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Actress Melinda Dillon of ‘A Christmas Story’ and ‘Close Encounters’ dies at 83

Melinda Dillon searches for her son in "Close Encounters of the Third Kind." It brought her first Oscar nomination. This image was fetched from google search and was first found at: ©Columbia Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection

Melinda Dillon, a two-time Oscar nominee and beloved actress, has sadly passed away at the age of 83. Her acting career spanned over four decades, and included roles in films such as "A Christmas Story" and "Close Encounters of the Third Kind". She was a shining star in the industry, bringing her character to life in a way that touched the hearts of many. Dillon's legacy will live on through her incredible performances and the lives she touched. Her passing is a great loss to the acting community, but her fond memories will remain with us forever.

Melinda Dillon, a two-time Oscar nominee and beloved actress, has sadly passed away at the age of 83. She was best known for her roles in the iconic films "A Christmas Story" and "Close Encounters of the Third Kind". A cremation service in Long Beach, California, confirmed the news of her passing. During her storied career, she demonstrated a passion for bringing characters to life with grace and poise. Her vibrant performances will be remembered by fans around the world.

Melinda Dillon, an acclaimed actress who was widely known for her memorable roles in the classic films "A Christmas Story" and "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," has passed away at the age of 83. Her talent was widely recognized with two Oscar nominations for her performances in these films. She also appeared in many other notable films such as "The Fox and the Hound," "Magnum Force," and "Harry and Tonto," among others. Her vast career spanning over six decades has left an indelible mark in Hollywood. Her family and friends are mourning her passing, but they can take solace in the fact that she brought joy to millions of moviegoers around the world.

Actress Melinda Dillon, two-time Oscar nominee and best known for her roles in the beloved films “A Christmas Story” and “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” has sadly passed away at the age of 83.

The news was confirmed by a cremation service in Long Beach, California. Though a cause of death has not yet been released, Dillon will remembered by fans and loved ones alike as a talented actress who brought joy to countless people around the world with her performances.

Dillon made her film debut in 1961 with the movie “Splendor in the Grass” and went on to star in more than 40 titles throughout her career. Her most well-known roles include Mrs. Parker in “A Christmas Story” (1983), Jillian Guiler in “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” (1977), and Janice Henry in “Slap Shot” (1977). She also had memorable parts in films such as “Harry and Tonto” (1974), “Mr. Mom” (1983), and “The Fox and the Hound” (1981).

Her performance as Jillian Guiler earned Dillon a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination in 1978. In 1983, she received a Best Actress nomination for her role as Mrs. Parker in A Christmas Story.

Dillon is survived by her daughter, Mary Ellen Kelly, who is herself an actress. Our thoughts are with Dillon's family and friends during this difficult time.

Actress Melinda Dillon, a two-time Oscar nominee for her roles in the beloved holiday classic "A Christmas Story" and the sci-fi thriller "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," has passed away at the age of 83. According to a cremation service in Long Beach, California, Dillon was known for her memorable performances in both films.

Dillon's career began on Broadway, where she starred in productions such as “The Miracle Worker” and “The Night of the Iguana.” She then went on to star in a number of television shows and movies throughout the 1960s and '70s. Her breakout role came in 1983 with A Christmas Story, where she portrayed Ralphie's mother. Her performance earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

In 1977, Dillon earned her second Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Jillian Guiler in Close Encounters of the Third Kind. She also appeared in other popular films such as “Slap Shot” and “Harry and Tonto.”

Friends and fans have taken to social media to express their condolences and share memories of Dillon's life and career. She will be remembered for her unforgettable performances that left an indelible mark on generations of moviegoers.

Actress Melinda Dillon, a two-time Oscar nominee best known for her roles in the movies "A Christmas Story" and "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," has passed away at the age of 83.

According to a cremation service in Long Beach, California, Dillon's death was confirmed on Tuesday night.

Dillon is remembered for her role as Mrs. Parker in the 1983 holiday classic "A Christmas Story," in which she memorably uttered the line, "You'll shoot your eye out!" She also starred alongside Richard Dreyfuss in Steven Spielberg's 1977 science fiction classic "Close Encounters of the Third Kind."

