JoBeth Williams

Acting

JoBeth Williams

Born December 6, 1948Houston, Texas, USA121 credits

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

She Was Here
2026She Was Here
as SelfMovie
Not Without Hope
2025Not Without Hope
as MarciaMovie
SEGAL
2025SEGAL
as SelfMovie
Cash for Gold
2024Cash for Gold
as BootsMovie
Chantilly Bridge
2023Chantilly Bridge
as NatalieMovie
What the Night Can Do
2020What the Night Can Do
as Bettye Sue DryerMovie
SGT. Will Gardner
2019SGT. Will Gardner
as SherryMovie
Alex & the List
2018Alex & the List
as Mrs. SternMovie
Station 19
2018Station 19
as ReggieTV
Barracuda
2017Barracuda
as PatriciaMovie
Within
2016Within
as Rosemary FletcherMovie
Heartbeat
2016Heartbeat
as Isobel DixonTV
In My Dreams
2015In My Dreams
as Charlotte SmithMovie
Marry Me
2014Marry Me
as MyrnaTV
Extant
2014Extant
as Leigh KernTV
Perception
2012Perception
as Margaret PierceTV
Scandal
2012Scandal
as Sandra HardingTV
The Big Year
2011The Big Year
as EdithMovie
Hart of Dixie
2011Hart of Dixie
as Candice HartTV
Law & Order: LA
2010Law & Order: LA
as Mrs. WalkerTV
Rizzoli & Isles
2010Rizzoli & Isles
as Tilly DunnTV
Uncorked
2009Uncorked
as Sophia BrowningMovie
TiMER
2009TiMER
as MarionMovie
Private Practice
2007Private Practice
as Bizzy ForbesTV
Sybil
2007Sybil
as Hattie DorsettMovie
In the Land of Women
2007In the Land of Women
as Agnes WebbMovie
Dexter
2006Dexter
as Gail BrandonTV
14 Hours
200514 Hours
as Jeanette MakinsMovie
Crazylove
2005Crazylove
as Mrs. MayerMovie
Into the Fire
2005Into the Fire
as June SicklesMovie
Criminal Minds
2005Criminal Minds
as Professor Ursula KentTV
Fever Pitch
2005Fever Pitch
as Maureen MeeksMovie
Numb3rs
2005Numb3rs
as Margaret EppesTV
Miss Match
2003Miss Match
as Lianne FoxTV
NCIS
2003NCIS
as Leona PhelpsTV
The Rose Technique
2002The Rose Technique
as Dr. Lillian RoseMovie
24
200124
as Miriam HendersonTV
The Ponder Heart
2001The Ponder Heart
as Edna Earle PonderMovie
Frankie & Hazel
2000Frankie & Hazel
DirectorMovie
Trapped in a Purple Haze
2000Trapped in a Purple Haze
as Sophie HansonMovie
Judging Amy
1999Judging Amy
as Gemma LawnsdaleTV
Jackie's Back!
1999Jackie's Back!
as Jo Face (Jackie's Vocal Coach)Movie
It Came from the Sky
1999It Came from the Sky
as Alice BridgesMovie
Payne
1999Payne
as Constance PayneTV
Justice
1999Justice
as Jane NewhartMovie
A Chance of Snow
1998A Chance of Snow
as Madeline 'Maddie' ParkerMovie
Jungle 2 Jungle
1997Jungle 2 Jungle
as Dr. Patricia CromwellMovie
Just Write
1997Just Write
as Sidney StoneMovie
After the SIlence
1996After the SIlence
as Pam Willis (as Jobeth Williams)Movie
The Client
1995The Client
as Reggie LoveTV
A Season of Hope
1995A Season of Hope
as Elizabeth HackettMovie
Voices from Within
1994Voices from Within
as Nancy ParkhurstMovie
On Hope
1994On Hope
DirectorMovie
Parallel Lives
1994Parallel Lives
as Winnie WinslowMovie
Wyatt Earp
1994Wyatt Earp
as Bessie EarpMovie
Final Appeal
1993Final Appeal
as Christine BiondiMovie
Frasier
1993Frasier
as Danielle (voice)TV
Chantilly Lace
1993Chantilly Lace
as NatalieMovie
S
1993Sex, Love and Cold Hard Cash
as Sarah GallagherMovie
Batman: The Animated Series
1992Batman: The Animated Series
as May and June (voice)TV
Me, Myself and I
1992Me, Myself and I
as Crazy / Sane DianeMovie
Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot
1992Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot
as Lt. Gwen HarperMovie
Dutch
1991Dutch
as Natalie StandishMovie
Switch
1991Switch
as Margo BrofmanMovie
Victim of Love
1991Victim of Love
as Tess HarperMovie
Child in the Night
1990Child in the Night
as Dr. HollisMovie
Welcome Home
1989Welcome Home
as SarahMovie
My Name Is Bill W.
1989My Name Is Bill W.
as Lois WilsonMovie
Memories of Me
1988Memories of Me
as LisaMovie
Baby M
1988Baby M
as Marybeth WhiteheadTV
Murder Ordained
1987Murder Ordained
as Lorna AndersonMovie
Murder Ordained
1987Murder Ordained
as Lorna AndersonTV
Desert Bloom
1986Desert Bloom
as Lily ChismoreMovie
Kids Don't Tell
1985Kids Don't Tell
as Claudia RyanMovie
American Dreamer
1984American Dreamer
as Cathy PalmerMovie
Teachers
1984Teachers
as Lisa HammondMovie
The Day After
1983The Day After
as Nurse Nancy BauerMovie
Adam
1983Adam
as Reve WalshMovie
The Big Chill
1983The Big Chill
as Karen BowensMovie
Endangered Species
1982Endangered Species
as Harriet PurdueMovie
Poltergeist
1982Poltergeist
as Diane FreelingMovie
Joe Dancer: The Big Black Pill
1981Joe Dancer: The Big Black Pill
as Tiffany FarinpourMovie
The Dogs of War
1980The Dogs of War
as JessieMovie
Stir Crazy
1980Stir Crazy
as MeredithMovie
Fun and Games
1980Fun and Games
as Laura WestonMovie
Kramer vs. Kramer
1979Kramer vs. Kramer
as Phyllis BernardMovie
The White Shadow
1978The White Shadow
as Paula HarrisTV
The World Beyond
1978The World Beyond
as Marian FaberMovie
Feasting with Panthers
1974Feasting with Panthers
as Constance WildeMovie