Close Encounters of the Third Kind’s enduring legacy continues to draw attention to the cast of the 1977 Steven Spielberg film. Ranked among the esteemed filmmaker’s finest works, the sci-fi drama explores interesting scenarios that might play out if humanity comes in contact with extraterrestrial life. The film revolves around Richard Dreyfuss’ Roy Neary, an electrical lineman who embarks on a quest to make sense of what he saw after a close encounter with a UFO.
Also starring François Truffaut and Teri Garr alongside Melinda Dillion and Bob Balaban, Close Encounters of the Third Kind was released to rave reviews and commercial success. It grossed over $306.8 million at the box office against a budget of $20 million, winning several coveted awards, including the Oscars for Best Cinematography. Now preserved in the National Film Registry for its historical, cultural, and aesthetic significance, the film’s far-reaching impact on the sci-fi genre and influence on filmmaking techniques are the bedrock of its multifaceted achievements.
Richard Dreyfuss As Roy Neary
The lead actor of the sci-fi drama, Richard Dreyfuss lobbied for the role while working with Steven Spielberg on the set of 1975’s Jaws. The filmmaker wanted Steve McQueen for the role, but The Sand Pebbles actor didn’t think he was the right performer. For several reasons, other notable actors like Al Pacino, Jack Nicholson, Gene Hackman, Dustin Hoffman, and James Caan turned down the role, which eventually went to Dreyfuss who had been asking for it.
Now in his late 70s, the Academy Award winner is still active. He played Maurice Podoloff in Martin Guigui’s 2023 biographical sports drama Sweetwater. The actor also has several upcoming projects, including Bill Fishman’s Waltzing with Brando and Christian Sesma’s Into the Deep. Richard Dreyfuss made news headlines in late May 2024 due to his transphobic rant at The Cabot Theater in Beverly, Massachusetts.
François Truffaut As Claude Lacombe
The late actor and filmmaker portrayed a French scientist investigating UFO-related activities in the United States. An icon of the French film industry, François Truffaut died at age 52 in October 1984, nearly 7 years after Close Encounters of the Third Kind was released. Though he passed on decades ago, the acclaimed filmmaker is remembered for his massive contributions to motion pictures.
Truffaut was one of the figures who championed the French New Wave, an event ranked among the most influential movements in cinema’s history. Day for Night, a 1973 romantic dramedy he co-wrote and directed is perhaps his biggest export as a filmmaker. It won him an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film alongside two BAFTAs for Best Film and Best Direction.
Teri Garr As Ronnie Neary
The Lakewood, Ohio native played Roy’s wife who’s frustrated with her husband’s obsession with UFOs. The role consolidated Teri Garr’s Hollywood reputation in the 70s, paving the way for her to attain superstardom in the 80s with roles in Sydney Pollack’s Tootsie, Stan Dragoti’s Mr. Mom, and Martin Scorsese’s After Hours. A degenerative disease led to a decline in her career in the 90s, but she remained active with a few appearances in the 2000s.
Even after suffering a ruptured brain aneurysm that sent her into a coma in December 2006, the Ronnie Neary actress returned to acting. However, she eventually gave it up in 2011 due to her relentless health challenges. Garr now spends most of her time raising awareness about multiple sclerosis, the condition that drove her into retirement.
Melinda Dillion As Jillian Guiler
Melinda Dillion portrayed Jillian Guiler, the mother of a child abducted by aliens. The role earned her an Academy Awards nomination for Best Supporting Actress. After Close Encounters of the Third Kind, the Hope, Arkansas native consolidated her Hollywood reputation with roles in Absence of Malice (1981) and A Christmas Story (1983). The former earned her another Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Dillion remained active until 2007 when she played Janet Jacobs in three episodes of David Hollander’s Heartland and Ginger Timpleman in Mike Binder’s Reign Over Me. The Jillian Guiler actress died on January 9, 2023, at age 83.
Bob Balaban As David Laughlin
An American actor and filmmaker from Chicago, Illinois, Bob Balaban played Claude Lacombe’s assistant and interpreter in the sci-fi drama. He made his acting debut in 1965 as Harvey Weatly in an episode of NBC’s Hank. Since his portrayal of David Laughlin in Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Balaban has played dozens of diverse characters in movies and TV shows. His latest works were in 2023’s 80 for Brady and Asteroid City. Check out 5 things you didn’t know about the iconic director of Close Encounters, Steven Spielberg.
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