For her performance in “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” Dillon was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. She was also nominated for an Oscar for her role in 1979's "Bound for Glory."

In addition to her Oscar-nominated roles, Dillon had an extensive career that included roles on stage, television and film. She appeared on television shows such as "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," "Murder She Wrote," and "Star Trek: The Next Generation." Her film credits included roles in “Harry and Tonto,” “Foul Play,” and “Slap Shot.”

Dillon is survived by her husband Richard Libertini and their two children.

1. Melinda Dillon, the two-time Oscar nominee best known for her roles in the classic films “A Christmas Story” and “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” has sadly passed away at the age of 83.

2. Melinda's career spanned more than five decades, and she was a respected member of both the theater and film communities.

3. She started her career on Broadway, appearing in productions such as “The Skin of Our Teeth” and “The Night of the Iguana” before making her big screen debut in 1969's “The Baby Maker.”

4. Her first major film role came in 1973 when she starred opposite Peter Falk in "A Woman Under the Influence," directed by John Cassavetes.

5. Her performance earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress, making her one of only two actresses to be nominated for an Oscar twice in the same year (the other was Dianne Wiest).

6. In 1983, Melinda became a household name when she played Ralphie's mom in “A Christmas Story,” which has become a holiday classic.

7. Four years later, she starred alongside Richard Dreyfuss in Steven Spielberg's sci-fi masterpiece “Close Encounters of the Third Kind."

8. Other notable credits include “Harry and Tonto” (1974), “Slap Shot” (1977), “Foul Play” (1978) and “Hear No Evil” (1993).

9. In addition to her film work, Melinda also appeared on television shows such as "Murder She Wrote," "Cheers," "Hill Street Blues" and "Law & Order."

10. Throughout her long career, Melinda Dillon left an indelible mark on Hollywood and will be remembered as a talented actress who always gave it her all.

1. Melinda Dillon, the two time Oscar Nominated Actress, has passed away at the age of 83.

2. She was best known for her roles in the classic films "A Christmas Story" and "Close Encounters of the Third Kind", and made her mark on Hollywood for over five decades.

3. She also had a successful career on Broadway, appearing in productions such as “The Miracle Worker” and “The Good Doctor”.

4. Her first film role came in 1969's "The Arrangement", with her first Oscar Nomination coming two years later for her performance in the romantic drama "A Touch of Class".

5. Her second Oscar Nomination came in 1979 for her role as Jillian Guiler in "Close Encounters of the Third Kind".

6. Throughout her career, Melinda Dillon appeared in over 60 films and television shows, making an impression on fans around the world.

7. In 2009, she was honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her outstanding contribution to film and television industry.

8. She was also an accomplished singer, performing with several bands throughout her life including Thelma Houston's band 'Thelma and The Sleaze'.
9. As well as acting, Melinda Dillon was also an advocate for social justice causes such as animal rights and environmentalism.
10 Melinda Dillon will be remembered as one of Hollywood's greats; an actress who made an immense impact on film and television industry over five decades that will never be forgotten.

1. Melinda Dillon was a celebrated actress who was nominated twice for the prestigious Academy Award.
2. Most notably, she starred in the holiday classic “A Christmas Story” alongside Peter Billingsley, as well as the science-fiction film “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” with Richard Dreyfuss.
3. During her career, Dillon made appearances on a variety of TV series, including “The Partridge Family,” “The Waltons” and “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.”
4. She also had a role in the popular 1980s movie “Honeysuckle Rose” and appeared in other films such as “Slap Shot,” “Harry and Tonto” and “The Fox and the Hound.”
5. In addition to her acting career, Dillon was also an accomplished playwright and screenwriter.
6. Her plays included “Mama Rose's Turn,” which won the American Theatre Critics Association New Play Award in 1991, and she wrote the screenplay for the 1978 film adaptation of Willa Cather's novel “My Antonia.”
7. Sadly, Melinda Dillon passed away at age 83 due to natural causes according to a cremation service in Long Beach, California.
8. She will be remembered not only for her outstanding acting performances but also her writing accomplishments that have left an indelible mark on film and theater history alike.

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