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JoBeth Williams

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.

Highest rated movies

92% 66% Barracuda
89% 89% Kramer vs. Kramer
88% 79% Poltergeist
86% 69% The Day After
71% 69% Desert Bloom
70% 53% The Dogs of War
69% 77% The Big Chill 69% 75% Stir Crazy

Filmography

Movies

Credit
No Score Yet 89% Chantilly Bridge Unknown (Character) - 2023
22% 88% Sgt. Will Gardner Sherry (Character) - 2019
No Score Yet No Score Yet What the Night Can Do Bettye Sue Dryer (Character) - 2017
92% 66% Barracuda Patricia (Character) - 2017
No Score Yet 76% The Last Film Festival Mayor (Character) $3.2K 2016
No Score Yet 35% In My Dreams Charlotte (Character) - 2014
42% 41% The Big Year Edith (Character) $7.2M 2011
No Score Yet 45% Uncorked Sophia Browning (Character) - 2010
67% 63% TiMER Marion (Character) - 2009
No Score Yet 79% Sybil Hattie Dorsett (Character) - 2008
No Score Yet No Score Yet Call It Fiction Cassie (Character) - 2006
No Score Yet 57% crazylove Mrs. Mayer (Character) - 2005
0% 50% Into the Fire Sickles (Character) - 2005
66% 60% Fever Pitch Maureen Meeks (Character) $42.1M 2005
No Score Yet No Score Yet Committed Unknown (Character) - 2005
No Score Yet 25% 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 44% Frankie and Hazel Director - 2000
No Score Yet 80% Trapped in a Purple Haze Sophie Hanson (Character) - 2000
No Score Yet 17% Justice Jane Newhart (Character) - 1999
No Score Yet 40% It Came From the Sky Alice Bridges (Character) - 1999
No Score Yet 87% Jackie's Back! Jo Face (Character) - 1999
No Score Yet No Score Yet A Chance of Snow Madeline `'Maddie" Parker (Character) - 1998
50% 57% Just Write Sidney Stone (Character) - 1998
No Score Yet 64% Little City Anne (Character) - 1997
19% 33% 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 83% Breaking Through Pam Willis (Character) - 1996
No Score Yet No Score Yet Breaking Free Pam Willis (Character) - 1996
No Score Yet 83% Ruby Jean and Joe Rose (Character) - 1996
No Score Yet No Score Yet A Season of Hope Elizabeth Hackett (Character) - 1995
31% 61% Wyatt Earp Bessie Earp (Character) $24.6M 1994
No Score Yet No Score Yet Voices From Within Nancy Parkhurst (Character) - 1994
No Score Yet 87% Parallel Lives Winnie Winslow (Character) - 1994
No Score Yet No Score Yet Final Appeal Christine Biondi (Character) - 1993
No Score Yet 40% Sex, Love and Cold Hard Cash Sex, Love and Cold Hard Cash (Character) - 1993
No Score Yet 95% Chantilly Lace Natalie (Character) - 1993
14% 21% Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot Lt. Gwen Harper (Character) $26.6M 1992
No Score Yet No Score Yet Me, Myself and I Crazy / Sane Diane (Character) - 1992
No Score Yet No Score Yet Jonathan: The Boy Nobody Wanted Ginny Moore (Character) - 1992
17% 63% Dutch Natalie Standish (Character) $4.2M 1991
32% 44% Switch Margo Brofman (Character) $14.2M 1991
No Score Yet 38% Victim of Love Tess Palmer (Character) - 1991
No Score Yet 60% Child in the Night Dr. Hollis (Character) - 1990
No Score Yet 67% Welcome Home Sarah (Character) $830.7K 1989
No Score Yet 76% My Name Is Bill W. Lois `'Lo'` Wilson (Character) - 1989
No Score Yet 46% 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% 35% Poltergeist II Diane Freeling (Character) $38.8M 1986
71% 69% Desert Bloom Lily Chismore (Character) $92.8K 1986
No Score Yet No Score Yet Kids Don't Tell Claudia Ryan (Character) - 1985
17% 84% American Dreamer Cathy Palmer/Rebecca Ryan (Character) - 1984
61% 45% Teachers Lisa Hammond (Character) - 1984
No Score Yet 62% Adam Reve Walsh (Character) - 1983
69% 77% The Big Chill Karen (Character) $57.0K 1983
86% 69% The Day After Nurse Nancy Bauer (Character) - 1983
88% 79% Poltergeist Diane Freeling (Character) $121.8M 1982
No Score Yet 34% Endangered Species Harriet Purdue (Character) - 1982
No Score Yet 40% The Big Black Pill Tiffany Farrenpour (Character) - 1981
No Score Yet No Score Yet Joe Dancer Tiffany Farrenpour (Character) - 1981
70% 53% The Dogs of War Jesse (Character) - 1980
69% 75% Stir Crazy Meredith (Character) - 1980
89% 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