JoBeth Williams
Highest Rated: 92% Barracuda (2017)
Lowest Rated: 0% Into the Fire (2005)
Birthday: Dec 6, 1948
Birthplace: Houston, Texas, USA
Working steadily for decades in a wide variety of mediums, JoBeth Williams successfully transitioned from effervescent leading lady to mature actress with a lengthy résumé of consistently strong performances. Possibly best remembered for her breakout portrayal of a terrified suburban housewife in the supernatural horror film "Poltergeist" (1982), Williams played Diane Freeling with a conviction and authenticity that kept audiences on the edge of their seats. On the heels of that success was the ensemble drama "The Big Chill" (1983), in which Williams' character, unhappy with her current marriage, considers rekindling a relationship with her old flame during a weekend reunion with college friends. Considered a classic by a generation, the film marked the directorial debut of writer Lawrence Kasdan, and allowed Williams to act alongside some of the brightest stars in film at that time. Williams made her mark on television, with roles in TV-movies like the Cold-War cautionary tale "The Day After" (1983), and in "Adam" (NBC, 1983), in which she portrayed the anguished mother of a missing child. She also impressed with her initial outing as a director with "On Hope" (Showtime, 1994), which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Short Film. Following her appearance with Nick Nolte in Arthur Hiller's black comedy, "Teachers" (1984), there were fewer headlining roles in feature projects, and more work on television series such as "Dexter" (Showtime, 2006-13). Williams soon settled into a steady career pattern, frequently playing mother figures in smaller films like "In the Land of Women" (2007), making Williams one of the few women of a certain age who successfully segued into a respected character actress after enjoying a high-profile leading lady career in her prime.
Photos
JoBeth Williams
Filmography
Movies
Credit | |||||
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No Score Yet |
|
Chantilly Bridge | Unknown (Character) | - | 2023 |
22% |
|
Sgt. Will Gardner | Sherry (Character) | - | 2019 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | What the Night Can Do | Bettye Sue Dryer (Character) | - | 2017 |
92% |
|
Barracuda | Patricia (Character) | - | 2017 |
No Score Yet |
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The Last Film Festival | Mayor (Character) | $3.2K | 2016 |
No Score Yet |
|
In My Dreams | Charlotte (Character) | - | 2014 |
42% |
|
The Big Year | Edith (Character) | $7.2M | 2011 |
No Score Yet |
|
Uncorked | Sophia Browning (Character) | - | 2010 |
67% |
|
TiMER | Marion (Character) | - | 2009 |
No Score Yet |
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Sybil | Hattie Dorsett (Character) | - | 2008 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Call It Fiction | Cassie (Character) | - | 2006 |
No Score Yet |
|
crazylove | Mrs. Mayer (Character) | - | 2005 |
0% |
|
Into the Fire | Sickles (Character) | - | 2005 |
66% |
|
Fever Pitch | Maureen Meeks (Character) | $42.1M | 2005 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Committed | Unknown (Character) | - | 2005 |
No Score Yet |
|
14 Hours | Jeanette Makins (Character) | - | 2005 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Rose Technique | Dr. Lillian Rose (Character) | - | 2002 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Ponder Heart | Edna Earle Ponder (Character) | - | 2001 |
No Score Yet |
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Frankie and Hazel | Director | - | 2000 |
No Score Yet |
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Trapped in a Purple Haze | Sophie Hanson (Character) | - | 2000 |
No Score Yet |
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Justice | Jane Newhart (Character) | - | 1999 |
No Score Yet |
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It Came From the Sky | Alice Bridges (Character) | - | 1999 |
No Score Yet |
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Jackie's Back! | Jo Face (Character) | - | 1999 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | A Chance of Snow | Madeline `'Maddie" Parker (Character) | - | 1998 |
50% |
|
Just Write | Sidney Stone (Character) | - | 1998 |
No Score Yet |
|
Little City | Anne (Character) | - | 1997 |
19% |
|
Jungle 2 Jungle | Patricia Cromwell (Character) | $59.9M | 1997 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | When Danger Follows You Home | Anne Werden (Character) | - | 1997 |
No Score Yet |
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Breaking Through | Pam Willis (Character) | - | 1996 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Breaking Free | Pam Willis (Character) | - | 1996 |
No Score Yet |
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Ruby Jean and Joe | Rose (Character) | - | 1996 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | A Season of Hope | Elizabeth Hackett (Character) | - | 1995 |
31% |
|
Wyatt Earp | Bessie Earp (Character) | $24.6M | 1994 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Voices From Within | Nancy Parkhurst (Character) | - | 1994 |
No Score Yet |
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Parallel Lives | Winnie Winslow (Character) | - | 1994 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Final Appeal | Christine Biondi (Character) | - | 1993 |
No Score Yet |
