JoBeth Williams

JoBeth Williams

Acting
Born 1948-12-06Houston, Texas, USA

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.

Movies (78)

Poltergeist
7.2

Poltergeist

1982Movie7.2
Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot
5.4

Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot

1992Movie5.4
Kramer vs. Kramer
7.6

Kramer vs. Kramer

1979Movie7.6
The Big Chill
6.8

The Big Chill

1983Movie6.8
The Big Year
6.0

The Big Year

2011Movie6.0
Poltergeist II: The Other Side
6.0

Poltergeist II: The Other Side

1986Movie6.0
Fun and Games
7.0

Fun and Games

1980Movie7.0
The Day After
6.8

The Day After

1983Movie6.8
Wyatt Earp
6.8

Wyatt Earp

1994Movie6.8
Switch
5.9

Switch

1991Movie5.9
The Dogs of War
5.8

The Dogs of War

1980Movie5.8
Teachers
5.7

Teachers

1984Movie5.7
Stir Crazy
6.5

Stir Crazy

1980Movie6.5
Dutch
6.5

Dutch

1991Movie6.5
Not Without Hope
6.7

Not Without Hope

2025Movie6.7
Endangered Species
4.9

Endangered Species

1982Movie4.9
Fever Pitch
6.2

Fever Pitch

2005Movie6.2
Jungle 2 Jungle
5.4

Jungle 2 Jungle

1997Movie5.4
In My Dreams
6.4

In My Dreams

2015Movie6.4
Desert Bloom
5.8

Desert Bloom

1986Movie5.8
TiMER
6.3

TiMER

2009Movie6.3
Crazylove
5.2

Crazylove

2005Movie5.2
Within
5.4

Within

2016Movie5.4
Searching for Debra Winger
6.4

Searching for Debra Winger

2002Movie6.4
Murder Ordained
5.0

Murder Ordained

1987Movie5.0
Behemoth!

Behemoth!

2026Movie
Parallel Lives
5.7

Parallel Lives

1994Movie5.7
In the Land of Women
5.9

In the Land of Women

2007Movie5.9
Jackie's Back!
6.9

Jackie's Back!

1999Movie6.9
Joe Dancer: The Big Black Pill
6.8

Joe Dancer: The Big Black Pill

1981Movie6.8
Chantilly Bridge
5.1

Chantilly Bridge

2023Movie5.1
Memories of Me
5.4

Memories of Me

1988Movie5.4
Adam
7.3

Adam

1983Movie7.3
Sybil
6.6

Sybil

2007Movie6.6
A Chance of Snow
5.9

A Chance of Snow

1998Movie5.9
Commercial Entertainment Product
8.7

Commercial Entertainment Product

1992Movie8.7
Chantilly Lace
9.0

Chantilly Lace

1993Movie9.0
Just Write
5.6

Just Write

1997Movie5.6
Alex & the List
5.5

Alex & the List

2018Movie5.5
My Name Is Bill W.
6.5

My Name Is Bill W.

