Melinda Ruth Dillon (October 13, 1939 – January 9, 2023) was an American actress. She was nominated for a 1963 Tony Award 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 in Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) and Absence of Malice (1981).
She is well-known for her role as Mrs. Parker in the holiday classic A Christmas Story (1983). Her other film roles include Bound for Glory (1976), Slap Shot (1977), F.I.S.T. (1978), Harry and the Hendersons (1987), Captain America (1990), The Prince of Tides (1991), To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar (1995), How to Make an American Quilt (1995), Magnolia (1999), for which she was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award, and Reign Over Me (2007).
Early life Dillon was born as Melinda Ruth Clardy on October 13, 1939, in Hope, Arkansas, but raised in Cullman, Alabama. After spending four years in Germany while her father was stationed on a base there, Dillon attended Hyde Park High School and the Goodman School of Drama at the Art Institute of Chicago (now at DePaul University) in Chicago.
Career Though best known for her supporting performances in films, Dillon began as an improvisational comedian and stage actress. Recalling her performance as Sonya in a 1961 student production of Chekhov's Uncle Vanya, Alan Schneider wrote:What distinguished and made the whole attempt worthwhile for me was casting the role of Sonya with a young actress named Linda Dillon, who was a senior acting student at Goodman as well as a hanger-on with a Second City troupe that included two young performers named Barbara Harris and Alan Arkin. During our tryouts, John Reich, then the Goodman Theatre's artistic director, had seriously tried to discourage me from using Linda. He admitted her talent but warned me that she was highly volatile and completely unpredictable as an actress. He had found another actress whom he found much more suitable for Sonya. I insisted on using Linda, no matter the consequences. I was fascinated by the combination of her fragility and sensuality, intrigued with the unconventional way in which she was able to make a line seem utterly spontaneous, and impressed with her emotional range and richness. During our four weeks of rehearsal [...], I wound up alternately adoring and hating Linda. She always did too much and yet not enough. She was never the same twice in a given scene, even when she had found something wonderful last time. She was always wanting to quit the cast or leave school or kill herself. And yet, at the same time, I felt she was extraordinary, the most talented young actress I'd ever worked with, the potential peer of Geraldine Page and perhaps even Kim Stanley. I was sure she'd be a big star one day, and I wanted to be with her when that happened.Schneider, Alan (1986). Entrances : An American Director's Journey. New York, NY: Viking p. 292–293. .
Dillon's first major role was as Honey in the original 1962 Broadway production of Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, for which she was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play.Stevenson, Isabelle (1987). The Tony Award : A Complete Listing, With a History of the American Theatre Wing. New York: Crown Publishers. p. 76. . At the time of her death, she was the last surviving cast member of the original production. In addition, she also appeared in You Know I Can't Hear You When the Water's Running and Paul Sill's Story Theatre.
In 1959, she acted in The Cry of Jazz, a short film dealing with jazz music and Black culture."New Film". The Negro History Bulletin. p. 59. Retrieved March 18, 2022. Dillon's first feature film was The April Fools in 1969. She also worked in television, including a guest-starring role in 1969 on an episode of the TV series Bonanza titled "A Lawman's Lot Is Not a Happy One" (Season 11). She co-starred with David Carradine in the 1976 Woody Guthrie biopic Bound for Glory and was nominated in the Best Female Acting Debut category of the Golden Globe for her role as Memphis Sue."1977 Golden Globe Nominations Listed". Los Angeles Times. Part 4, p. 14. Retrieved March 19, 2022.
The following year she was nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for the role of a mother whose child is abducted by aliens in Steven Spielberg's Close Encounters of the Third Kind. That same year, she had a role in the comedy Slap Shot with Paul Newman. Four years later, Dillon was again nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her performance as a suicidal teacher in Absence of Malice in 1981, working again with Newman.
Dillon was perhaps best known for her role as the mother of Ralphie and Randy in Bob Clark's 1983 movie A Christmas Story. The film was based on a series of short stories and novels written by Jean Shepherd about young Ralphie Parker (played by Peter Billingsley) and his quest for a Red Ryder BB gun from Santa Claus. She was replaced by Julie Hagerty in the 2022 direct sequel A Christmas Story Christmas. According to Peter Billingsley, she was retired from acting at that time, but gave her full support on the project.
Four years later, Dillon co-starred with John Lithgow in the Bigfoot comedy Harry and the Hendersons. She continued to be active in stage and film throughout the 1990s, taking roles in the superhero film Captain America, the Barbra Streisand drama The Prince of Tides, the low-budget Lou Diamond Phillips thriller Sioux City, the comedy To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar, and the drama How to Make an American Quilt.Stevens, Tracy (2001). International Television & Video Almanac. New York: Quigley Publishing. p. 137. .
In 1999, she appeared in Magnolia, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, as Rose Gator, the wife of terminally ill television game-show host Jimmy Gator (Philip Baker Hall). In 2005, she guest-starred in the episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit titled "Blood". Dillon's last major acting roles were in the 2007 film Reign Over Me and in three episodes of the short-lived TNT medical drama Heartland.
Personal life Dillon married actor Richard Libertini, with whom she had a son, in 1963. They divorced in 1978.
Dillon was a Methodist. She was a staffer on Democrat Eugene McCarthy's 1968 presidential campaign. From 1976 to 1998, she was an active parishioner of the Our Lady of Malibu Catholic Church in Malibu, California.
