Personal Info
Known For:
Acting
Birthday:
December 6, 1948
Place of Birth:
Houston, Texas, USA
Social Media
JoBeth Williams
Biography
Margaret JoBeth Williams (born December 6, 1948) is an Academy Award, Golden Globe, and Emmy nominated American film and television actress and director, and current President of the Screen Actors Guild Foundation.
Williams rose to prominence appearing in such films as Stir Crazy (1980), Poltergeist (1982), The Big Chill (1983), The Day After (1983), Teachers (1984), and Poltergeist II: The Other Side (1986).
A three-time Emmy Award nominee, she was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie for her work in the TV movie Adam (1983) and the TV miniseries Baby M (1988). Her third nomination was for her guest role in the sitcom Frasier (1994).
Her directorial debut with the 1994 short film On Hope earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Live Action Short Film.
She also starred in the TV series The Client (1995–96), and had recurring roles in the TV series Dexter (2007) and Private Practice (2009–11).
In 2009 she began serving as president of the Screen Actors Guild Foundation; she is President Emeritus of the foundation.
She has also had numerous guest starring roles on TV and has starred in several TV movies.
Known For
Filmography
| Year | Movie | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Not Without Hope | |
| 2024 | Cash for Gold | Boots |
| 2023 | Chantilly Bridge | Natalie |
| 2022 | 1982: Greatest Geek Year Ever! | Self |
| 2020 | What the Night Can Do | Bettye Sue Dryer |
| 2019 | SGT. Will Gardner | Sherry |
| 2018 | Alex & the List | Mrs. Stern |
| 2017 | Barracuda | Patricia |
| 2016 | Within | Rosemary Fletcher |
| 2016 | The Last Film Festival | Mayor |
| 2015 | In My Dreams | Charlotte Smith |
| 2011 | Love's Christmas Journey | Beatrice |
| 2011 | The Big Year | Edith |
| 2009 | TiMER | Marion |
| 2009 | Uncorked | Sophia Browning |
| 2007 | Sybil | Hattie Dorsett |
| 2007 | In the Land of Women | Agnes Webb |
| 2005 | Fever Pitch | Maureen Meeks |
| 2005 | Crazylove | Mrs. Mayer |
| 2005 | 14 Hours | Jeanette Makins |
| 2005 | Into the Fire | June Sickles |
| 2002 | The Rose Technique | Dr. Lillian Rose |
| 2002 | The Curse of Poltergeist | |
| 2002 | Repossessed | |
| 2002 | Searching for Debra Winger | Self |
| 2001 | The Ponder Heart | Edna Earle Ponder |
| 2000 | Trapped in a Purple Haze | Sophie Hanson |
| 1999 | Justice | Jane Newhart |
| 1999 | It Came From the Sky | Alice Bridges |
| 1999 | The Big Chill: A Reunion | Self |
| 1999 | Jackie's Back! | Jo Face (Jackie's Vocal Coach) |
| 1998 | A Chance of Snow | Madeline 'Maddie Parker |
| 1997 | Jungle 2 Jungle | Dr. Patricia Cromwell |
| 1997 | Just Write | Sidney Stone |
| 1997 | When Danger Follows You Home | Anne Werden |
| 1996 | After the Silence | Pam Willis (as Jobeth Williams) |
| 1996 | Ruby Jean and Joe | Rose |
| 1995 | A Season of Hope | Elizabeth Hackett |
| 1994 | Wyatt Earp | Bessie Earp |
| 1994 | Voices from Within | Nancy Parkhurst |
| 1994 | Parallel Lives | Winnie Winslow |
| 1993 | Chantilly Lace | Natalie |
| 1993 | Sex, Love and Cold Hard Cash | Sarah Gallagher |
| 1993 | Final Appeal | Christine Biondi |
| 1992 | Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot | Lt. Gwen Harper |
| 1992 | Me, Myself and I | Crazy / Sane Diane |
| 1992 | Commercial Entertainment Product | Diane Freeling |
| 1992 | Jonathan: The Boy Nobody Wanted | Ginny Moore |
| 1991 | Switch | Margo Brofman |
| 1991 | Dutch | Natalie Standish |
| 1991 | Victim of Love | Tess Harper |
| 1990 | Child in the Night | Dr. Hollis |
| 1989 | My Name Is Bill W. | Lois Wilson |
| 1989 | Welcome Home | Sarah |
| 1988 | Memories of Me | Lisa |
| 1987 | Murder Ordained | Lorna Anderson |
| 1986 | Poltergeist II: The Other Side | Diane Freeling |
| 1986 | Desert Bloom | Lily Chismore |
| 1986 | Adam: His Song Continues | Reve Walsh |
| 1985 | Kids Don't Tell | Claudia Ryan |
| 1984 | Teachers | Lisa Hammond |
| 1984 | American Dreamer | Cathy Palmer |
| 1983 | The Day After | Nurse Nancy Bauer |
| 1983 | The Big Chill | Karen Bowens |
| 1983 | Adam | Reve Walsh |
| 1982 | Poltergeist | Diane Freeling |
| 1982 | Endangered Species | Harriet Purdue |
| 1981 | Joe Dancer: The Big Black Pill | Tiffany Farinpour |
| 1980 | Stir Crazy | Meredith |
| 1980 | The Dogs of War | Jessie |
| 1980 | Fun and Games | Laura Weston |
| 1979 | Kramer vs. Kramer | Phyllis Bernard |
| 1978 | The World Beyond | Marian Faber |
| 1974 | Feasting with Panthers | Constance Wilde |
| Segal | Self |
| Year | TV Show | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Josh Gates Tonight | Self |
| 2018 | Station 19 | Reggie |
| 2018 | A Million Little Things | Lana Strobe |
| 2017 | The Good Doctor | Ruth |
| 2016 | Heartbeat | Isobel Dixon |
| 2015 | Your Family or Mine | Ricky |
| 2014 | Extant | Leigh Kern |
| 2014 | Marry Me | Myrna |
| 2012 | Perception | Margaret Pierce |
| 2012 | Scandal | Sandra Harding |
| 2011 | Against the Wall | Emily |
| 2011 | Hart of Dixie | Candice Hart |
| 2010 | Law & Order: LA | Mrs. Walker |
| 2010 | Rizzoli & Isles | Tilly Dunn |
| 2008 | Childrens Hospital | Linda |
| 2007 | Private Practice | Bizzy Forbes |
| 2006 | The Nine | |
| 2006 | Dexter | Gail Brandon |
| 2005 | Numb3rs | |
| 2005 | Criminal Minds | Professor Ursula Kent |
| 2003 | Miss Match | Lianne Fox |
| 2003 | Las Vegas | |
| 2003 | NCIS | Leona Phelps |
| 2001 | The Guardian | |
| 2001 | 24 | Miriam Henderson |
| 2000 | Strong Medicine | Margie |
| 1999 | Judging Amy | Gemma Lawnsdale |
| 1999 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Mrs. Rawley |
| 1999 | Payne | Constance Payne |
| 1998 | From the Earth to the Moon | Marge Slayton |
| 1996 | E! True Hollywood Story | |
| 1995 | The Client | Reggie Love |
| 1993 | Frasier | Danielle (voice) |
| 1993 | Frasier | Madeline Marshall |
| 1992 | Fish Police | |
| 1992 | Batman: The Animated Series | May and June (voice) |
| 1988 | Baby M | Marybeth Whitehead |
| 1987 | Murder Ordained | Lorna Anderson |
| 1978 | The White Shadow | Paula Harris |
| 1970 | Somerset | Carrie Wheeler |
| 1951 | Hallmark Hall of Fame | Lois Wilson |