1989Movie6.5
The World Beyond
6.6

The World Beyond

1978Movie6.6
After the SIlence
7.2

After the SIlence

1996Movie7.2
Child in the Night
5.6

Child in the Night

1990Movie5.6
American Dreamer
6.3

American Dreamer

1984Movie6.3
Love's Christmas Journey
6.8

Love's Christmas Journey

2011Movie6.8
Kids Don't Tell
10.0

Kids Don't Tell

1985Movie10.0
Trapped in a Purple Haze
4.9

Trapped in a Purple Haze

2000Movie4.9
SGT. Will Gardner
4.7

SGT. Will Gardner

2019Movie4.7
A Season of Hope
3.5

A Season of Hope

1995Movie3.5
Barracuda
6.2

Barracuda

2017Movie6.2
Horrifying Hollywood Murders

Horrifying Hollywood Murders

Movie
Timeless Tales: The Elves and the Shoemaker

Timeless Tales: The Elves and the Shoemaker

1990Movie
Into the Fire
5.0

Into the Fire

2005Movie5.0
What the Night Can Do
4.5

What the Night Can Do

2020Movie4.5
Justice
4.8

Justice

1999Movie4.8
Victim of Love
4.3

Victim of Love

1991Movie4.3
Welcome Home
6.6

Welcome Home

1989Movie6.6
SEGAL

SEGAL

2025Movie
The Big Chill: A Reunion
6.3

The Big Chill: A Reunion

1999Movie6.3
She Was Here

She Was Here

2026Movie
When Danger Follows You Home
5.5

When Danger Follows You Home

1997Movie5.5
Final Appeal
6.0

Final Appeal

1993Movie6.0
It Came from the Sky
5.1

It Came from the Sky

1999Movie5.1
The Rose Technique
3.3

The Rose Technique

2002Movie3.3
Ruby Jean and Joe
7.7

Ruby Jean and Joe

1996Movie7.7
Cash for Gold
7.9

Cash for Gold

2024Movie7.9
Adam: His Song Continues
7.6

Adam: His Song Continues

1986Movie7.6
Uncorked
5.7

Uncorked

2009Movie5.7
14 Hours
5.3

14 Hours

2005Movie5.3
The Ponder Heart
5.7

The Ponder Heart

2001Movie5.7
Voices from Within
9.0

Voices from Within

1994Movie9.0
Me, Myself and I
6.3

Me, Myself and I

1992Movie6.3
Repossessed
8.7

Repossessed

2002Movie8.7
Feasting with Panthers

Feasting with Panthers

1974Movie
The Last Film Festival
3.2

The Last Film Festival

2016Movie3.2
Sex, Love and Cold Hard Cash
7.5

Sex, Love and Cold Hard Cash

1993Movie7.5
The Curse of Poltergeist

The Curse of Poltergeist

2002Movie
Jonathan: The Boy Nobody Wanted

Jonathan: The Boy Nobody Wanted

1992Movie

TV Shows (41)

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
8.0

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

1999Series8.0
Criminal Minds
8.3

Criminal Minds

2005Series8.3
NCIS
7.6

NCIS

2003Series7.6
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
7.5

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

1962Series7.5
Dexter
8.2

Dexter

2006Series8.2
The Good Doctor
8.5

The Good Doctor

2017Series8.5
Frasier
7.7

Frasier

1993Series7.7
24
7.8

24

2001Series7.8
Scandal
7.2

Scandal

2012Series7.2
Rizzoli & Isles
7.9

Rizzoli & Isles

2010Series7.9
Batman: The Animated Series
8.6

Batman: The Animated Series

1992Series8.6
Las Vegas
7.0

Las Vegas

2003Series7.0
Numb3rs
7.0

Numb3rs

2005Series7.0
Judging Amy
7.5

Judging Amy

1999Series7.5
Strong Medicine
7.4

Strong Medicine

2000Series7.4
A Million Little Things
7.2

A Million Little Things

2018Series7.2
Station 19
8.2

Station 19

2018Series8.2
Private Practice
7.5

Private Practice

2007Series7.5
Hart of Dixie
7.3

Hart of Dixie

2011Series7.3
Childrens Hospital
6.9

Childrens Hospital

2008Series6.9
The Guardian
7.0

The Guardian

2001Series7.0
From the Earth to the Moon
8.1

From the Earth to the Moon

1998Series8.1
Perception
7.2

Perception

2012Series7.2
Extant
6.3

Extant

2014Series6.3
Law & Order: LA
6.8

Law & Order: LA

2010Series6.8
The White Shadow
7.1

The White Shadow

1978Series7.1
Miss Match
6.6

Miss Match

2003Series6.6
Against the Wall
6.5

Against the Wall

2011Series6.5
The Nine
5.8

The Nine

2006Series5.8
Marry Me
5.9

Marry Me

2014Series5.9
The Client
7.0

The Client

1995Series7.0
Josh Gates Tonight
7.8

Josh Gates Tonight

2020Series7.8
Fish Police
5.7

Fish Police

1992Series5.7
Heartbeat
6.3

Heartbeat

2016Series6.3
Your Family or Mine
6.5

Your Family or Mine

2015Series6.5
E! True Hollywood Story
8.1

E! True Hollywood Story

1996Series8.1
Murder Ordained
5.1

Murder Ordained

1987Series5.1
Twenty Good Years
8.5

Twenty Good Years

2006Series8.5
Hallmark Hall of Fame
8.8

Hallmark Hall of Fame

1951Series8.8
Baby M
7.0

Baby M

1988Series7.0
Payne
4.0

Payne

1999Series4.0