Melinda Dillon facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Melinda Dillon
Melinda Dillon, c. 1976
Born	Melinda Ruth Clardy (1939-10-13) October 13, 1939 (age 85) Hope, Arkansas, U.S.
Education	Art Institute of Chicago
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1959–2007
Spouse(s)	Richard Libertini ​ ​ (m. 1963; div. 1978)​
Children	1

Melinda Dillon (born Melinda Ruth Clardy, October 13, 1939) is a retired American actress. She became famous for her roles in movies and plays. Melinda was nominated for a Tony Award for her first Broadway play, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?. She also received two nominations for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. These were for her parts in Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) and Absence of Malice (1981). Many people also know her from films like A Christmas Story (1983) and Harry and the Hendersons (1987).

Early life and education

Melinda Dillon was born in Hope, Arkansas. She grew up in Cullman, Alabama. Her parents were Essie Norine and Floyd Clardy. They divorced when Melinda was young. Later, her mother married Wilbur S. Dillon, an Army officer.

Melinda lived in Germany for four years. After that, she went to Hyde Park High School. She also studied acting at the Goodman School of Drama. This school was part of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Acting career highlights

Melinda Dillon started her career as a stage actress. She was also an improv comedian. Her first big role was in the 1962 Broadway play Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf. For this role, she was nominated for a Tony Award. She also appeared in other plays like You Know I Can't Hear You When the Water's Running.

In 1959, she acted in a short film called The Cry of Jazz. Her first feature film was The April Fools in 1969. She also appeared on TV shows. One of her early TV roles was in an episode of Bonanza in 1969.

Film success and awards

Melinda Dillon starred with David Carradine in the 1976 movie Bound for Glory. She was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for this role.

The next year, she got a big nomination. She was nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Oscar. This was for her role as Jillian Guiler in Steven Spielberg's film Close Encounters of the Third Kind. In this movie, she played a mother whose child is taken by aliens. That same year, she had a small role in The Muppet Movie. She also acted in the comedy Slap Shot with Paul Newman.

Famous roles in the 1980s

Melinda Dillon is very well known for her role as the mother in A Christmas Story. This popular 1983 movie was directed by Bob Clark. She played the mom of Ralphie and Randy Parker. The film is about young Ralphie's wish for a special BB gun.

Four years later, she starred with John Lithgow in Harry and the Hendersons. This was a comedy about a family who finds Bigfoot.

Later career and retirement

Melinda Dillon continued acting in movies and on TV in the 1990s. She appeared in the drama The Prince of Tides (1991). She also acted in How to Make an American Quilt (1995).

In 1999, she was in the movie Magnolia. She played Rose Gator in this film. In 2005, she was a guest star on the TV show Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Melinda Dillon retired from acting in 2007.

Personal life

Melinda Dillon married actor Richard Libertini in 1963. They had one child together, a son named Richard. They divorced in 1978.

Filmography

Film

Television

See also

In Spanish: Melinda Dillon para niños