Melinda Dillon (1939-2023) was an American actress, celebrated for her ability to embody complex and deeply human characters. Noted for intense performances that ranged from vulnerability to resilience, she received two Academy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actress: the first for *Bound for Glory* (1976) and the second for *Absence of Malice* (1981).

She is best known to the general public for her role as Jillian Guiler in Steven Spielberg's *Close Encounters of the Third Kind* (1977), where she beautifully portrayed a mother's determination and fragility in the face of the unknown. Another iconic role was that of Ralphie's patient and affectionate mother in *A Christmas Story* (1983). Dillon often portrayed ordinary women, endowed with deep humanity and inner strength.