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