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 ...
“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.
I loved when the Old Man was trying to put the lamp back together, and she’s laughing in the background.
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.
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.”
I’ve seen that movie hundreds of times, but I just bought it in her memory.
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.
exactly!!!....
man...didnt realize she was 83 years old....were all getting old..i dont like it....
I loved what you gave to us. Rest In Peace, dear.
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.
RIP.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.