JoBeth Williams
Known for: Acting
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.
Filmography
Series
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self
1962
Series
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Mrs. Rawley
1999
Series
Criminal Minds
Professor Ursula Kent
2005
Series
NCIS
Leona Phelps
2003
Series
Dexter
Gail Brandon
2006
Series
24
Miriam Henderson
2001
Series
Frasier
Danielle (voice)
1993
Series
Frasier
Madeline Marshall
1993
Series
The Good Doctor
Ruth
2017
Series
Scandal
Sandra Harding
2012
Series
Rizzoli & Isles
Tilly Dunn
2010
Series
Numb3rs
Margaret Eppes
2005
Series
Las Vegas
Liz
2003
Series
Strong Medicine
Margie
2000
Series
Private Practice
Bizzy Forbes
2007
Series
Judging Amy
Gemma Lawnsdale
1999
Series
Station 19
Reggie
2018
Series
Batman: The Animated Series
May and June (voice)
1992
Series
The Guardian
Sarah
2001
Series
Childrens Hospital
Linda
2008
Series
A Million Little Things
Lana Strobe
2018
Series
Hart of Dixie
Candice Hart
2011
Series
Perception
Margaret Pierce
2012
Series
From the Earth to the Moon
Marge Slayton
1998
Series
Law & Order: LA
Mrs. Walker
2010
Series
Extant
Leigh Kern
2014
Series
Miss Match
Lianne Fox
2003
Series
The White Shadow
Paula Harris
1978
Series
The Nine
2006
Series
Against the Wall
Emily
2011
Series
The Client
Reggie Love
1995
Series
Marry Me
Myrna
2014
Film
Poltergeist
Diane Freeling
1982
Film
Kramer vs. Kramer
Phyllis Bernard
1979
Film
Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot
Gwen Harper
1992
Series
Heartbeat
Isobel Dixon
2016
Series
Fish Police
Angel (voice)
1992
Series
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Lois Wilson
1951
Film
The Big Year
Edith
2011
Film
Not Without Hope
Marcia
2025
Film
The Day After
Nurse Nancy Bauer
1983
Film
Wyatt Earp
Bessie Earp
1994
Film
Fever Pitch
Maureen Meeks
2005
Series
Twenty Good Years
Kate
2006
Series
Josh Gates Tonight
Self
2020
Series
Your Family or Mine
Ricky
2015
Series
E! True Hollywood Story
1996
Film
The Dogs of War
Jessie
1980
Film
Behemoth!
Ginnie Serian
2026
Film
The Big Chill
Karen Bowens
1983
Film
Poltergeist II: The Other Side
Diane Freeling
1986
Film
In the Land of Women
Agnes Webb
2007
Film
Within
Rosemary Fletcher
2016
Film
Jungle 2 Jungle
Dr. Patricia Cromwell
1997
Series
Murder Ordained
Lorna Anderson
1987
Film
Stir Crazy
Meredith
1980
Film
Switch
Margo Brofman
1991
Series
Payne
Constance Payne
1999
Film
Dutch
Natalie Standish
1991
Film
In My Dreams
Charlotte Smith
2015
Film
Chantilly Bridge
Natalie
2023
Film
TiMER
Marion
2009
Film
My Name Is Bill W.
Lois Wilson
1989
Series
Baby M
Marybeth Whitehead
1988
Film
Child in the Night
Dr. Hollis
1990
Film
Endangered Species
Harriet Purdue
1982
Film
Joe Dancer: The Big Black Pill
Tiffany Farinpour
1981
Film
Love's Christmas Journey
Beatrice
2011
Film
Murder Ordained
Lorna Anderson
1987
Film
Memories of Me
Lisa
1988
Film
After the SIlence
Pam Willis (as Jobeth Williams)
1996
Film
Just Write
Sidney Stone
1997
Film
Desert Bloom
Lily Chismore
1986
Film
Ruby Jean and Joe
Rose
1996
Film
Justice
Jane Newhart
1999
Film
Teachers
Lisa Hammond
1984
Film
SGT. Will Gardner
Sherry
2019
Film
Fun and Games
Laura Weston
1980
Film
Jackie's Back!
Jo Face (Jackie's Vocal Coach)
1999
Film
What the Night Can Do
Bettye Sue Dryer
2020
Film
Kids Don't Tell
Claudia Ryan
1985
Film
Me, Myself and I
Crazy / Sane Diane
1992
Film
Trapped in a Purple Haze
Sophie Hanson
2000
Film
Alex & the List
Mrs. Stern
2018
Film
Searching for Debra Winger
Self
2002
Film
The Big Chill: A Reunion
Self
1999
Film
American Dreamer
Cathy Palmer
1984
Film
It Came from the Sky
Alice Bridges
1999
Film
A Chance of Snow
Madeline 'Maddie' Parker
1998
Film
Sybil
Hattie Dorsett
2007
Film
She Was Here
Self
2026
Film
A Season of Hope
Elizabeth Hackett
1995
Film
The Last Film Festival
Mayor
2016
Film
Adam: His Song Continues
Reve Walsh
1986
Film
When Danger Follows You Home
Anne Werden
1997
Film
Timeless Tales: The Elves and the Shoemaker
Bettina (voice)
1990
Film
Jonathan: The Boy Nobody Wanted
Ginny Moore
1992
Sex, Love and Cold Hard Cash
Sarah Gallagher
1993
Film
Cash for Gold
Boots
2024
Film
Barracuda
Patricia
2017
Film
The Ponder Heart
Edna Earle Ponder
2001
Film
The World Beyond
Marian Faber
1978
Film
Welcome Home
Sarah
1989
Film
Repossessed
2002
Horrifying Hollywood Murders
Self
Film
Parallel Lives
Winnie Winslow
1994
Film
Crazylove
Mrs. Mayer
2005
Film
Final Appeal
Christine Biondi
1993
Film
Commercial Entertainment Product
Diane Freeling
1992
Film
Uncorked
Sophia Browning
2009
Film
Chantilly Lace
Natalie
1993
Film
SEGAL
Self
2025
Film
Victim of Love
Tess Harper
1991
Film
The Curse of Poltergeist
2002
Film
The Rose Technique
Dr. Lillian Rose
2002
Film
14 Hours
Jeanette Makins
2005
Film
Feasting with Panthers
Constance Wilde
1974
Film
Adam
Reve Walsh
1983
Film
Into the Fire
June Sickles
2005
Film
Voices from Within
Nancy Parkhurst
1994