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Melinda Dillon, Actress in ‘Close Encounters of the Third Kind’ and ‘A Christmas Story,’ Dies at 83
.hollywoodreporter.com/ ^ | 02/03/2023 | Mike Barnes

Posted on 02/03/2023 5:37:49 PM PST by massmike

Melinda Dillon, who received supporting Oscar nominations for her turns in Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Absence of Malice and portrayed the doting mom in the holiday perennial A Christmas Story, died Jan. 9, her family announced. She was 83.

In Steven Spielberg’s Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977), Dillon portrayed Jillian Guiler, the single mother who heads to Devils Tower with her next-door neighbor (Richard Dreyfuss) in search of her 3-year-old son, who’s been abducted by aliens through the kitchen doggy door.

Sydney Pollack’s Absence of Malice (1981) had her back with Slap Shot co-star Paul Newman, this time playing a Catholic woman who takes her own life after a reporter (Sally Field) writes a story about her abortion.

At the Oscars, Dillon lost out to Vanessa Redgrave of Julia in 1978 and to Maureen Stapleton of Reds in 1982.

Still, unlike those two, Dillon shows up every holiday season on TV rebroadcasts as the sweet mother of Ralphie (Peter Billingsley) and Randy (Ian Petrella) and wife of Darren McGavin’s Old Man Parker in A Christmas Story (1983), directed by Bob Clark.

(Excerpt) Read more at hollywoodreporter.com ...


TOPICS: TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: achristmasstory; melindadillon; ralphiesmom
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To: bigbob

“She played that role to perfection. A very pretty and talented actress who will be missed, but who will live forever, or as long as there is Christmas.”
***

You are so right.


21 posted on 02/03/2023 6:26:59 PM PST by Dr. Scarpetta ( )
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To: basalt

I loved when the Old Man was trying to put the lamp back together, and she’s laughing in the background.


22 posted on 02/03/2023 6:30:56 PM PST by scott7278 (Those who beat their swords into plowshares usually end up plowing for those who kept their swords.)
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To: scott7278

That scene is subtle, but so good. Similar to when she returns to turn off the leg lamp to save electricity, and every other light in the house is on.


23 posted on 02/03/2023 6:33:21 PM PST by Yogafist (Voting rino is voting for the managed decline of America.)
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To: scott7278

My favorite scene was how she calmed down Ralphie after his fight and he broke his glasses.

And the funniest scene was when his brother was hiding and she asked him why and he said, “Daddy’s gonna kill Ralphie.”


24 posted on 02/03/2023 6:34:28 PM PST by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: Yogafist

I’ve seen that movie hundreds of times, but I just bought it in her memory.


25 posted on 02/03/2023 6:39:14 PM PST by scott7278 (Those who beat their swords into plowshares usually end up plowing for those who kept their swords.)
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To: dfwgator

I love the fact that Melinda wasn’t told in advance about the details of the “Chinese Turkey” scene, so they’d get her candid reaction. It’s just one of the small details that makes the movie special.

Got to see the sequel at my in-laws’ house during the holiday visit. It was better than I expected, but her absence was definitely felt.


26 posted on 02/03/2023 7:17:57 PM PST by Charles Martel (Progressives are the crab grass in the lawn of life.)
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To: scott7278

exactly!!!....


27 posted on 02/03/2023 7:19:55 PM PST by basalt (qb's)
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To: basalt

man...didnt realize she was 83 years old....were all getting old..i dont like it....


28 posted on 02/03/2023 7:23:06 PM PST by basalt (qb's)
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To: massmike

I loved what you gave to us. Rest In Peace, dear.


29 posted on 02/03/2023 7:25:38 PM PST by floralamiss
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To: cyclotic

No. I think he’s looking for a boatload of money. And I think the popularity of the house has started to wane. The day we saw Zach Ward was like 2 Saturday’s before Christmas. Normally a big line day. Not the case that day.


30 posted on 02/03/2023 8:23:25 PM PST by joesbucks
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To: massmike

31 posted on 02/04/2023 6:20:59 AM PST by simpson96
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To: massmike

RIP.


32 posted on 02/04/2023 1:35:28 PM PST by fieldmarshaldj (America Owes Anita Bryant An Enormous Apology)
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