Melinda Dillon

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Birth Name: Melinda Rose Dillon

Age: 81, born 13 October 1939

Born and residing in: United States

Height: 5' 8"

Lists

89 votes

Actresses who deserves the Oscar (Since 70s) (46 items)
list by xolmis

Published 6 years, 3 months ago

8 comments

44 votes

Beautiful Women (854 items)
list by compcua

Published 7 years, 7 months ago

1 comment

14 votes

Directed by Steven Spielberg (311 items)
list by diabolical dr voodoo

Published 10 years, 7 months ago

1 comment

5 votes

Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson (89 items)
list by diabolical dr voodoo

Published 9 years, 9 months ago

1 comment

3 votes

My Favorite Performances - 1975-1979 (50 items)
list by Exclusive

Published 1 year, 6 months ago

1 comment

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Description: Melinda Rose Dillon (born in October 13, 1939) is an american actress, perhaps best known for roles in Close Encounters of the Third Kind and a Christmas story. Dillon was born in Hope, Arkansas, The daughter of E. Norine Barnett and W. S. Dillon, an army officer, Dillon went to school in Chicago attending Hyde Park High School. Though best known for her supporting performances in films, Dillon get her start as an improvisational comedian and stage actress, Her first major role 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 Melinda Rose Dillon (born in October 13, 1939) is an american actress, perhaps best known for roles in Close Encounters of the Third Kind and a Christmas story.

Dillon was born in Hope, Arkansas, The daughter of E. Norine Barnett and W. S. Dillon, an army officer, Dillon went to school in Chicago attending Hyde Park High School.

Though best known for her supporting performances in films, Dillon get her start as an improvisational comedian and stage actress, Her first major role 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 Peformance by the featured actress in a play, and she also appeared in You Know I Can't Hear You When the Water's Running and Paul Sill's Story Theatre.

Dillon's first film was The April Fools in 1969, Playing "Memphis Sue" opposite David Carradine, She was nominated for the best Acting Female Debut Golden Globe for the 1976 Woody Guthrie biopic Bound For Glory. She was nominated for the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for the role of a mother whose young child is abducted by aliens in Steven Spielberg's Close Encounters of the Third Kind in 1977, and had an uncredited short role in the Muppet Movie, The same year she appeared semi-nude with Paul Newman in the comedy classic, Slap Shot, Four years later she was once again nominated for the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her performance as a suicidal teacher in 1981's Absence of Malice opposite Paul Newman.

As a comedienne, Dillon is perhaps best known for a role as a compassionate mother of Ralphie and Randy in Bob Clark's 1983 film a Christmas Story, The film was based on a series of short stories and novels written by Jean Shepherd and follows young Ralphie Parker played by Peter Billingsley on his quest for a BB Gun from Santa Claus.

Five years later she appeared opposite John Lithgow in the bigfoot comedy Harry and the Hendersons, She continued to be active in stage and film throughout the 1990's, taking minor roles in the Barbara Streisland drama The Prince of Tides, The Low-Budget Lou Diamond Phillips thriller Sioux City, and the drama How to make an American Quilt.

In 1999, She appeared in Paul Thomas Anderson's film Magnolia as Rose Gator, the wife of TV Game show host Jimmy Gator, Played by Phillip Baker Hall.

In 2005, She guest starred in an episode of Law & Order: SVU entitled "Blood".
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