“I feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity to call her my on-screen mother,” the 'A Christmas Story' actor wrote.
Peter Billingsley is remembering his "on-screen mother," Melinda Dillon, who died on January 9 at the age of 83. In the 1983 Christmas classic A Christmas Story, Billingsley played Dillon's son, Ralphie. In a touching Instagram post on Monday, February 8, the 51-year-old actor and filmmaker paid respect to the late actress.
He shared a black-and-white photo of Dillon as Mrs. Parker, Ian Petrella as Randy, the late Darren McGavin as Mr. Parker (The Old Man), and Billingsley as Ralphie from the set of the Christmas film, per TODAY. “So very sad to hear of Melinda Dillon’s passing,” he began in the caption.
“Working with her on A Christmas Story was such a privilege. She was kind, supportive, cool, thoughtful, giving and committed,” the actor wrote praising his on-screen mother, adding that “her body of work demonstrated her incredible range and talent.” The actor wrote, concluding the heartfelt post, “I feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity to call her my on-screen mother. Rest in peace, Melinda.”
Billingsley returned to the part in November, reuniting with Petrella, Scott Schwartz, Zack Ward, and others for A Christmas Story Christmas. Julie Hagerty filled in for Dillon, who was noticeably absent from the movie.
So very, very sad to hear of the passing of Melinda Dillon. She played my adopted mother in Sioux City, my second directorial effort. What a Light and a Blessing. So effortless in her work that it was easy to overlook how brilliant she was. I feel so lucky to have known her. RIP https://t.co/PiTu3iF7Uq
— Lou Diamond Phillips (@LouDPhillips) February 4, 2023
Dillon's family revealed last week that the two-time Oscar nominee died on January 9 in Los Angeles, per CNN. Her death was announced in a public obituary. Many celebrities mourned her death online. “Melinda Dillon was such a great actress, with a wonderful delicacy about her. She was a delight to direct in Prince of Tides. May she rest in peace,” actress Barbra Streisand wrote on Twitter. Lou Diamond Phillips tweeted, “So very, very sad to hear of the passing of Melinda Dillon. She played my adopted mother in Sioux City, my second directorial effort. What a Light and a Blessing. So effortless in her work that it was easy to overlook how brilliant she was. I feel so lucky to have known her. RIP.”
Melinda Dillon was such a great actress, with a wonderful delicacy about her. She was a delight to direct in Prince of Tides. May she rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/CuLJRlAP93
— Barbra Streisand (@BarbraStreisand) February 4, 2023
Mrs. Parker is one of Dillon's most well-known performances, but she originally became famous as Jillian Guiler in Steven Spielberg's Close Encounters of the Third Kind in 1977. Her performance earned her an Academy Award nomination for best supporting actress. A few years later, for the 1981 thriller Absence of Malice, she won her second-best supporting actress nomination. She has also starred in several notable television series throughout the years, including, The Twilight Zone, Judging Amy, and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.
I had a crush on Melinda Dillon when I saw her in Close Encounters.
— Zack Ward (@TotalZackWard) February 5, 2023
She was my first "Movie Star"moment.
She was KIND to me.
We will all die.
Live and be kind the best you can.
Share the good in this brief journey.
Thank you, Melinda. pic.twitter.com/su4oxoEqz5
References:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CoVRHoApBoF/
https://twitter.com/BarbraStreisand/status/1621695777373315072?cxt=HHwWgICzgfXttYEtAAAA
https://twitter.com/LouDPhillips/status/1621690524984827909
Cover Image Source: (L) Getty Images | Morgan Lieberman ; (R) Instagram | @officialpeterb