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Sex, Love and Cold Hard Cash | Sex, Love and Cold Hard Cash (Character) | - | 1993 |
No Score Yet |
|
Chantilly Lace | Natalie (Character) | - | 1993 |
14% |
|
Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot | Lt. Gwen Harper (Character) | $26.6M | 1992 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Me, Myself and I |
Crazy / |
- | 1992 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Jonathan: The Boy Nobody Wanted | Ginny Moore (Character) | - | 1992 |
17% |
|
Dutch | Natalie Standish (Character) | $4.2M | 1991 |
32% |
|
Switch | Margo Brofman (Character) | $14.2M | 1991 |
No Score Yet |
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Victim of Love | Tess Palmer (Character) | - | 1991 |
No Score Yet |
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Child in the Night | Dr. Hollis (Character) | - | 1990 |
No Score Yet |
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Welcome Home | Sarah (Character) | $830.7K | 1989 |
No Score Yet |
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My Name Is Bill W. | Lois `'Lo'` Wilson (Character) | - | 1989 |
No Score Yet |
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Memories of Me | Lisa (Character) | $3.3M | 1988 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Baby M | Marybeth Whitehead (Character) | - | 1988 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Murder Ordained | Lorna Anderson (Character) | - | 1987 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Adam: His Song Continues | Reve Walsh (Character) | - | 1986 |
20% |
|
Poltergeist II | Diane Freeling (Character) | $38.8M | 1986 |
71% |
|
Desert Bloom | Lily Chismore (Character) | $92.8K | 1986 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Kids Don't Tell | Claudia Ryan (Character) | - | 1985 |
17% |
|
American Dreamer |
Cathy Palmer/ |
- | 1984 |
61% |
|
Teachers | Lisa Hammond (Character) | - | 1984 |
No Score Yet |
|
Adam | Reve Walsh (Character) | - | 1983 |
69% |
|
The Big Chill | Karen (Character) | $57.0K | 1983 |
86% |
|
The Day After | Nurse Nancy Bauer (Character) | - | 1983 |
88% |
|
Poltergeist | Diane Freeling (Character) | $121.8M | 1982 |
No Score Yet |
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Endangered Species | Harriet Purdue (Character) | - | 1982 |
No Score Yet |
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The Big Black Pill | Tiffany Farrenpour (Character) | - | 1981 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Joe Dancer | Tiffany Farrenpour (Character) | - | 1981 |
70% |
|
The Dogs of War | Jesse (Character) | - | 1980 |
69% |
|
Stir Crazy | Meredith (Character) | - | 1980 |
89% |
|
Kramer vs. Kramer | Phyllis Bernard (Character) | - | 1979 |
TV
Credit | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
18% | 58% | Living Biblically | Diana (Guest Star) | 2018 |
No Score Yet | 67% | The Good Doctor | Ruth (Guest Star) | 2018 |
No Score Yet | 88% | Rizzoli and Isles | Tilly Dunn (Guest Star) | 2016 |
No Score Yet | 71% | Heartbeat | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2016 |
No Score Yet | 64% | Your Family or Mine | Ricky Weston (Character) | 2015 |
79% | 69% | Marry Me | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2014-2015 |
81% | 88% | Hart of Dixie | Candice Hart (Guest Star) | 2011-2012 2014-2015 |
77% | 62% | Extant | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2014 |
No Score Yet | 62% | Mistresses | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2013 |
93% | 72% | Scandal | Sandra Harding (Guest Star) | 2012 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Love's Christmas Journey | Mrs. Thompson (Character) | 2011 |
70% | No Score Yet | Against the Wall | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2011 |
No Score Yet | 83% | NCIS | Leona Phelps (Guest Star) | 2011 |
No Score Yet | 81% | Private Practice | Bizzy Forbes (Guest Star) | 2009-2011 |
71% | 81% | Dexter | Gail Brandon (Guest Star) | 2007 |
100% | No Score Yet | The Nine | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2006 |
No Score Yet | 83% | Criminal Minds | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2006 |
No Score Yet | 93% | Numb3ers | Margaret Eppes (Guest Star) | 2006 |
87% | 87% | 24 | Miriam Henderson (Guest Star) | 2006 |
83% | No Score Yet | Miss Match | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2003 |
70% | No Score Yet | Skin | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2003 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Judging Amy | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2003 |
78% | 83% | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Mrs. Rawley (Guest Star) | 2002 |
No Score Yet | 83% | The Guardian | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2001 |
22% | No Score Yet | Payne | Unknown (Character) | 1999 2001 |
67% | No Score Yet | Norm | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2000 |
No Score Yet | 80% | From the Earth to the Moon | Marge Slayton (Character) | 1998 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Dead Man's Gun | Marty (Guest Star) | 1998 |
25% | No Score Yet | The Client | Reggie Love (Character) | 1995-1996 |
95% | 94% | Frasier |
Danielle (Guest Voice), Madeline Marshall (Guest Star) |
1993-1994 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The White Shadow | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1980 |