Days after the death of his co-star from A Christmas Story, previous kid star Peter Billingsley is commemoratingMelinda Dillon In the Christmas traditional, initially launched in 1983, Billingsley plays young Ralphie Parker, a bespectacled young boy who desires absolutely nothing more than his own Red Ryder B.B. weapon forChristmas Dillon co-stars as his mom while Darren McGavin and Ian Patrella respectively played Ralphie’s dad and bro.


Dillon apparently passed away onJan 9, though the news of her death wasn’t revealed up until simply recently. On Monday, Billingsley shared an image to Instagram including the cast of A Christmas Story in addition to a message of homage forDillon He discusses how itw as an honor to play the Oscar candidate’s child in the movie while discussing how warm and kind Dillon had actually been to him behind the scenes.

“So very sad to hear of Melinda Dillon’s passing,” Billingsley states in the caption. “Working with her on A Christmas Story was such a privilege. She was kind, supportive, cool, thoughtful, giving and committed. Her body of work demonstrated her incredible range and talent. I feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity to call her my on-screen mother. Rest in peace, Melinda.”

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Melinda Dillon Was a Legend

Melinda Dillon

Dillon was likewise understood her a multitude of other functions, which consists of Oscar- chosen efficiencies for Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Absence ofMalice She has actually likewise appeared in films like Bound for Glory, Harry and the Hendersons, and Magnolia, to name a few. She formally retired from acting in 2007 with her last functions in the movie Reign Over Me and the TELEVISION series Heartland.

In 2022, A Christmas Story was provided a tradition follow up, A Christmas Story Christmas, with Billingsley repeating his function asRalphie Parker Many other stars from the initial movie likewise appeared, however Dillon was not amongst them, provided her retirement. Julie Hagerty took control of the function for the movie, though Ian Patrella returned as Ralphie’s broRandy While Dillon didn’t appear in the movie, she did reunite with the cast in 2018 for a 35th anniversary event of the motion picture.

Close Encounters of the Third Kind director Steven Spielberg has actually likewise honoredDillon Per Deadline, he stated in a declaration, “Melinda was generous of spirit and provided such compassion to the character she played in Close Encounters of theThird Kind She was a fantastic star, and as talented in dramas– including her extraordinary turn in Absence of Malice— as she remained in precious funnies like A Christmas Story, Harry and the Hendersons, andSlapshot We will all miss her.”