Melinda Dillon

Biography

Melinda Dillon is an American actress, renowned for her performances in both film and theater. Born in Hope, Arkansas, she is the daughter of E. Norine Barnett and W.S. Dillon. Dillon began her career as an improvisational comedian and stage actress, earning a Tony Award nomination for her role in the original Broadway production of Edward Albee's "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf" in 1962. Her film debut came in 1969 with "The April Fools." She gained significant recognition for her roles in "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," for which she received an Academy Award nomination, and "A Christmas Story," where she portrayed the caring mother of Ralphie. Dillon's career includes notable performances in "Absence of Malice," "Harry and the Hendersons," and "Magnolia." She remains an influential figure in American cinema and theater.