JoBeth Williams
Biography
Margaret JoBeth Williams was born on December 6, 1948, in Houston, Texas, USA. She is an American film and television actress and director, and serves as the current President of the Screen Actors Guild Foundation. Williams rose to prominence through her appearances in films including Stir Crazy in 1980, Poltergeist in 1982, The Big Chill in 1983, The Day After in 1983, Teachers in 1984, and Poltergeist II: The Other Side in 1986. She is a three-time Emmy Award nominee, having received nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie for the television movie Adam in 1983 and the television miniseries Baby M in 1988, as well as a nomination for a guest role in the sitcom Frasier in 1994.
Career overview
Margaret JoBeth Williams was born on December 6, 1948, in Houston, Texas, USA. She is an American film and television actress and director, as well as the current President of the Screen Actors Guild Foundation. She rose to prominence appearing in such films as Stir Crazy in 1980, Poltergeist in 1982, The Big Chill in 1983, The Day After in 1983, Teachers in 1984, and Poltergeist II: The Other Side in 1986. Additional film credits noted in sources include Dexter, Hallmark Hall of Fame, and Dobrý doktor.
Williams is a three-time Emmy Award nominee. She was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie for her work in the television movie Adam in 1983 and the television miniseries Baby M in 1988. Her third Emmy nomination was for her guest role in the sitcom Frasier in 1994. Throughout her career, she has accumulated 123 known acting credits on the Movie Database platform.
Before her prominence in entertainment, while studying psychology and English at Brown University in Providence, Texas, she was named by Glamour magazine as one of the ten best college women.
Ask the Vault
Ask anything about JoBeth Williams.
Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
124 titles- Behemoth! (2026)
- She Was Here (2026) as Self
- Not Without Hope (2025) as Marcia
- SEGAL (2025) as Self
- Cash for Gold (2024) as Boots
- Chantilly Bridge (2023) as Natalie
- Josh Gates Tonight (2020) as Self
- What the Night Can Do (2020) as Bettye Sue Dryer
- SGT. Will Gardner (2019) as Sherry
- Station 19 (2018) as Reggie
- A Million Little Things (2018) as Lana Strobe
- Alex & the List (2018) as Mrs. Stern
- The Good Doctor (2017) as Ruth
- Barracuda (2017) as Patricia
- Heartbeat (2016) as Isobel Dixon
- Within (2016) as Rosemary Fletcher
- The Last Film Festival (2016) as Mayor
- In My Dreams (2015) as Charlotte Smith
- Your Family or Mine (2015) as Ricky
- Extant (2014) as Leigh Kern
- Marry Me (2014) as Myrna
- Scandal (2012) as Sandra Harding
- Perception (2012) as Margaret Pierce
- Hart of Dixie (2011) as Candice Hart
- Against the Wall (2011) as Emily
- The Big Year (2011) as Edith
- Love's Christmas Journey (2011) as Beatrice
- Rizzoli & Isles (2010) as Tilly Dunn
- Law & Order: LA (2010) as Mrs. Walker
- TiMER (2009) as Marion
- Uncorked (2009) as Sophia Browning
- Childrens Hospital (2008) as Linda
- Private Practice (2007) as Bizzy Forbes
- In the Land of Women (2007) as Agnes Webb
- Sybil (2007) as Hattie Dorsett
- Dexter (2006) as Gail Brandon
- The Nine (2006)
- Twenty Good Years (2006) as Kate
- Criminal Minds (2005) as Professor Ursula Kent
- Numb3rs (2005) as Margaret Eppes
- Fever Pitch (2005) as Maureen Meeks
- Into the Fire (2005) as June Sickles
- 14 Hours (2005) as Jeanette Makins
- Crazylove (2005) as Mrs. Mayer
- NCIS (2003) as Leona Phelps
- Las Vegas (2003) as Liz
- Miss Match (2003) as Lianne Fox
- The Rose Technique (2002) as Dr. Lillian Rose
- Searching for Debra Winger (2002) as Self
- Repossessed (2002)
- The Curse of Poltergeist (2002)
- 24 (2001) as Miriam Henderson
- The Guardian (2001) as Sarah
- Night Visions (2001) Director
- The Ponder Heart (2001) as Edna Earle Ponder
- Strong Medicine (2000) as Margie
- Frankie & Hazel (2000) Director
- Trapped in a Purple Haze (2000) as Sophie Hanson
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999) as Mrs. Rawley
- Judging Amy (1999) as Gemma Lawnsdale
- The Big Chill: A Reunion (1999) as Self
