JoBeth Williams
JoBeth Williams

JoBeth Williams

Born: December 6, 1948 (77 years)
Houston, Texas, USA

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.

Movies Directed (2)
TV Shows Directed (1)
Movies as Actor (77)
She Was Here

She Was Here

as Self

Feb 24, 2026

Not Without Hope

Not Without Hope

as Marcia

Dec 4, 2025

SEGAL

SEGAL

as Self

Oct 12, 2025

Cash for Gold

Cash for Gold

as Boots

Dec 13, 2024

Chantilly Bridge

Chantilly Bridge

as Natalie

Mar 24, 2023

What the Night Can Do

What the Night Can Do

as Bettye Sue Dryer

Nov 16, 2020

SGT. Will Gardner

SGT. Will Gardner

as Sherry

Jan 11, 2019

Alex & the List

Alex & the List

as Mrs. Stern

May 4, 2018

Barracuda

Barracuda

as Patricia

Jun 10, 2017

Within

Within

as Rosemary Fletcher

Oct 18, 2016

The Last Film Festival

The Last Film Festival

as Mayor

Sep 16, 2016

In My Dreams

In My Dreams

as Charlotte Smith

Oct 20, 2015

Love's Christmas Journey

Love's Christmas Journey

as Beatrice

Nov 5, 2011

The Big Year

The Big Year

as Edith

Oct 13, 2011

Uncorked

Uncorked

as Sophia Browning

Nov 12, 2009

TiMER

TiMER

as Marion

May 14, 2009

Sybil

Sybil

as Hattie Dorsett

May 28, 2007

In the Land of Women

In the Land of Women

as Agnes Webb

Apr 20, 2007

14 Hours

14 Hours

as Jeanette Makins

Nov 10, 2005

Crazylove

Crazylove

as Mrs. Mayer

Oct 22, 2005

Into the Fire

Into the Fire

as June Sickles

Sep 23, 2005

Fever Pitch

Fever Pitch

as Maureen Meeks

Apr 6, 2005

The Curse of Poltergeist

The Curse of Poltergeist

Oct 19, 2002

Searching for Debra Winger

Searching for Debra Winger

as Self

Jul 13, 2002

The Rose Technique

The Rose Technique

as Dr. Lillian Rose

Mar 1, 2002

Repossessed

Repossessed

Feb 2, 2002

The Ponder Heart

The Ponder Heart

as Edna Earle Ponder

Oct 15, 2001

Trapped in a Purple Haze

Trapped in a Purple Haze

as Sophie Hanson

Apr 17, 2000

Jackie's Back!

Jackie's Back!

as Jo Face (Jackie's Vocal Coach)

Jun 14, 1999

It Came from the Sky

It Came from the Sky

as Alice Bridges

May 15, 1999

The Big Chill: A Reunion

The Big Chill: A Reunion

as Self

Jan 26, 1999

Justice

Justice

as Jane Newhart

Jan 14, 1999

A Chance of Snow

A Chance of Snow

as Madeline 'Maddie' Parker

Dec 7, 1998

When Danger Follows You Home

When Danger Follows You Home

as Anne Werden

Dec 3, 1997

Jungle 2 Jungle

Jungle 2 Jungle

as Dr. Patricia Cromwell

Mar 4, 1997

Just Write

Just Write

as Sidney Stone

Mar 1, 1997

After the SIlence

After the SIlence

as Pam Willis (as Jobeth Williams)

Dec 30, 1996

Ruby Jean and Joe

Ruby Jean and Joe

as Rose

Jan 1, 1996

A Season of Hope

A Season of Hope

as Elizabeth Hackett

Jan 8, 1995

Voices from Within

Voices from Within

as Nancy Parkhurst

Oct 10, 1994

Parallel Lives

Parallel Lives

as Winnie Winslow

Aug 4, 1994

Wyatt Earp

Wyatt Earp

as Bessie Earp

Jun 24, 1994

Final Appeal

Final Appeal

as Christine Biondi

Nov 26, 1993

Chantilly Lace

Chantilly Lace

as Natalie

Jul 18, 1993

Sex, Love and Cold Hard Cash

Sex, Love and Cold Hard Cash

as Sarah Gallagher

May 13, 1993

Commercial Entertainment Product

Commercial Entertainment Product

as Diane Freeling

Nov 24, 1992

Jonathan: The Boy Nobody Wanted

Jonathan: The Boy Nobody Wanted

as Ginny Moore

Oct 16, 1992

Me, Myself and I

Me, Myself and I

as Crazy / Sane Diane

May 16, 1992

Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot

Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot

as Lt. Gwen Harper

Feb 21, 1992

Dutch

Dutch

as Natalie Standish

Jul 19, 1991

Switch

Switch

as Margo Brofman

May 10, 1991

Victim of Love

Victim of Love

as Tess Harper

May 5, 1991

Timeless Tales: The Elves and the Shoemaker

Timeless Tales: The Elves and the Shoemaker

as Bettina (voice)

Sep 27, 1990

Child in the Night

Child in the Night

as Dr. Hollis

May 1, 1990

Welcome Home

Welcome Home

as Sarah

Sep 29, 1989

My Name Is Bill W.

