic roles, and she did this throughout her career. People will never forget the stories she was in and the performances she gave, like when her character in “A Christmas Story” tells her son Ralphie that she’ll shoot out his eye or when she fights off UFOs trying to invade her home in “Close Encounters of the Third Kind.” Melinda Dillon will be remembered by audiences and her peers for years to come for all of these roles and more.

Share on

Aviva Smadja

All Posts »

Actress Melinda Dillon passes away at the age of 83

Home » Actress Melinda Dillon passes away at the age of 83

Melinda Dillon, an actress, has died at the age of 83. Dillon grew up in both Arkansas and Alabama. In the 1960s, she moved to Hollywood and began an acting career that would last for decades. Dillon is best known for her roles in Close Encounters of the Third Kind and A Christmas Story, both of which were made by Steven Spielberg. Dillon has been nominated for many awards. She won a Golden Globe for her role as Memphis Sue in 1976's Bound for Glory, and she was nominated for two Academy Awards for her roles as Jillian Guiler in Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Teresa in 1981's Absence of Malice.

Deadline says that Dillon died on January 9 in Los Angeles. He was 83 years old. In their statement, her family didn't say what caused her death, but they did say that her body would be burned. Before she retired in 2007 after almost 50 years in the business, Dillon played Ginger Timpleman in the Adam Sandler movie Reign Over Janet Jacobs and Me in the medical drama series Heartland. Her son, with the late actor Richard Libertini, is still alive. Remembering Melinda Dillon's life and work Early in her career, Dillon worked in student theater productions. She starred in a few Broadway shows and became better known for her role in the original Broadway production of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, which earned her a Tony Award nomination. In 1969, she had her first role in a full-length movie. It was in the romantic comedy The April Fools. The same year, she made her first appearance on TV as a guest star on the popular Western show Bonanza. Aside from her well-known roles in Close Encounters of the Third Kind and A Christmas Story, for which she was nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for the former, Dillon is also known for her roles in Harry and the Hendersons, Magnolia, and the anthology series Insight.

Dillon was talented enough to act in comedic and dramatic roles, and she did this throughout her career. People will never forget the stories she was in and the performances she gave, like when her character in "A Christmas Story" tells her son Ralphie that she'll shoot out his eye or when she fights off UFOs trying to invade her home in "Close Encounters of the Third Kind." Melinda Dillon will be remembered by audiences and her peers for years to come for all of these roles and more.