JoBeth Williams

JoBeth Williams

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.

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Known For

Filmography

2025

Not Without Hope
Not Without Hope
Movie - Released: 9/11/2025

2024

Cash for Gold
Cash for Gold
as Boots
Movie - Released: 12/13/2024

2023

Chantilly Bridge
Chantilly Bridge
as Natalie
Movie - Released: 3/24/2023

2022

1982: Greatest Geek Year Ever!
1982: Greatest Geek Year Ever!
as Self
Movie - Released: 10/8/2022

2020

What the Night Can Do
What the Night Can Do
as Bettye Sue Dryer
Movie - Released: 11/16/2020
Josh Gates Tonight
Josh Gates Tonight
as Self
TV - Released: 4/2/2020

2019

SGT. Will Gardner
SGT. Will Gardner
as Sherry
Movie - Released: 1/11/2019

2018

Alex & the List
Alex & the List
as Mrs. Stern
Movie - Released: 5/4/2018
Station 19
Station 19
as Reggie
TV - Released: 3/22/2018
A Million Little Things
A Million Little Things
as Lana Strobe
TV - Released: 9/26/2018

2017

Barracuda
Barracuda
as Patricia
Movie - Released: 6/10/2017
The Good Doctor
The Good Doctor
as Ruth
TV - Released: 9/25/2017

2016

Within
Within
as Rosemary Fletcher
Movie - Released: 10/18/2016
The Last Film Festival
The Last Film Festival
as Mayor
Movie - Released: 9/16/2016
Heartbeat
Heartbeat
as Isobel Dixon
TV - Released: 3/22/2016

2015

In My Dreams
In My Dreams
as Charlotte Smith
Movie - Released: 10/20/2015
Your Family or Mine
Your Family or Mine
as Ricky
TV - Released: 4/8/2015

2014

Extant
Extant
as Leigh Kern
TV - Released: 7/9/2014
Marry Me
Marry Me
as Myrna
TV - Released: 10/14/2014

2012

Perception
Perception
as Margaret Pierce
TV - Released: 7/9/2012
Scandal
Scandal
as Sandra Harding
TV - Released: 4/5/2012

2011

Love's Christmas Journey
Love's Christmas Journey
as Beatrice
Movie - Released: 11/5/2011
The Big Year
The Big Year
as Edith
Movie - Released: 10/13/2011
Against the Wall
Against the Wall
as Emily
TV - Released: 7/31/2011
Hart of Dixie
Hart of Dixie
as Candice Hart
TV - Released: 9/26/2011

2010

Law & Order: LA
Law & Order: LA
as Mrs. Walker
TV - Released: 9/29/2010
Rizzoli & Isles
Rizzoli & Isles
as Tilly Dunn
TV - Released: 7/12/2010

2009

TiMER
TiMER
as Marion
Movie - Released: 5/14/2009
Uncorked
Uncorked
as Sophia Browning
Movie - Released: 11/12/2009

2008

Childrens Hospital
Childrens Hospital
as Linda
TV - Released: 12/8/2008

2007

Sybil
Sybil
as Hattie Dorsett
Movie - Released: 5/28/2007
In the Land of Women
In the Land of Women
as Agnes Webb
Movie - Released: 4/20/2007
Private Practice
Private Practice
as Bizzy Forbes
TV - Released: 9/26/2007

2006

The Nine
The Nine
TV - Released: 10/4/2006
Dexter
Dexter
as Gail Brandon
TV - Released: 10/1/2006

2005

Fever Pitch
Fever Pitch
as Maureen Meeks
Movie - Released: 4/6/2005
Crazylove
Crazylove
as Mrs. Mayer
Movie - Released: 10/22/2005
14 Hours
14 Hours
as Jeanette Makins
Movie - Released: 11/10/2005
Into the Fire
Into the Fire
as June Sickles
Movie - Released: 9/23/2005
Numb3rs
Numb3rs
TV - Released: 1/23/2005
Criminal Minds
Criminal Minds
as Professor Ursula Kent
TV - Released: 9/22/2005

