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Melinda Ruth Dillon is an American actress. She received a 1963 Tony Award nomination for her Broadway debut in the original production of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her roles as Jillian Guiler in Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) and Teresa in Absence of Malice (1981). Her other film appearances include Bound for Glory (1976), F.I.S.T. (1978), A Christmas Story (1983), Harry and the Hendersons (1987), The Prince of Tides (1991) and Magnolia (1999).
Birth Name
Melinda Ruth Dillon
Born
Friday, 13 October 1939
Died
Monday, 09 January 2023
Actress Filmography
| Title | Character | Year |
|---|
| Hal | Herself (archive footage) | 2018 |
| Spielberg | Self / Jillian Guiler | 2017 |
| Heartland | Janet Jacobs | 2007 |
| Reign Over Me | Ginger Timpleman | 2007 |
| Adam & Steve | Dottie | 2005 |
| Debating Robert Lee | Mrs. Lee | 2004 |
| The Lyon's Den | Charlotte Barrington | 2003 |
| A Painted House | Gran Chandler | 2003 |
| The Real Story | (archive footage) | 2003 |
| Cowboy Up | Rose Braxton | 2001 |
Actress Filmography
| Title | Character | Year |
|---|
| Hal | Herself (archive footage) | 2018 |
| Spielberg | Self / Jillian Guiler | 2017 |
| Heartland | Janet Jacobs | 2007 |
| Reign Over Me | Ginger Timpleman | 2007 |
| Adam & Steve | Dottie | 2005 |
| Debating Robert Lee | Mrs. Lee | 2004 |
| The Lyon's Den | Charlotte Barrington | 2003 |
| A Painted House | Gran Chandler | 2003 |
| The Real Story | (archive footage) | 2003 |
| Cowboy Up | Rose Braxton | 2001 |
| That Moment: Magnolia Diary | Self | 2000 |
| Magnolia | Rose Gator | 1999 |
| Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Jenny Rogers | 1999 |
| Judging Amy | Violet Loomis | 1999 |
| The Effects of Magic | Mom | 1998 |
| Christmas Unwrapped: The History of Christmas | Mrs. Parker | 1997 |
| Entertaining Angels: The Dorothy Day Story | Sister Aloysius | 1996 |
| Tracey Takes On... | Desiree | 1996 |
| How to Make an American Quilt | Mrs. Darling | 1995 |
| The Client | Verna Caldwell | 1995 |
| To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar | Merna | 1995 |
| Naomi & Wynonna: Love Can Build a Bridge | Polly Judd | 1995 |
| Sioux City | Leah Goldman | 1994 |
| State of Emergency | Betty Anderson | 1994 |
| Confessions: Two Faces of Evil | Carol Mothershed | 1994 |
| Judgment Day: The John List Story | Eleanor / Eleanor List | 1993 |
| Picket Fences | Mrs. Klausner | 1992 |
| The Prince of Tides | Savannah Wingo | 1991 |
| Captain America | Mrs. Rogers | 1990 |
| Spontaneous Combustion | Nina | 1990 |
| Staying Together | Eileen McDermott | 1989 |
| Nightbreaker | Paula Brown | 1989 |
| Shattered Innocence | Sharon Anderson | 1988 |
| Harry and the Hendersons | Nancy Henderson | 1987 |
| Shattered Spirits | Joyce Mollencamp | 1986 |
| The Twilight Zone | Penny (segment "A Little Peace and Quiet") | 1985 |
| Space | Rachel Mott | 1985 |
| Songwriter | Honey Carder | 1984 |
| Right of Way | Ruda Dwyer | 1983 |
| A Christmas Story | Mother Parker / Mrs. Parker | 1983 |
| The Juggler of Notre Dame | Dulcy | 1982 |
| The 54th Annual Academy Awards | Self - Nominee | 1982 |
| Absence of Malice | Teresa Perrone | 1981 |
| Hellinger's Law | Anne Gronouski | 1981 |
| Fallen Angel | Sherry Phillips | 1981 |
| The Shadow Box | Agnes | 1980 |
| The Muppet Movie | Woman with Balloon | 1979 |
| F.I.S.T. | Anna Zarinkas | 1978 |
| The 50th Annual Academy Awards | Self - Nominee | 1978 |
| Close Encounters of the Third Kind | Jillian Guiler | 1977 |
| Slap Shot | Suzanne Hanrahan / Suzanne | 1977 |
| Bound for Glory | Memphis Sue / Mary (Woody's wife) / Mary | 1976 |
| Sara | Lily Henchard | 1976 |
| The Jeffersons | Daphne | 1975 |
| Men at Law | Connie Swann | 1970 |
| The April Fools | Leslie Hopkins | 1969 |
| East Side/West Side | Stacey Barbella | 1963 |
| The Defenders | Jeannie Birch | 1961 |
| Bonanza | Cissy Summers | 1959 |
| The Cry of Jazz | Faye | 1959 |
| Year | Type | Category | Won |
|---|
| 1982 | Oscar | Best Actress in a Supporting Role | Nominated |
| 1978 | Oscar | Best Actress in a Supporting Role | Nominated |
| 1977 | Golden Globe | Best Acting Debut in a Motion Picture - Female | Nominated |
