JoBeth Williams
Known for Acting · 119 credits
- Born
- 1948-12-06 (age 77)
- Place of birth
- Houston, Texas, USA
- Also known as
- ДжоБет Уильямс · جوبت ویلیامز
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).
Known For
TV Shows (41)
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
1999
as Mrs. Rawley
NCIS
2003
as Leona Phelps
Criminal Minds
2005
as Professor Ursula Kent
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962
as Self
Dexter
2006
as Gail Brandon
24
2001
as Miriam Henderson
Frasier
1993
as Danielle (voice) / Madeline Marshall
The Good Doctor
2017
as Ruth
Rizzoli & Isles
2010
as Tilly Dunn
Scandal
2012
as Sandra Harding
Numb3rs
2005
as Margaret Eppes
Strong Medicine
2000
as Margie
Las Vegas
2003
as Liz
Private Practice
2007
as Bizzy Forbes
Judging Amy
1999
as Gemma Lawnsdale
Batman: The Animated Series
1992
as May and June (voice)
Station 19
2018
as Reggie
Childrens Hospital
2008
as Linda
The Guardian
2001
as Sarah
A Million Little Things
2018
as Lana Strobe
Perception
2012
as Margaret Pierce
Hart of Dixie
2011
as Candice Hart
Extant
2014
as Leigh Kern
Law & Order: LA
2010
as Mrs. Walker
From the Earth to the Moon
1998
as Marge Slayton
Miss Match
2003
as Lianne Fox
Against the Wall
2011
as Emily
The White Shadow
1978
as Paula Harris
Marry Me
2014
as Myrna
The Client
1995
as Reggie Love
The Nine
2006
Heartbeat
2016
as Isobel Dixon
Josh Gates Tonight
2020
as Self
Hallmark Hall of Fame
1951
as Lois Wilson
Twenty Good Years
2006
as Kate
Fish Police
1992
as Angel (voice)
E! True Hollywood Story
1996
Murder Ordained
1987
as Lorna Anderson
Your Family or Mine
2015
as Ricky
Payne
1999
as Constance Payne
Baby M
1988
as Marybeth Whitehead
Movies (78)
Poltergeist
1982
as Diane Freeling
Not Without Hope
2025
as Marcia
Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot
1992
as Lt. Gwen Harper
Behemoth!
2026
Kramer vs. Kramer
1979
as Phyllis Bernard
Joe Dancer: The Big Black Pill
1981
as Tiffany Farinpour
Wyatt Earp
1994
as Bessie Earp
The Big Year
2011
as Edith
The Day After
1983
as Nurse Nancy Bauer
The Big Chill
1983
as Karen Bowens
Switch
1991
as Margo Brofman
Poltergeist II: The Other Side
1986
as Diane Freeling
Endangered Species
1982
as Harriet Purdue
In the Land of Women
2007
as Agnes Webb
Stir Crazy
1980
as Meredith
Jungle 2 Jungle
1997
as Dr. Patricia Cromwell
Fever Pitch
2005
as Maureen Meeks
Chantilly Bridge
2023
as Natalie
The Dogs of War
1980
as Jessie
TiMER
2009
as Marion
Within
2016
as Rosemary Fletcher
Memories of Me
1988
as Lisa
Dutch
1991
as Natalie Standish
Barracuda
2017
as Patricia
Fun and Games
1980
as Laura Weston
In My Dreams
2015
as Charlotte Smith
Love's Christmas Journey
2011
as Beatrice
Desert Bloom
1986
as Lily Chismore
Alex & the List
2018
as Mrs. Stern
Murder Ordained
1987
as Lorna Anderson
Horrifying Hollywood Murders
as Self
Parallel Lives
1994
as Winnie Winslow
Child in the Night
1990
as Dr. Hollis
She Was Here
2026
as Self
Jackie's Back!
1999
as Jo Face (Jackie's Vocal Coach)
Teachers
1984
as Lisa Hammond
My Name Is Bill W.
1989
as Lois Wilson
Feasting with Panthers
1974
as Constance Wilde
Ruby Jean and Joe
1996
as Rose
Welcome Home
1989
as Sarah
American Dreamer
1984
as Cathy Palmer
The Big Chill: A Reunion
1999
as Self
The Last Film Festival
2016
as Mayor
After the SIlence
1996
as Pam Willis (as Jobeth Williams)
SGT. Will Gardner
2019
as Sherry
Trapped in a Purple Haze
2000
as Sophie Hanson
Uncorked
2009
as Sophia Browning
Commercial Entertainment Product
1992
as Diane Freeling
Adam: His Song Continues
1986
as Reve Walsh
What the Night Can Do
2020
as Bettye Sue Dryer
Justice
1999
as Jane Newhart
Searching for Debra Winger
2002
as Self
It Came from the Sky
1999
as Alice Bridges
Kids Don't Tell
1985
as Claudia Ryan
Into the Fire
2005
as June Sickles
Sybil
2007
as Hattie Dorsett
Me, Myself and I
1992
as Crazy / Sane Diane
Victim of Love
1991
as Tess Harper
SEGAL
2025
as Self
Cash for Gold
2024
as Boots
Final Appeal
1993
as Christine Biondi
The Ponder Heart
2001
as Edna Earle Ponder
Crazylove
2005
as Mrs. Mayer
A Chance of Snow
1998
as Madeline 'Maddie' Parker
Sex, Love and Cold Hard Cash
1993
as Sarah Gallagher
Chantilly Lace
1993
as Natalie
When Danger Follows You Home
1997
as Anne Werden
Just Write
1997
as Sidney Stone
Adam
1983
as Reve Walsh
Timeless Tales: The Elves and the Shoemaker
1990
as Bettina (voice)
The World Beyond
1978
as Marian Faber
14 Hours
2005
as Jeanette Makins
The Rose Technique
2002
as Dr. Lillian Rose
Jonathan: The Boy Nobody Wanted
1992
as Ginny Moore
Voices from Within
1994
as Nancy Parkhurst
A Season of Hope
1995
as Elizabeth Hackett
The Curse of Poltergeist
2002
Repossessed
2002
About 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… With 119 credits spanning from 1951 to 2026, JoBeth Williams has appeared in 78 films and 41 TV shows.
Fans searching for JoBeth Williams movies, JoBeth Williams filmography, or the latest projects starring JoBeth Williams can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular JoBeth Williams Movies
- Poltergeist (1982) — as Diane Freeling
- Not Without Hope (2025) — as Marcia
- Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot (1992) — as Lt. Gwen Harper
- Behemoth! (2026)
- Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) — as Phyllis Bernard
Where to Watch JoBeth Williams Films
Most JoBeth Williams movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring JoBeth Williams, check our movies catalogue and browse page.