2003

Miss Match
Miss Match
as Lianne Fox
TV - Released: 9/26/2003
Las Vegas
Las Vegas
TV - Released: 9/22/2003
NCIS
NCIS
as Leona Phelps
TV - Released: 9/23/2003

2002

The Rose Technique
The Rose Technique
as Dr. Lillian Rose
Movie - Released: 3/1/2002
The Curse of Poltergeist
The Curse of Poltergeist
Movie - Released: 10/19/2002
Repossessed
Repossessed
Movie - Released: 2/2/2002
Searching for Debra Winger
Searching for Debra Winger
as Self
Movie - Released: 7/13/2002

2001

The Ponder Heart
The Ponder Heart
as Edna Earle Ponder
Movie - Released: 10/15/2001
The Guardian
The Guardian
TV - Released: 9/25/2001
24
24
as Miriam Henderson
TV - Released: 11/6/2001

2000

Trapped in a Purple Haze
Trapped in a Purple Haze
as Sophie Hanson
Movie - Released: 4/17/2000
Strong Medicine
Strong Medicine
as Margie
TV - Released: 7/23/2000

1999

Justice
Justice
as Jane Newhart
Movie - Released: 1/14/1999
It Came From the Sky
It Came From the Sky
as Alice Bridges
Movie - Released: 5/15/1999
The Big Chill: A Reunion
The Big Chill: A Reunion
as Self
Movie - Released: 1/26/1999
Jackie's Back!
Jackie's Back!
as Jo Face (Jackie's Vocal Coach)
Movie - Released: 6/14/1999
Judging Amy
Judging Amy
as Gemma Lawnsdale
TV - Released: 9/19/1999
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
as Mrs. Rawley
TV - Released: 9/20/1999
Payne
Payne
as Constance Payne
TV - Released: 3/15/1999

1998

A Chance of Snow
A Chance of Snow
as Madeline 'Maddie Parker
Movie - Released: 12/7/1998
From the Earth to the Moon
From the Earth to the Moon
as Marge Slayton
TV - Released: 4/5/1998

1997

Jungle 2 Jungle
Jungle 2 Jungle
as Dr. Patricia Cromwell
Movie - Released: 3/4/1997
Just Write
Just Write
as Sidney Stone
Movie - Released: 3/1/1997
When Danger Follows You Home
When Danger Follows You Home
as Anne Werden
Movie - Released: 12/3/1997

1996

After the Silence
After the Silence
as Pam Willis (as Jobeth Williams)
Movie - Released: 12/30/1996
Ruby Jean and Joe
Ruby Jean and Joe
as Rose
Movie - Released: 1/1/1996
E! True Hollywood Story
E! True Hollywood Story
TV - Released: 8/21/1996

1995

A Season of Hope
A Season of Hope
as Elizabeth Hackett
Movie - Released: 1/8/1995
The Client
The Client
as Reggie Love
TV - Released: 9/17/1995

1994

Wyatt Earp
Wyatt Earp
as Bessie Earp
Movie - Released: 6/24/1994
Voices from Within
Voices from Within
as Nancy Parkhurst
Movie - Released: 10/10/1994
Parallel Lives
Parallel Lives
as Winnie Winslow
Movie - Released: 8/4/1994

1993

Chantilly Lace
Chantilly Lace
as Natalie
Movie - Released: 7/18/1993
Movie
Sex, Love and Cold Hard Cash
as Sarah Gallagher
Movie - Released: 5/13/1993
Final Appeal
Final Appeal
as Christine Biondi
Movie - Released: 11/26/1993
Frasier
Frasier
as Danielle (voice)
TV - Released: 9/16/1993
Frasier
Frasier
as Madeline Marshall
TV - Released: 9/16/1993