Death Dillon died on January 9, 2023, at the age of 83. Her death wasn't confirmed until the following month on February 3. Following her death, she was cremated by the Neptune Society, with her ashes being given to her family.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1959 The Cry of Jazz Faye short film 1969 The April Fools Leslie Hopkins 1976 Bound for Glory Mary Nominated—Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year – Actress 1977 Slap Shot Suzanne Hanrahan 1977 Close Encounters of the Third Kind Jillian Guiler Nominated—Academy Award for Best Supporting ActressNominated—Saturn Award for Best Actress 1978 F.I.S.T. Anna Zarinkas 1981 Absence of Malice Teresa Perrone Kansas City Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting ActressNominated—Academy Award for Best Supporting ActressNominated—Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress 1983 A Christmas Story Mother Parker 1984 Songwriter Honey Carder 1987 Harry and the Hendersons Nancy Henderson Nominated—Saturn Award for Best Actress 1988 Shattered Innocence Sharon Anderson 1989 Staying Together Eileen McDermott 1990 Spontaneous Combustion Nina 1990 Captain America Mrs. Rogers 1991 The Prince of Tides Savannah Wingo 1994 Sioux City Leah Goldman 1995 To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar Merna 1995 How to Make an American Quilt Mrs. Darling 1996 Entertaining Angels: The Dorothy Day Story Sister Aloysius 1999 Magnolia Rose Gator Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best CastNominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture 2001 Cowboy Up Rose Braxton 2004 Debating Robert Lee Mrs. Lee 2005 Adam & Steve Dottie 2007 Reign Over Me Ginger Timpleman
Television Year Title Role Notes 1963 The Defenders Jeannie Birch Episode: "The Empty Heart" 1964 East Side/West Side Stacey Barbella Episode: "The Beatnik and the Policeman" 1969 Bonanza Cissy Summers Episode: "A Lawman's Lot Is Not a Happy One" 1970 Storefront Lawyers aka Men at Law Connie Swann Episode: "He Lies Better Than I Tell the Truth""TV Key: Best Bets". Wisconsin State Journal. September 23, 1970. p. 47. Retrieved March 18, 2022. 1975 The Jeffersons Daphne Episode: "Harry and Daphne" 1976 Sara Lily Henchard Episode: "Lady" 1976 Freeman Madam Arkadina Television pilotBok (June 23, 1976). "Television Reviews: 'Freeman'". Variety. p. 46. Retrieved March 18, 2022."Comic Sparks on 'Freeman'". Kenosha News. p. 37. Retrieved March 18, 2022. 1977 Enigma Dora Herren Television movie 1978 The Critical List Kris Lassiter MiniseriesClarey, Kathey (April 11, 1978). "Tonight's Best: Critical List". Argus-Leader. p. 13. Retrieved March 20, 2022. 1979 Transplant Anne Hurley Television movieClarey, Kathey (April 17, 1979). "Please Stand By". The Fresno Bee. p. 18. Retrieved March 20, 2022. 1979 CHiPs Unknown Episode: "Death Watch" 1980 Marriage Is Alive and Well Jeannie Television movieWilliams, Gail (January 25, 1980). "Marriage Is Alive and Well". The Hollywood Reporter. p. 6. "Under Russ Mayberry's direction, Dillon is the only member of the cast that comes through the battle with even a spark of genuine humanity." Retrieved March 19, 2022.Warner Brothers. "Marriage Is Alive and Well (TV Movie) Feature Clip". YouTube. 1980 The Shadow Box Agnes Television movie 1981 Fallen Angel Sherry Phillips Television movie 1981 Insight Janet Episode: "A Decision to Love" 1981 Insight Mysterious Woman Episode: "Rendezvous" 1982 Insight Susie Episode: "The Fiddler" 1982 The Juggler of Notre Dame Dulcy Television movie 1983 The Mississippi Unknown Episode: "Cradle to Grave" 1983 Right of Way Ruda Dwyer Television movie 1984 Insight Woman Episode: "The Game Room" 1985 The Twilight Zone Penny Episode: "A Little Peace and Quiet" 1985 Space Rachel Mott Television movie 1986 Shattered Spirits Joyce Mollencamp Television movie 1988 Shattered Innocence Sharon Anderson Television movie 1989 Nightbreaker Paula Brown Television movie 1993 Judgment Day: The John List Story Elanor List Television movie 1994 State of Emergency Betty Anderson Television movieNominated—CableACE Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie 1995 The Client Verna Caldwell Episode: "The Peach Orchard" 1995 Naomi & Wynonna: Love Can Build a Bridge Polly Judd Television movie 1996 Picket Fences Mrs. Klausner Episode: "Liver Let Die" 1997 Tracey Takes On... Desiree Episode: "Mothers" 2001 Judging Amy Violet Loomis Episode: "Surprised by Gravity" 2003 The Lyon's Den Charlotte Barrington Episode: "Pilot" 2003 A Painted House Gran Chandler Television movie 2005 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Jenny Rogers Episode: "Blood" 2007 Heartland Janet Jacobs 3 episodes
Stage Year Title Role Notes 1962 Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Honey Billy Rose Theatre, Broadway 1967 You Know I Can't Hear You When The Water's Running Jill/Clarice/Dorothy Ambassador Theatre, Broadway 1970 Paul Sills' Story Theatre Daughter/Goosey Poosey/Princess/Wife/Peasant Ambassador Theatre, Broadway 1971 Ovid's Metamorphosis Ensemble Ambassador Theatre, Broadway
Awards and nominations