- Jackie's Back! (1999) as Jo Face (Jackie's Vocal Coach)
- Justice (1999) as Jane Newhart
- It Came from the Sky (1999) as Alice Bridges
- Payne (1999) as Constance Payne
- From the Earth to the Moon (1998) as Marge Slayton
- A Chance of Snow (1998) as Madeline 'Maddie' Parker
- Jungle 2 Jungle (1997) as Dr. Patricia Cromwell
- When Danger Follows You Home (1997) as Anne Werden
- Just Write (1997) as Sidney Stone
- E! True Hollywood Story (1996)
- After the SIlence (1996) as Pam Willis (as Jobeth Williams)
- Ruby Jean and Joe (1996) as Rose
- The Client (1995) as Reggie Love
- A Season of Hope (1995) as Elizabeth Hackett
- Wyatt Earp (1994) as Bessie Earp
- Parallel Lives (1994) as Winnie Winslow
- On Hope (1994) Director
- Voices from Within (1994) as Nancy Parkhurst
- Frasier (1993) as Danielle (voice)
- Frasier (1993) as Madeline Marshall
- Sex, Love and Cold Hard Cash (1993) as Sarah Gallagher
- Final Appeal (1993) as Christine Biondi
- Chantilly Lace (1993) as Natalie
- Batman: The Animated Series (1992) as May and June (voice)
- Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot (1992) as Lt. Gwen Harper
- Fish Police (1992) as Angel (voice)
- Jonathan: The Boy Nobody Wanted (1992) as Ginny Moore
- Me, Myself and I (1992) as Crazy / Sane Diane
- Commercial Entertainment Product (1992) as Diane Freeling
- Switch (1991) as Margo Brofman
- Dutch (1991) as Natalie Standish
- Victim of Love (1991) as Tess Harper
- Bump in the Night (1991) Co-Executive Producer
- Child in the Night (1990) as Dr. Hollis
- Timeless Tales: The Elves and the Shoemaker (1990) as Bettina (voice)
- Welcome Home (1989) as Sarah
- My Name Is Bill W. (1989) as Lois Wilson
- Memories of Me (1988) as Lisa
- Baby M (1988) as Marybeth Whitehead
- Murder Ordained (1987) as Lorna Anderson
- Murder Ordained (1987) as Lorna Anderson
- Desert Bloom (1986) as Lily Chismore
- Poltergeist II: The Other Side (1986) as Diane Freeling
- Adam: His Song Continues (1986) as Reve Walsh
- Kids Don't Tell (1985) as Claudia Ryan
- American Dreamer (1984) as Cathy Palmer
- Teachers (1984) as Lisa Hammond
- The Day After (1983) as Nurse Nancy Bauer
- The Big Chill (1983) as Karen Bowens
- Adam (1983) as Reve Walsh
- Poltergeist (1982) as Diane Freeling
- Endangered Species (1982) as Harriet Purdue
- Joe Dancer: The Big Black Pill (1981) as Tiffany Farinpour
- Stir Crazy (1980) as Meredith
- The Dogs of War (1980) as Jessie
- Fun and Games (1980) as Laura Weston
- Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) as Phyllis Bernard
- The White Shadow (1978) as Paula Harris
- The World Beyond (1978) as Marian Faber
- Feasting with Panthers (1974) as Constance Wilde
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) as Self
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) as Lois Wilson
- Horrifying Hollywood Murders as Self
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is JoBeth Williams best known for?
JoBeth Williams is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Not Without Hope (2025), SGT. Will Gardner (2019), Station 19 (2018), A Million Little Things (2018).
When and where was JoBeth Williams born?
JoBeth Williams was born on December 6, 1948 in Houston, Texas, USA.
How many credits does JoBeth Williams have?
JoBeth Williams has accumulated over 124 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1951 to 2026.
What is JoBeth Williams's background in cinema and television?
Margaret JoBeth Williams was born on December 6, 1948, in Houston, Texas, USA. She is an American film and television actress and director, and serves as the current President of the Screen Actors Guild Foundation. Williams rose to prominence through her appearances in films including Stir Crazy in 1980, Poltergeist in...
JoBeth Williams by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) as Lois Wilson — aged about 2
- Batman: The Animated Series (1992) as May and June (voice) — aged about 43
- The Good Doctor (2017) as Ruth — aged about 68
- Criminal Minds (2005) as Professor Ursula Kent — aged about 56
- Station 19 (2018) as Reggie — aged about 69
- Dexter (2006) as Gail Brandon — aged about 57
What viewers say
No comments yet. Be the first to share your take on JoBeth Williams.