JoBeth Williams
Actress
77 years (Dec 6, 1948)Houston, Texas, USA
JoBeth Williams, born in Houston in 1948, is an American actress whose warmth grounded some of the defining Hollywood mainstream films of the eighties. After a memorable early scene as the young teacher who beds Dustin Hoffman in Kramer vs. Kramer (1979), she reached wide audiences as the terrified mother Diane Freeling in Poltergeist (1982) and its sequel. She followed with the ensemble hit The Big Chill (1983), the small-town drama Teachers (1984) and the acclaimed television movie Adam (1983). A veteran of stage and television as well as film, she later served as president of the Screen Actors Guild Foundation, championing the working actor's craft.
JoBeth Williams
Actress
JoBeth Williams, born in Houston in 1948, is an American actress whose warmth grounded some of the defining Hollywood mainstream films of the eighties. After a memorable early scene as the young teacher who beds Dustin Hoffman in Kramer vs. Kramer (1979), she reached wide audiences as the terrified mother Diane Freeling in Poltergeist (1982) and its sequel. She followed with the ensemble hit The Big Chill (1983), the small-town drama Teachers (1984) and the acclaimed television movie Adam (1983). A veteran of stage and television as well as film, she later served as president of the Screen Actors Guild Foundation, championing the working actor's craft.
41 Movies
Plays Phyllis Bernard
Kramer vs. Kramer
1979
Plays Diane Freeling
Poltergeist
1982
Plays Edith
The Big Year
2011
Plays Gwen Harper
Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot
1992
Plays Bessie Earp
Wyatt Earp
1994
Plays Rosemary Fletcher
Within
2016
Plays Ginnie Serian
Behemoth!
2026
Plays Marcia
Not Without Hope
2025
Plays Karen Bowens
The Big Chill
1983
Plays Margo Brofman
Switch
1991
Plays Diane Freeling
Poltergeist II: The Other Side
1986
Plays Nurse Nancy Bauer
The Day After
1983
Plays Maureen Meeks
Fever Pitch
2005
Plays Agnes Webb
In the Land of Women
2007
Plays Harriet Purdue
Endangered Species
1982
Plays Jessie
The Dogs of War
1980
Plays Marion
TiMER
2009
Plays Natalie
Chantilly Bridge
2023
Plays Dr. Patricia Cromwell
Jungle 2 Jungle
1997
Plays Natalie Standish
Dutch
1991
Plays Mrs. Stern
Alex & the List
2018
Plays Meredith
Stir Crazy
1980
Plays Crazy / Sane Diane
Me, Myself and I
1992
Plays Lisa
Memories of Me
1988
Plays Lisa Hammond
Teachers
1984
Plays Boots
Cash for Gold
2024
Plays Sherry
SGT. Will Gardner
2019
Plays Sidney Stone
Just Write
1997
Plays Patricia
Barracuda
2017
Plays Lily Chismore
Desert Bloom
1986
Plays Mrs. Mayer
Crazylove
2005
Plays Sarah
Welcome Home
1989
Plays Dr. Lillian Rose
The Rose Technique
2002
Plays Mayor
The Last Film Festival
2016
Plays Reve Walsh
Adam
1983
Plays Diane Freeling
Commercial Entertainment Product
1992
Plays June Sickles
Into the Fire
2005
Plays Cathy Palmer
American Dreamer
1984
Plays Jeanette Makins
14 Hours
2005
36 TV Shows
Plays Reggie Love
The Client
1995
Plays Ricky
Your Family or Mine
2015
Plays Constance Payne
Payne
1999
Plays Candice Hart
Hart of Dixie
2011
Plays Angel (voice)
Fish Police
1992
Plays Bizzy Forbes
Private Practice
2007
Plays Gail Brandon
Dexter
2006
Plays Lianne Fox
Miss Match
2003
Plays Danielle (voice)
Frasier
1993
Plays Marybeth Whitehead
Baby M
1988
Plays Lorna Anderson
Murder Ordained
1987
Plays Myrna
Marry Me
2014
Plays Leigh Kern
Extant
2014
Plays Margaret Pierce
Perception
2012
Plays Reggie
Station 19
2018
Plays Lana Strobe
A Million Little Things
2018
Plays Isobel Dixon
Heartbeat
2016
Plays Kate
Twenty Good Years
2006
Plays Emily
Against the Wall
2011
Plays Paula Harris
The White Shadow
1978
Plays Margaret Eppes
Numb3rs
2005
Plays Sarah
The Guardian
2001
Plays Gemma Lawnsdale
Judging Amy
1999
Plays Liz
Las Vegas
2003
Plays Miriam Henderson
24
2001
Plays Professor Ursula Kent
Criminal Minds
2005
Plays Lois Wilson
Hallmark Hall of Fame
1951
Plays May and June (voice)
Batman: The Animated Series
1992
Plays Marge Slayton
From the Earth to the Moon
1998
Plays Mrs. Walker
Law & Order: LA
2010
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Behemoth!
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Frequently Asked Questions
How old is JoBeth Williams and where are they from?
JoBeth Williams is 77 years old, born on December 6, 1948 in Houston, Texas, USA.
What are the most famous roles of JoBeth Williams?
JoBeth Williams is best known for roles in Poltergeist, Kramer vs. Kramer, Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot.
How many movies has JoBeth Williams been in?
Over a 52-year career (since 1974), JoBeth Williams has appeared in 41 movies and 36 TV shows.
What was JoBeth Williams's first movie?
The career of JoBeth Williams began with Feasting with Panthers (1974).
What is JoBeth Williams's most recent movie or series?
JoBeth Williams's most recent release is She Was Here, which premiered on February 24, 2026.
What TV shows has JoBeth Williams appeared in?
On television, JoBeth Williams has appeared in The Good Doctor, Dexter, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Criminal Minds.
Does JoBeth Williams have any upcoming projects?
Yes, JoBeth Williams's upcoming work includes: Behemoth! (2026).
JoBeth Williams
1948-12-06 · Houston, Texas, USA
Margaret JoBeth Williams (born December 6, 1948) is an American 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, 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.