Melinda Dillon

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.

More details

Known For

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

1999 • as Jenny Rogers

Judging Amy

1999 • as Violet Loomis

Bonanza

1959 • as Cissy Summers

The Twilight Zone

1985 • as (segment "A Little Peace and Quiet")

The Jeffersons

1975

Magnolia

1999 • as Rose Gator

Filmography

2019

Hal

as Self (archive footage)

Movie - Released: 3/28/2019

2007

Reign Over Me

as Ginger Timpleman

Movie - Released: 3/22/2007

Heartland

TV - Released: 6/18/2007

2005

Adam & Steve

as Dottie

Movie - Released: 4/24/2005

2004

Debating Robert Lee

as Mrs. Lee

Movie - Released: 9/17/2004

2003

A Painted House

as Gran Chandler

Movie - Released: 4/27/2003

The Lyon's Den

TV - Released: 9/28/2003

2002

Cowboy Up

as Rose Braxton

Movie - Released: 9/3/2002

2001

The Making of 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind'

as Self

Movie - Released: 5/8/2001

1999

Magnolia

as Rose Gator

Movie - Released: 12/17/1999

Judging Amy

as Violet Loomis

TV - Released: 9/19/1999

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

as Jenny Rogers

TV - Released: 9/20/1999

1998

Movie

The Effects of Magic

as Mom

Movie - Released: 9/28/1998

1997

Christmas Unwrapped: The History of Christmas

as Mrs. Parker (archive footage)

Movie - Released: 12/1/1997

1996

Entertaining Angels: The Dorothy Day Story

as Sister Aloysius

Movie - Released: 9/27/1996

1995

How to Make an American Quilt

as Mrs. Darling

Movie - Released: 10/6/1995

Naomi & Wynonna: Love Can Build a Bridge

as Polly Judd

Movie - Released: 5/14/1995

To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar

as Merna

Movie - Released: 9/7/1995

1994

Confessions: Two Faces of Evil

as Carol Mothershed

Movie - Released: 1/17/1994

State of Emergency

as Betty Anderson

Movie - Released: 2/21/1994

Sioux City

as Leah Goldman

Movie - Released: 4/1/1994

1993

Judgment Day: The John List Story

as Eleanor

Movie - Released: 2/23/1993

1991

The Prince of Tides

as Savannah Wingo

Movie - Released: 12/25/1991

1990

Captain America

as Mrs. Rogers

Movie - Released: 12/14/1990

Spontaneous Combustion

as Nina

Movie - Released: 2/23/1990

1989

Staying Together

as Eileen McDermott

Movie - Released: 11/10/1989

Nightbreaker

as Paula Brown

Movie - Released: 3/8/1989

1988

Shattered Innocence

as Sharon Anderson

Movie - Released: 3/9/1988

1987

Harry and the Hendersons

as Nancy Henderson

Movie - Released: 6/5/1987

1986

Shattered Spirits

as Joyce Mollencamp

Movie - Released: 1/6/1986

1985

The Twilight Zone

as (segment "A Little Peace and Quiet")

TV - Released: 9/27/1985

Space

as Rachel Mott

TV - Released: 4/14/1985

1984

Songwriter

as Honey Carder

Movie - Released: 10/14/1984

1983

A Christmas Story

as Mother

Movie - Released: 11/18/1983

Right of Way

as Ruda Dwyer

Movie - Released: 11/21/1983

1981

Absence of Malice

as Teresa Perrone

Movie - Released: 11/19/1981

Fallen Angel

as Sherry Phillips

Movie - Released: 2/24/1981

Hellinger's Law

as Anne Gronouski

Movie - Released: 3/10/1981

1980

The Shadow Box

as Agnes

Movie - Released: 9/30/1980

Marriage Is Alive and Well

as Jeannie

Movie - Released: 1/25/1980

1979

The Muppet Movie

as Woman with Balloon

Movie - Released: 6/22/1979

1978

F.I.S.T.

as Anna Zarinkas

Movie - Released: 4/26/1978

The Critical List

as Dr. Kris Lassiter

TV - Released: 9/11/1978

1977

Close Encounters of the Third Kind

as Jillian Guiler

Movie - Released: 12/14/1977

Slap Shot

as Suzanne Hanrahan

Movie - Released: 2/25/1977

CHiPs

TV - Released: 9/15/1977

1976

Bound for Glory

as Mary / Memphis Sue

Movie - Released: 12/5/1976

1975

The Jeffersons

TV - Released: 1/18/1975

1969

The April Fools

as Leslie Hopkins

Movie - Released: 5/28/1969

1961

The Defenders

as Jeannie Birch

TV - Released: 9/16/1961

1959

The Cry of Jazz

as Faye

Movie - Released: 3/22/1959

Bonanza

as Cissy Summers

TV - Released: 9/12/1959

1951

Hallmark Hall of Fame

as Gran Chandler

TV - Released: 12/24/1951