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
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
NCIS
Criminal Minds
Private Practice
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Dexter
24
The Good Doctor
All Movies (77)
- She Was Here2026 · as Self
- Not Without Hope2025 · as Marcia
- SEGAL2025 · as Self
- Cash for Gold2024 · as Boots
- Chantilly Bridge2023 · as Natalie
- What the Night Can Do2020 · as Bettye Sue Dryer
- SGT. Will Gardner2019 · as Sherry
- Alex & the List2018 · as Mrs. Stern
- Barracuda2017 · as Patricia
- Within2016 · as Rosemary Fletcher
- The Last Film Festival2016 · as Mayor
- In My Dreams2015 · as Charlotte Smith
- Love's Christmas Journey2011 · as Beatrice
- The Big Year2011 · as Edith
- Uncorked2009 · as Sophia Browning
- TiMER2009 · as Marion
- Sybil2007 · as Hattie Dorsett
- In the Land of Women2007 · as Agnes Webb
- 14 Hours2005 · as Jeanette Makins
- Crazylove2005 · as Mrs. Mayer
- Into the Fire2005 · as June Sickles
- Fever Pitch2005 · as Maureen Meeks
- The Curse of Poltergeist2002
- Searching for Debra Winger2002 · as Self
- The Rose Technique2002 · as Dr. Lillian Rose
- Repossessed2002
- The Ponder Heart2001 · as Edna Earle Ponder
- Trapped in a Purple Haze2000 · as Sophie Hanson
- Jackie's Back!1999 · as Jo Face (Jackie's Vocal Coach)
- It Came from the Sky1999 · as Alice Bridges
- The Big Chill: A Reunion1999 · as Self
- Justice1999 · as Jane Newhart
- A Chance of Snow1998 · as Madeline 'Maddie' Parker
- When Danger Follows You Home1997 · as Anne Werden
- Jungle 2 Jungle1997 · as Dr. Patricia Cromwell
- Just Write1997 · as Sidney Stone
- After the SIlence1996 · as Pam Willis (as Jobeth Williams)
- Ruby Jean and Joe1996 · as Rose
- A Season of Hope1995 · as Elizabeth Hackett
- Voices from Within1994 · as Nancy Parkhurst
- Parallel Lives1994 · as Winnie Winslow
- Wyatt Earp1994 · as Bessie Earp
- Final Appeal1993 · as Christine Biondi
- Chantilly Lace1993 · as Natalie
- Sex, Love and Cold Hard Cash1993 · as Sarah Gallagher
- Commercial Entertainment Product1992 · as Diane Freeling
- Jonathan: The Boy Nobody Wanted1992 · as Ginny Moore
- Me, Myself and I1992 · as Crazy / Sane Diane
- Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot1992 · as Lt. Gwen Harper
- Dutch1991 · as Natalie Standish
- Switch1991 · as Margo Brofman
- Victim of Love1991 · as Tess Harper
- Timeless Tales: The Elves and the Shoemaker1990 · as Bettina (voice)
- Child in the Night1990 · as Dr. Hollis
- Welcome Home1989 · as Sarah
- My Name Is Bill W.1989 · as Lois Wilson
- Memories of Me1988 · as Lisa
- Murder Ordained1987 · as Lorna Anderson
- Adam: His Song Continues1986 · as Reve Walsh
- Poltergeist II: The Other Side1986 · as Diane Freeling
- Desert Bloom1986 · as Lily Chismore
- Kids Don't Tell1985 · as Claudia Ryan
- American Dreamer1984 · as Cathy Palmer
- Teachers1984 · as Lisa Hammond
- The Day After1983 · as Nurse Nancy Bauer
- Adam1983 · as Reve Walsh
- The Big Chill1983 · as Karen Bowens
- Endangered Species1982 · as Harriet Purdue
- Poltergeist1982 · as Diane Freeling
- Joe Dancer: The Big Black Pill1981 · as Tiffany Farinpour
- The Dogs of War1980 · as Jessie
- Stir Crazy1980 · as Meredith
- Fun and Games1980 · as Laura Weston
- Kramer vs. Kramer1979 · as Phyllis Bernard
- The World Beyond1978 · as Marian Faber
- Feasting with Panthers1974 · as Constance Wilde
- Horrifying Hollywood Murders— · as Self
All TV Shows (42)
- Josh Gates Tonight2020 · as Self
- A Million Little Things2018 · as Lana Strobe
- Station 192018 · as Reggie
- The Good Doctor2017 · as Ruth
- Heartbeat2016 · as Isobel Dixon
- Your Family or Mine2015 · as Ricky
- Marry Me2014 · as Myrna
- Extant2014 · as Leigh Kern
- Perception2012 · as Margaret Pierce
- Scandal2012 · as Sandra Harding
- Hart of Dixie2011 · as Candice Hart
- Against the Wall2011 · as Emily
- Law & Order: LA2010 · as Mrs. Walker
- Rizzoli & Isles2010 · as Tilly Dunn
- Childrens Hospital2008 · as Linda
- Private Practice2007 · as Bizzy Forbes
- Twenty Good Years2006 · as Kate
- The Nine2006
- Dexter2006 · as Gail Brandon
- Criminal Minds2005 · as Professor Ursula Kent
- Numb3rs2005 · as Margaret Eppes
- Miss Match2003 · as Lianne Fox
- NCIS2003 · as Leona Phelps
- Las Vegas2003 · as Liz
- 242001 · as Miriam Henderson
- The Guardian2001 · as Sarah
- Strong Medicine2000 · as Margie
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit1999 · as Mrs. Rawley
- Judging Amy1999 · as Gemma Lawnsdale
- Payne1999 · as Constance Payne
- From the Earth to the Moon1998 · as Marge Slayton
- E! True Hollywood Story1996
- The Client1995 · as Reggie Love
- Frasier1993 · as Danielle (voice)
- Frasier1993 · as Madeline Marshall
- Batman: The Animated Series1992 · as May and June (voice)
- Fish Police1992 · as Angel (voice)
- Baby M1988 · as Marybeth Whitehead
- Murder Ordained1987 · as Lorna Anderson
- The White Shadow1978 · as Paula Harris
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson1962 · as Self
- Hallmark Hall of Fame1951 · as Lois Wilson