Melinda Dillon

Biography

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.

Known For

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

Jenny Rogers

Bonanza

Cissy Summers

To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar

Merna

Judging Amy

Violet Loomis

The Twilight Zone

(segment "A Little Peace and Quiet")

The Defenders

Jeannie Birch

The Making of 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind'

Self

The Jeffersons

Filmography

Year	Movie	Role
2019	Hal	Self (archive footage)
2007	Reign Over Me	Ginger Timpleman
2005	Adam & Steve	Dottie
2004	Debating Robert Lee	Mrs. Lee
2003	A Painted House	Gran Chandler
2002	Cowboy Up	Rose Braxton
2001	The Making of 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind'	Self
1999	Magnolia	Rose Gator
1998	The Effects of Magic	Mom
1997	Christmas Unwrapped: The History of Christmas	Mrs. Parker (archive footage)
1996	Entertaining Angels: The Dorothy Day Story	Sister Aloysius
1995	How to Make an American Quilt	Mrs. Darling
1995	Naomi & Wynonna: Love Can Build a Bridge	Polly Judd
1995	To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar	Merna
1994	Confessions: Two Faces of Evil	Carol Mothershed
1994	State of Emergency	Betty Anderson
1994	Sioux City	Leah Goldman
1993	Judgment Day: The John List Story	Eleanor
1991	The Prince of Tides	Savannah Wingo
1990	Captain America	Mrs. Rogers
1990	Spontaneous Combustion	Nina
1989	Staying Together	Eileen McDermott
1989	Nightbreaker	Paula Brown
1988	Shattered Innocence	Sharon Anderson
1987	Harry and the Hendersons	Nancy Henderson
1986	Shattered Spirits	Joyce Mollencamp
1984	Songwriter	Honey Carder
1983	A Christmas Story	Mother
1983	Right of Way	Ruda Dwyer
1981	Absence of Malice	Teresa Perrone
1981	Fallen Angel	Sherry Phillips
1981	Hellinger's Law	Anne Gronouski
1980	The Shadow Box	Agnes
1980	Marriage Is Alive and Well	Jeannie
1979	The Muppet Movie	Woman with Balloon
1978	F.I.S.T.	Anna Zarinkas
1977	Close Encounters of the Third Kind	Jillian Guiler
1977	Slap Shot	Suzanne Hanrahan
1977	Enigma	Dora Herren
1976	Bound for Glory	Mary / Memphis Sue
1969	The April Fools	Leslie Hopkins
1959	The Cry of Jazz	Faye

Year	TV Show	Role
2007	Heartland	Janet Jacobs
2003	The Lyon's Den
1999	Judging Amy	Violet Loomis
1999	Law & Order: Special Victims Unit	Jenny Rogers
1992	Picket Fences	Mrs. Klausner
1985	The Twilight Zone	(segment "A Little Peace and Quiet")
1985	Space	Rachel Mott
1978	The Critical List	Dr. Kris Lassiter
1977	CHiPs
1975	The Jeffersons
1961	The Defenders	Jeannie Birch
1959	Bonanza	Cissy Summers
1951	Hallmark Hall of Fame	Gran Chandler