Oscar and Tony nominated actor melindawho played Mother Parker in «a christmas story”, and appeared in “Magnolia” and “Close Encounters of the Third Kind”, died on January 9. She was 83 years old.
His death was reported by the Neptune Society.
Dillon is best known for her role as Jillian Guiler in Steven Spielberg’s «Encounters of the Third Kind» (1977), for which she earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. She received a second supporting actress nomination in 1982 for her role as Teresa in Sydney Pollack’s «Absence of Malice» (1981). In 1977, she received a Golden Globe nomination for her acting debut in a film for Hal Ashby’s «Bound for Glory» (1976).
The actor played the Parker family matriarch in Bob Clark’s Christmas classic «A Christmas Story» (1983) and went on to appear in «Harry and the Hendersons» (1987), «Captain America» (1990) and » Nightbreaker» (1989). His most recent appearances were in «Heartland» in 2007, and before that in Paul Thomas Anderson’s «Magnolia» (1999) as Rose Gator.
Dillon’s career began as a stage actor and improv comedian on Chicago’s «The Second City.» In Edward Albee’s original 1962 film Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolf?, the actor played Honey and received a Tony Award nomination for Featured Actress in a Play. He also acted in «Paul Sill’s Story Theatre» and «You Know I Can’t Hear You When the Water’s Running.»
«The April Fools» in 1969 was his first feature film. On television, her portfolio includes episodes of «Bonanza» (1969), «The Twilight Zone» (1985) and «Law & Order: SVU» (2005).
Born on October 13, 1939, in Hope, Ark., the actor was raised in Cullman, Alabama, and spent four years in Germany before graduating from high school in Chicago. He graduated from the Art Institute of Chicago’s Goodman School of Drama (now at DePaul University). Dillon married actor Richard Libertini and they divorced in 1978.
Dillon is survived by his son Richard Libertini Jr.