JW
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JoBeth Williams

Actor, Director, Additional CreditsBorn December 6, 1948 (76 years)
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 & Shows on Plex

  • Timer
  • In My Dreams
  • SGT. Will Gardner
  • Night Visions
  • Just Write
  • The Legend of Prince Valiant
  • Crazylove
  • Frankie & Hazel
  • Bump in the Night
  • What the Night Can Do
  • A Season of Hope

Known For

  • Poltergeist
  • Kramer vs. Kramer
  • Poltergeist II: The Other Side
  • Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot
  • The Day After
  • Jungle 2 Jungle
  • Stir Crazy
  • The Big Chill
  • Dutch
  • In the Land of Women
  • Switch
  • Timer
  • Frasier
  • Teachers
  • In My Dreams
  • The Dogs of War
  • American Dreamer
  • Within
  • My Name Is Bill W.
  • Endangered Species
  • Sybil
  • Child in the Night
  • Frankie & Hazel
  • Love's Christmas Journey

Filmography

2025
2024
Cash for Gold · as Boots
2023
Chantilly Bridge · as Natalie
2020
What the Night Can Do · as Bettye Sue Dryer
2019
2019
Project Blue Book (TV Series) · as Scientist
2018
A Million Little Things (TV Series) · as Lana Strobe
2018
Station 19 (TV Series) · as Reggie
2018
Living Biblically (TV Series) · as Diana
2017
Alex & The List · as Mrs. Stern
2017
The Good Doctor (TV Series) · as Ruth
2017
Barracuda · as Patricia
2016
Within · as Rosemary Fletcher
2016
2016
Heartbeat (2016) (TV Series) · as Isobel Dixon
2015
Your Family or Mine (TV Series) · as Ricky
2014
Marry Me (2014) (TV Series) · as Myrna
2014
Extant (TV Series) · as Leigh Kern
2014
In My Dreams · as Charlotte Smith
2013
Mistresses (US) (TV Series) · as Janet
2012
Perception (TV Series) · as Margaret Pierce
2012
Scandal (2012) (TV Series) · as Sandra Harding
2011
2011
The Big Year · as Edith
2011
Hart of Dixie (TV Series) · as Candice Hart
2011
Against the Wall (TV Series) · as Emily
2010
Law & Order: LA (TV Series) · as Mrs. Walker
2010
Rizzoli & Isles (TV Series) · as Tilly Dunn
2009
Uncorked · as Sophia Browning
2009
Timer · as Marion
2008
Childrens Hospital (TV Series) · as Linda
2007
Private Practice (TV Series) · as Bizzy Forbes
2007
Sybil · as Hattie Dorsett
2007
In the Land of Women · as Agnes Webb
2006
Twenty Good Years (TV Series) · as Kate
2006
The Nine (TV Series)
2006
Dexter (TV Series) · as Gail Brandon
2006
Call It Fiction · as Cassie
2005
Crazylove · as Mrs. Mayer
2005
Into the Fire · as June Sickles
2005
Criminal Minds (TV Series) · as Professor Ursula Kent
2005
Fever Pitch · as Maureen Meeks
2005
14 Hours · as Jeanette Makins
2005
Numb3rs (TV Series) · as Margaret Eppes
2004
Frasier: Analyzing the Laughter · as Madeline Marshall
2003
Skin (TV Series) · as Dr. Sara Rose
2003
Miss Match (TV Series) · as Lianne Fox
2003
Las Vegas (TV Series) · as Liz
2003
NCIS (TV Series) · as Leona Phelps
2002
The Rose Technique · as Dr. Lillian Rose
2001
24 (TV Series) · as Miriam Henderson
2001
The Ponder Heart · as Edna Earle Ponder
2001
The Guardian (TV Series) · as Sarah
2000
Strong Medicine (TV Series) · as Margie
2000
Trapped in a Purple Haze · as Sophie Hanson
1999
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (TV Series) · as Mrs. Rawley
1999
Judging Amy (TV Series) · as Gemma Lawnsdale
1999
Justice · as Jane Newhart
1999
Jackie's Back! · as Jo Face (jackie's Vocal Coach)
1999
It Came from the Sky · as Alice Bridges
1999
The Norm Show (TV Series) · as Claire Stackhouse
1999
Payne (TV Series) · as Constance Payne
1998
A Chance of Snow · as Madeline 'maddie Parker
1998
From the Earth to the Moon (TV Series) · as Marge Slayton
1998
Mikhail Baryshnikov's Stories from My Childhood (TV Series) · as Queen Hildegard
1997
1997
Little City · as Anne
1997
Jungle 2 Jungle · as Dr. Patricia Cromwell
1997
Dead Man's Gun (TV Series) · as Marty
1997
Just Write · as Sidney Stone
1996
Breaking Through · as Pam Willis (as Jobeth Williams)
1996
1996
1995
The Client (TV Series) · as Reggie Love
1995
A Season of Hope · as Elizabeth Hackett
1994
Voices from Within · as Nancy Parkhurst
1994
Parallel Lives · as Winnie Winslow
1994
Wyatt Earp · as Bessie Earp
1993
Final Appeal · as Christine Biondi
1993
Frasier (TV Series) · as Madeline Marshall
1993
Mighty Max (TV Series) · as Countess
1993
Chantilly Lace · as Natalie
1993
Sex, Love and Cold Hard Cash · as Sarah Gallagher
1993
Jonny's Golden Quest · as Jade Kenyon
1992
1992
Batman: The Animated Series (TV Series) · as May And June (voice)
1992
Fish Police (TV Series)
1992
Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot · as Lt. Gwen Harper
1992
Me Myself and I · as Crazy / Sane Diane
1991
The Legend of Prince Valiant (TV Series) · as Queen Ilene
1991
Dutch · as Natalie Standish
1991
Switch · as Margo Brofman
1991
Victim of Love · as Tess Harper
1990
Timeless Tales from Hallmark (TV Series) · as Bettina
1990
Child in the Night · as Dr. Hollis
1989
Welcome Home · as Sarah
1989
My Name Is Bill W. · as Lois Wilson
1988
Memories of Me · as Lisa
1988
Baby M (TV Series) · as Marybeth Whitehead
1987
Murder Ordained · as Lorna Anderson
1987
Murder Ordained (TV Series) · as Lorna Anderson
1986
Adam: His Song Continues · as Reve Walsh
1986
Poltergeist II: The Other Side · as Diane Freeling
1986
Desert Bloom · as Lily Chismore
1985
Kids Don't Tell · as Claudia Ryan
1984
American Dreamer · as Cathy Palmer
1984
Teachers · as Lisa Hammond
1983
The Day After · as Nurse Nancy Bauer
1983
Adam · as Reve Walsh
1983
The Big Chill · as Karen Bowens
1982
Endangered Species · as Harriet Purdue
1982
Poltergeist · as Diane Freeling
1981
The Big Black Pill · as Tiffany Farinpour
1980
The Dogs of War · as Jessie
1980
Stir Crazy · as Meredith
1979
Kramer vs. Kramer · as Phyllis Bernard
1978
The White Shadow (TV Series) · as Paula Harris
1978
The World Beyond · as Marian Faber
1971
Great Performances (TV Series) · as Constance Wilde
1970
Somerset (TV Series) · as Carrie Wheeler
1952
Guiding Light (TV Series) · as Brandy Schlooe
1951
Hallmark Hall Of Fame (TV Series) · as Lois Wilson

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