1992

Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot
Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot
as Lt. Gwen Harper
Movie - Released: 2/21/1992
Me, Myself and I
Me, Myself and I
as Crazy / Sane Diane
Movie - Released: 1/1/1992
Commercial Entertainment Product
Commercial Entertainment Product
as Diane Freeling
Movie - Released: 11/24/1992
Jonathan: The Boy Nobody Wanted
Jonathan: The Boy Nobody Wanted
as Ginny Moore
Movie - Released: 10/16/1992
Fish Police
Fish Police
TV - Released: 2/28/1992
Batman: The Animated Series
Batman: The Animated Series
as May and June (voice)
TV - Released: 9/5/1992

1991

Switch
Switch
as Margo Brofman
Movie - Released: 5/10/1991
Dutch
Dutch
as Natalie Standish
Movie - Released: 7/19/1991
Victim of Love
Victim of Love
as Tess Harper
Movie - Released: 5/5/1991

1990

Child in the Night
Child in the Night
as Dr. Hollis
Movie - Released: 5/1/1990

1989

My Name Is Bill W.
My Name Is Bill W.
as Lois Wilson
Movie - Released: 4/30/1989
Welcome Home
Welcome Home
as Sarah
Movie - Released: 9/29/1989

1988

Memories of Me
Memories of Me
as Lisa
Movie - Released: 9/28/1988
Baby M
Baby M
as Marybeth Whitehead
TV - Released: 5/22/1988

1987

Murder Ordained
Murder Ordained
as Lorna Anderson
Movie - Released: 5/3/1987
Murder Ordained
Murder Ordained
as Lorna Anderson
TV - Released: 5/3/1987

1986

Poltergeist II: The Other Side
Poltergeist II: The Other Side
as Diane Freeling
Movie - Released: 5/23/1986
Desert Bloom
Desert Bloom
as Lily Chismore
Movie - Released: 1/22/1986
Adam: His Song Continues
Adam: His Song Continues
as Reve Walsh
Movie - Released: 9/29/1986

1985

Kids Don't Tell
Kids Don't Tell
as Claudia Ryan
Movie - Released: 3/5/1985

1984

Teachers
Teachers
as Lisa Hammond
Movie - Released: 10/5/1984
American Dreamer
American Dreamer
as Cathy Palmer
Movie - Released: 10/26/1984

1983

The Day After
The Day After
as Nurse Nancy Bauer
Movie - Released: 11/20/1983
The Big Chill
The Big Chill
as Karen Bowens
Movie - Released: 9/30/1983
Adam
Adam
as Reve Walsh
Movie - Released: 10/10/1983

1982

Poltergeist
Poltergeist
as Diane Freeling
Movie - Released: 6/4/1982
Endangered Species
Endangered Species
as Harriet Purdue
Movie - Released: 9/10/1982

1981

Joe Dancer: The Big Black Pill
Joe Dancer: The Big Black Pill
as Tiffany Farinpour
Movie - Released: 1/29/1981

1980

Stir Crazy
Stir Crazy
as Meredith
Movie - Released: 12/12/1980
The Dogs of War
The Dogs of War
as Jessie
Movie - Released: 12/17/1980
Fun and Games
Fun and Games
as Laura Weston
Movie - Released: 5/25/1980

1979

Kramer vs. Kramer
Kramer vs. Kramer
as Phyllis Bernard
Movie - Released: 12/7/1979

1978

The World Beyond
The World Beyond
as Marian Faber
Movie - Released: 1/21/1978
The White Shadow
The White Shadow
as Paula Harris
TV - Released: 11/27/1978

1974

Feasting with Panthers
Feasting with Panthers
as Constance Wilde
Movie - Released: 3/27/1974

1970

TV
Somerset
as Carrie Wheeler
TV - Released: 3/30/1970

1951

Hallmark Hall of Fame
Hallmark Hall of Fame
as Lois Wilson
TV - Released: 12/24/1951

Unknown

Segal
Segal
as Self
Movie