Cast & creator
JoBeth Williams
Best known for The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Criminal Minds
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.
Also known as: ДжоБет Уильямс, جوبت ویلیامز
81
film credits
43
television credits
120
1951–2026 · acting roles
6.6
average across scored titles
Signature credits
Known for
Across film & television
Filmography (124)
Showing 124 of 124 credits
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self
1962
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Mrs. Rawley
1999
Criminal Minds
Professor Ursula Kent
2005
NCIS
Leona Phelps
2003
Dexter
Gail Brandon
2006
24
Miriam Henderson
2001
Frasier
Danielle (voice)
1993Frasier
Madeline Marshall
1993
The Good Doctor
Ruth
2017
Scandal
Sandra Harding
2012
Rizzoli & Isles
Tilly Dunn
2010
Numb3rs
Margaret Eppes
2005
Las Vegas
Liz
2003
Strong Medicine
Margie
2000
Private Practice
Bizzy Forbes
2007
Judging Amy
Gemma Lawnsdale
1999
Station 19
Reggie
2018
Batman: The Animated Series
May and June (voice)
1992
The Guardian
Sarah
2001
Childrens Hospital
Linda
2008
A Million Little Things
Lana Strobe
2018
Hart of Dixie
Candice Hart
2011
Perception
Margaret Pierce
2012
From the Earth to the Moon
Marge Slayton
1998
Law & Order: LA
Mrs. Walker
2010
Extant
Leigh Kern
2014
Miss Match
Lianne Fox
2003
The White Shadow
Paula Harris
1978
The Nine
2006
Night Visions
Director
2001
Against the Wall
Emily
2011
The Client
Reggie Love
1995
Marry Me
Myrna
2014
Poltergeist
Diane Freeling
1982
Kramer vs. Kramer
Phyllis Bernard
1979
Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot
Gwen Harper
1992
Heartbeat
Isobel Dixon
2016
Fish Police
Angel (voice)
1992
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Lois Wilson
1951
The Big Year
Edith
2011
Not Without Hope
Marcia
2025
The Day After
Nurse Nancy Bauer
1983
Wyatt Earp
Bessie Earp
1994
Fever Pitch
Maureen Meeks
2005
Twenty Good Years
Kate
2006
Josh Gates Tonight
Self
2020
Your Family or Mine
Ricky
2015
E! True Hollywood Story
1996
The Dogs of War
Jessie
1980
Behemoth!
Ginnie Serian
2026
The Big Chill
Karen Bowens
1983
Poltergeist II: The Other Side
Diane Freeling
1986
In the Land of Women
Agnes Webb
2007
Within
Rosemary Fletcher
2016
Jungle 2 Jungle
Dr. Patricia Cromwell
1997
Murder Ordained
Lorna Anderson
1987
Stir Crazy
Meredith
1980
Switch
Margo Brofman
1991
Payne
Constance Payne
1999
Dutch
Natalie Standish
1991
In My Dreams
Charlotte Smith
2015
Chantilly Bridge
Natalie
2023
TiMER
Marion
2009
My Name Is Bill W.
Lois Wilson
1989
Baby M
Marybeth Whitehead
1988
Child in the Night
Dr. Hollis
1990
Endangered Species
Harriet Purdue
1982
Joe Dancer: The Big Black Pill
Tiffany Farinpour
1981
Love's Christmas Journey
Beatrice
2011
Murder Ordained
Lorna Anderson
1987
Bump in the Night
Co-Executive Producer
1991
Memories of Me
Lisa
1988
After the SIlence
Pam Willis (as Jobeth Williams)
1996
Just Write
Sidney Stone
1997
Desert Bloom
Lily Chismore
1986
Ruby Jean and Joe
Rose
1996
Justice
Jane Newhart
1999
Teachers
Lisa Hammond
1984
SGT. Will Gardner
Sherry
2019
Fun and Games
Laura Weston
1980
Jackie's Back!
Jo Face (Jackie's Vocal Coach)
1999
Frankie & Hazel
Director
2000
What the Night Can Do
Bettye Sue Dryer
2020
Kids Don't Tell
Claudia Ryan
1985
Me, Myself and I
Crazy / Sane Diane
1992
Trapped in a Purple Haze
Sophie Hanson
2000
Alex & the List
Mrs. Stern
2018
Searching for Debra Winger
Self
2002
The Big Chill: A Reunion
Self
1999
American Dreamer
Cathy Palmer
1984
It Came from the Sky
Alice Bridges
1999
A Chance of Snow
Madeline 'Maddie' Parker
1998
Sybil
Hattie Dorsett
2007
She Was Here
Self
2026
A Season of Hope
Elizabeth Hackett
1995
The Last Film Festival
Mayor
2016
Adam: His Song Continues
Reve Walsh
1986
When Danger Follows You Home
Anne Werden
1997
Timeless Tales: The Elves and the Shoemaker
Bettina (voice)
1990
Jonathan: The Boy Nobody Wanted
Ginny Moore
1992Sex, Love and Cold Hard Cash
Sarah Gallagher
1993
Cash for Gold
Boots
2024
Barracuda
Patricia
2017
The Ponder Heart
Edna Earle Ponder
2001
The World Beyond
Marian Faber
1978
Welcome Home
Sarah
1989
Repossessed
2002Horrifying Hollywood Murders
Self
Parallel Lives
Winnie Winslow
1994
Crazylove
Mrs. Mayer
2005
Final Appeal
Christine Biondi
1993
Commercial Entertainment Product
Diane Freeling
1992
Uncorked
Sophia Browning
2009
Chantilly Lace
Natalie
1993
SEGAL
Self
2025
Victim of Love
Tess Harper
1991
The Curse of Poltergeist
2002
The Rose Technique
Dr. Lillian Rose
2002
14 Hours
Jeanette Makins
2005
Feasting with Panthers
Constance Wilde
1974
Adam
Reve Walsh
1983
Into the Fire
June Sickles
2005
Voices from Within
Nancy Parkhurst
1994
On Hope
Director
1994