
JoBeth Williams
Known for Acting · 118 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

The Good Doctor
2017
as Ruth

24
2001
as Miriam Henderson

Frasier
1993
as Danielle (voice) / Madeline Marshall

Scandal
2012
as Sandra Harding

Rizzoli & Isles
2010
as Tilly Dunn

Private Practice
2007
as Bizzy Forbes

Batman: The Animated Series
1992
as May and June (voice)

Judging Amy
1999
as Gemma Lawnsdale

Numb3rs
2005
as Margaret Eppes

Las Vegas
2003
as Liz

Station 19
2018
as Reggie

Strong Medicine
2000
as Margie

The Guardian
2001
as Sarah

Childrens Hospital
2008
as Linda

Hart of Dixie
2011
as Candice Hart

Perception
2012
as Margaret Pierce

A Million Little Things
2018
as Lana Strobe

Law & Order: LA
2010
as Mrs. Walker

The White Shadow
1978
as Paula Harris

From the Earth to the Moon
1998
as Marge Slayton

Extant
2014
as Leigh Kern

Miss Match
2003
as Lianne Fox

Against the Wall
2011
as Emily

The Client
1995
as Reggie Love

Marry Me
2014
as Myrna

The Nine
2006

Hallmark Hall of Fame
1951
as Lois Wilson

Josh Gates Tonight
2020
as Self

Fish Police
1992
as Angel (voice)

Twenty Good Years
2006
as Kate

Heartbeat
2016
as Isobel Dixon

Murder Ordained
1987
as Lorna Anderson

E! True Hollywood Story
1996

Your Family or Mine
2015
as Ricky

Payne
1999
as Constance Payne

Baby M
1988
as Marybeth Whitehead
Movies (77)

Poltergeist
1982
as Diane Freeling

Wyatt Earp
1994
as Bessie Earp

Kramer vs. Kramer
1979
as Phyllis Bernard

Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot
1992
as Lt. Gwen Harper

Switch
1991
as Margo Brofman

Poltergeist II: The Other Side
1986
as Diane Freeling

Not Without Hope
2025
as Marcia

The Big Chill
1983
as Karen Bowens

Teachers
1984
as Lisa Hammond

The Day After
1983
as Nurse Nancy Bauer

Stir Crazy
1980
as Meredith

Within
2016
as Rosemary Fletcher

Jungle 2 Jungle
1997
as Dr. Patricia Cromwell

The Dogs of War
1980
as Jessie

Dutch
1991
as Natalie Standish

The Big Year
2011
as Edith

Fever Pitch
2005
as Maureen Meeks

TiMER
2009
as Marion

Memories of Me
1988
as Lisa

In the Land of Women
2007
as Agnes Webb

Searching for Debra Winger
2002
as Self

Fun and Games
1980
as Laura Weston

Jackie's Back!
1999
as Jo Face (Jackie's Vocal Coach)

In My Dreams
2015
as Charlotte Smith

Adam
1983
as Reve Walsh

Love's Christmas Journey
2011
as Beatrice

Sybil
2007
as Hattie Dorsett

American Dreamer
1984
as Cathy Palmer

Justice
1999
as Jane Newhart

Uncorked
2009
as Sophia Browning

Barracuda
2017
as Patricia

Alex & the List
2018
as Mrs. Stern

After the SIlence
1996
as Pam Willis (as Jobeth Williams)

Chantilly Bridge
2023
as Natalie

Just Write
1997
as Sidney Stone

SGT. Will Gardner
2019
as Sherry

Into the Fire
2005
as June Sickles

SEGAL
2025
as Self

What the Night Can Do
2020
as Bettye Sue Dryer

Chantilly Lace
1993
as Natalie

Murder Ordained
1987
as Lorna Anderson

Crazylove
2005
as Mrs. Mayer

The Ponder Heart
2001
as Edna Earle Ponder

Final Appeal
1993
as Christine Biondi

Victim of Love
1991
as Tess Harper

Commercial Entertainment Product
1992
as Diane Freeling

Endangered Species
1982
as Harriet Purdue

Desert Bloom
1986
as Lily Chismore

Parallel Lives
1994
as Winnie Winslow

Joe Dancer: The Big Black Pill
1981
as Tiffany Farinpour

Ruby Jean and Joe
1996
as Rose

When Danger Follows You Home
1997
as Anne Werden

14 Hours
2005
as Jeanette Makins

Trapped in a Purple Haze
2000
as Sophie Hanson

The Big Chill: A Reunion
1999
as Self

My Name Is Bill W.
1989
as Lois Wilson

Child in the Night
1990
as Dr. Hollis

Kids Don't Tell
1985
as Claudia Ryan

A Season of Hope
1995
as Elizabeth Hackett

Cash for Gold
2024
as Boots

It Came from the Sky
1999
as Alice Bridges

A Chance of Snow
1998
as Madeline 'Maddie' Parker

The Last Film Festival
2016
as Mayor
Sex, Love and Cold Hard Cash
1993
as Sarah Gallagher

The Rose Technique
2002
as Dr. Lillian Rose

The Curse of Poltergeist
2002

Welcome Home
1989
as Sarah

Me, Myself and I
1992
as Crazy / Sane Diane

Voices from Within
1994
as Nancy Parkhurst

Adam: His Song Continues
1986
as Reve Walsh

Jonathan: The Boy Nobody Wanted
1992
as Ginny Moore

She Was Here
2026
as Self

Repossessed
2002

The World Beyond
1978
as Marian Faber

Feasting with Panthers
1974
as Constance Wilde

Timeless Tales: The Elves and the Shoemaker
1990
as Bettina (voice)
Horrifying Hollywood Murders
as Self
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 118 credits spanning from 1951 to 2026, JoBeth Williams has appeared in 77 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
- Wyatt Earp (1994) — as Bessie Earp
- Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) — as Phyllis Bernard
- Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot (1992) — as Lt. Gwen Harper
- Switch (1991) — as Margo Brofman
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.