Melinda Dillon

October 13, 1939 - January 9, 2023 Hope, Arkansas, USA
IMDb

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.

Her titles like Close Encounters of the Third Kind, A Christmas Story, and Magnolia - her biggest roles first.
Last updated: August 20, 2026

Watched: 0/38
Weighted avg: 6.79 /10
  • 1
    1
    Close Encounters of the Third Kind
    1977December 1977 by Steven Spielberg
    Supporting as Jillian Guiler
    Supporting as Jillian Guiler
    6.98 Good+
  • 2
    2
    A Christmas Story
    1983November 1983 by Bob Clark
    Lead role as Mother
    Lead role as Mother
    6.82 Good+
  • 3
    3
    Magnolia
    1999December 1999 by Paul Thomas Anderson
    Minor role as Rose Gator
    Minor role as Rose Gator
    7.35 Excellent--
  • 4
    4
    Harry and the Hendersons
    1987June 1987 by William Dear
    Starring as Nancy Henderson
    Starring as Nancy Henderson
    5.66 Okay
  • 5
    5
    Reign Over Me
    2007March 2007 by Mike Binder
    Supporting as Ginger Timpleman
    Supporting as Ginger Timpleman
    6.78 Good
  • 6
    6
    To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar
    1995September 1995 by Beeban Kidron
    Minor role as Merna
    Minor role as Merna
    6.97 Good+
  • 7
    7
    Captain America
    1990December 1990 by Albert Pyun
    Supporting as Mrs. Rogers
    Supporting as Mrs. Rogers
    4.16 Mediocre-
  • 8
    8
    Absence of Malice
    1981November 1981 by Sydney Pollack
    Supporting as Teresa Perrone
    Supporting as Teresa Perrone
    6.16 Good--
  • 9
    9
    The Prince of Tides
    1991December 1991 by Barbra Streisand
    Supporting as Savannah Wingo
    Supporting as Savannah Wingo
    6.15 Good--
  • 10
    10
    F.I.S.T.
    1978April 1978 by Norman Jewison
    Supporting as Anna Zarinkas
    Supporting as Anna Zarinkas
    6.07 Okay++
  • 11
    11
    Slap Shot
    1977February 1977 by George Roy Hill
    Minor role as Suzanne Hanrahan
    Minor role as Suzanne Hanrahan
    6.29 Good--
  • 12
    12
    Bound for Glory
    1976December 1976 by Hal Ashby
    Starring as Mary / Memphis Sue
    Starring as Mary / Memphis Sue
    6.30 Good--
  • 13
    13
    Spontaneous Combustion
    1989May 1989 by Tobe Hooper
    Supporting as Nina
    Supporting as Nina
    4.81 Mediocre++
  • 14
    14
    Fallen Angel
    1981February 1981 by Robert Michael Lewis
    Lead role as Sherry Phillips
    Lead role as Sherry Phillips
    6.02 Okay++
  • 15
    15
    The April Fools
    1969May 1969 by Stuart Rosenberg
    Supporting as Leslie Hopkins
    Supporting as Leslie Hopkins
    5.73 Okay+
  • 16
    16
    Adam & Steve
    2005April 2005 by Craig Chester
    Minor role as Dottie
    Minor role as Dottie
    5.49 Okay
  • 17
    17
    Songwriter
    1984October 1984 by Alan Rudolph
    Starring as Honey Carder
    Starring as Honey Carder
    5.71 Okay+
  • 18
    18
    Cowboy Up
    2002September 2002 by Xavier Koller
    Supporting as Rose Braxton
    Supporting as Rose Braxton
    5.85 Okay+
  • 19
    19
    The Cry of Jazz
    1959March 1959 by Edward Bland
    Starring as Faye
    Starring as Faye
    5.93 Okay++
  • 20
    20
    A Painted House
    2003April 2003 by Alfonso Arau
    Supporting as Gran Chandler
    Supporting as Gran Chandler
    6.22 Good--
  • 21
    21
    Right of Way
    1983November 1983 by George Schaefer
    Starring as Ruda Dwyer
    Starring as Ruda Dwyer
    6.24 Good--
  • 22
    22
    Sioux City
    1994April 1994 by Lou Diamond Phillips
    Starring as Leah Goldman
    Starring as Leah Goldman
    5.73 Okay+
  • 23
    23
    Shattered Spirits
    1986January 1986 by Robert Greenwald
    Starring as Joyce Mollencamp
    Starring as Joyce Mollencamp
    Needs more reviews
  • 24
    24
    Staying Together
    1989November 1989 by Lee Grant
    Supporting as Eileen McDermott
    Supporting as Eileen McDermott
    5.73 Okay+
  • 25
    25
    Naomi & Wynonna: Love Can Build a Bridge
    1995May 1995 by Bobby Roth
    Supporting as Polly Judd
    Supporting as Polly Judd
    6.05 Okay++
  • 26
    26
    Shattered Innocence
    1988March 1988 by Sandor Stern
    Starring as Sharon Anderson
    Starring as Sharon Anderson
    Needs more reviews
  • 27
    27
    The Making of 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind'
    2001May 2001 by Laurent Bouzereau
    Supporting as Self
    Supporting as Self
    6.10 Okay++
  • 28
    28
    Nightbreaker
    1989March 1989 by Peter Markle
    Supporting as Paula Brown
    Supporting as Paula Brown
    Needs more reviews
  • 29
    29
    Entertaining Angels: The Dorothy Day Story
    1996September 1996 by Michael Ray Rhodes
    Supporting as Sister Aloysius
    Supporting as Sister Aloysius
    Needs more reviews
  • 30
    30
    The Shadow Box
    1980September 1980 by Paul Newman
    Supporting as Agnes
    Supporting as Agnes
    Needs more reviews
  • 31
    31
    Confessions: Two Faces of Evil
    1994January 1994 by Gilbert Cates
    Supporting as Carol Mothershed
    Supporting as Carol Mothershed
    Needs more reviews
  • 32
    32
    Christmas Unwrapped: The History of Christmas
    1997December 1997
    Minor role as Mrs. Parker (archive footage)
    Minor role as Mrs. Parker (archive footage)
    Needs more reviews
  • 33
    33
    State of Emergency
    1994February 1994 by Lesli Linka Glatter
    Starring as Betty Anderson
    Starring as Betty Anderson
    Needs more reviews
  • 34
    34
    Judgment Day: The John List Story
    1993February 1993 by Bobby Roth
    Supporting as Eleanor
    Supporting as Eleanor
    Needs more reviews
  • 35
    35
    Marriage Is Alive and Well
    1980January 1980 by Russ Mayberry
    Supporting as Jeannie
    Supporting as Jeannie
    Needs more reviews
  • 36
    36
    Debating Robert Lee
    2004September 2004 by Dan Polier
    Supporting as Mrs. Lee
    Supporting as Mrs. Lee
    Needs more reviews
  • 37
    37
    The Critical List
    1978
    Starring as Dr. Kris Lassiter
    Starring as Dr. Kris Lassiter
    Needs more reviews
  • 38
    38
    Space
    1985
    Minor role as Rachel Mott
    Minor role as Rachel Mott
    Needs more reviews
Co-starring with:
Martin Sheen 3 titles
Ronny Cox 3 titles
Richard Dreyfuss 2 titles
Peter Billingsley 2 titles
John Lithgow 1 title
Lloyd Bridges 1 title
Richard Masur 1 title
Lou Diamond Phillips 1 title
Ken Howard 1 title