Melinda Dillon, beloved matriarch of the Christmas story, dies at the age of 83

Melinda Dillon, who played Ralphie's mother in the Christmas classic a Christmas Storydied on January 9 at the age of 83, family and friends of the actress said. The cause of death was not disclosed.

Dillon played alongside Peter Billingsley the role of exhausted mother Parker in a Christmas Storywhich was released in 1983 and became a popular Christmas movie on cable television. Dillon is also known for his leading role in Steven Spielberg's Close Encounters of the Third Kind as a mother whose child is abducted by aliens, a performance for which she received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress in 1978. In 1982 she was nominated again for an Oscar for the film Absence of malicealongside Paul Newman and Sally Field. Her other films include Harry and the Hendersons, Slap shot, The Prince of the Tides And magnolia.

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Dillon's last acting role is a three-part role in the series Treat Williams Heartland in 2007. Her other television appearances include guest appearances on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Judging by Amy, Tracey takes over… And Picket fences.

In November 2022, HBO Max released A Christmas Story Christmasthe eagerly awaited successor to a Christmas Story with almost the entire original cast. Julie Hagerty from Airplane! fame, took on the role of Ralphie's mother in the sequel to the film.

The Hollywood Reporter was the first to report Dillon’s death.

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