My Name Is Bill W.

as Lois Wilson

Apr 30, 1989

Memories of Me

Memories of Me

as Lisa

Sep 28, 1988

Murder Ordained

Murder Ordained

as Lorna Anderson

May 3, 1987

Adam: His Song Continues

Adam: His Song Continues

as Reve Walsh

Sep 29, 1986

Poltergeist II: The Other Side

Poltergeist II: The Other Side

as Diane Freeling

May 23, 1986

Desert Bloom

Desert Bloom

as Lily Chismore

Jan 22, 1986

Kids Don't Tell

Kids Don't Tell

as Claudia Ryan

Mar 5, 1985

American Dreamer

American Dreamer

as Cathy Palmer

Oct 26, 1984

Teachers

Teachers

as Lisa Hammond

Oct 5, 1984

The Day After

The Day After

as Nurse Nancy Bauer

Dec 10, 1983

Adam

Adam

as Reve Walsh

Oct 10, 1983

The Big Chill

The Big Chill

as Karen Bowens

Sep 30, 1983

Endangered Species

Endangered Species

as Harriet Purdue

Sep 10, 1982

Poltergeist

Poltergeist

as Diane Freeling

Jun 4, 1982

Joe Dancer: The Big Black Pill

Joe Dancer: The Big Black Pill

as Tiffany Farinpour

Jan 29, 1981

The Dogs of War

The Dogs of War

as Jessie

Dec 17, 1980

Stir Crazy

Stir Crazy

as Meredith

Dec 12, 1980

Fun and Games

Fun and Games

as Laura Weston

May 25, 1980

Kramer vs. Kramer

Kramer vs. Kramer

as Phyllis Bernard

Dec 7, 1979

The World Beyond

The World Beyond

as Marian Faber

Jan 21, 1978

Feasting with Panthers

Feasting with Panthers

as Constance Wilde

Mar 27, 1974

Horrifying Hollywood Murders

Horrifying Hollywood Murders

as Self

TV Shows as Actor (41)
Josh Gates Tonight

Josh Gates Tonight

as Self

Apr 2, 2020

A Million Little Things

A Million Little Things

as Lana Strobe

Sep 26, 2018

Station 19

Station 19

as Reggie

Mar 22, 2018

The Good Doctor

The Good Doctor

as Ruth

Sep 25, 2017

Heartbeat

Heartbeat

as Isobel Dixon

Mar 22, 2016

Your Family or Mine

Your Family or Mine

as Ricky

Apr 8, 2015

Marry Me

Marry Me

as Myrna

Oct 14, 2014

Extant

Extant

as Leigh Kern

Jul 9, 2014

Perception

Perception

as Margaret Pierce

Jul 9, 2012

Scandal

Scandal

as Sandra Harding

Apr 5, 2012

Hart of Dixie

Hart of Dixie

as Candice Hart

Sep 26, 2011

Against the Wall

Against the Wall

as Emily

Jul 31, 2011

Law & Order: LA

Law & Order: LA

as Mrs. Walker

Sep 29, 2010

Rizzoli & Isles

Rizzoli & Isles

as Tilly Dunn

Jul 12, 2010

Childrens Hospital

Childrens Hospital

as Linda

Dec 8, 2008

Private Practice

Private Practice

as Bizzy Forbes

Sep 26, 2007

Twenty Good Years

Twenty Good Years

as Kate

Oct 11, 2006

The Nine

The Nine

Oct 4, 2006

Dexter

Dexter

as Gail Brandon

Oct 1, 2006

Criminal Minds

Criminal Minds

as Professor Ursula Kent

Sep 22, 2005

Numb3rs

Numb3rs

as Margaret Eppes

Jan 23, 2005

Miss Match

Miss Match

as Lianne Fox

Sep 26, 2003

NCIS

NCIS

as Leona Phelps

Sep 23, 2003

Las Vegas

Las Vegas

as Liz

Sep 22, 2003

24

24

as Miriam Henderson

Nov 6, 2001

The Guardian

The Guardian

as Sarah

Sep 25, 2001

Strong Medicine

Strong Medicine

as Margie

Jul 23, 2000

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

as Mrs. Rawley

Sep 20, 1999

Judging Amy

Judging Amy

as Gemma Lawnsdale

Sep 19, 1999

Payne

Payne

as Constance Payne

Mar 15, 1999

From the Earth to the Moon

From the Earth to the Moon

as Marge Slayton

Apr 5, 1998

E! True Hollywood Story

E! True Hollywood Story

Aug 21, 1996

The Client

The Client

as Reggie Love

Sep 17, 1995

Frasier

Frasier

as Danielle (voice), Madeline Marshall

Sep 16, 1993

Batman: The Animated Series

Batman: The Animated Series

as May and June (voice)

Sep 5, 1992

Fish Police

Fish Police

as Angel (voice)

Feb 28, 1992

Baby M

Baby M

as Marybeth Whitehead

May 22, 1988

Murder Ordained

Murder Ordained

as Lorna Anderson

May 3, 1987

The White Shadow

The White Shadow

as Paula Harris

Nov 27, 1978

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

as Self

Oct 1, 1962

Hallmark Hall of Fame

Hallmark Hall of Fame

as Lois Wilson

Dec 24, 1951