Acting · Houston, Texas, USA · Born December 6, 1948
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.
MovieBehemoth!
2026
MovieShe Was Here
2026
as Self
MovieNot Without Hope
2025
as Marcia
MovieSEGAL
2025
as Self
MovieCash for Gold
2024
as Boots
MovieChantilly Bridge
2023
as Natalie
MovieWhat the Night Can Do
2020
as Bettye Sue Dryer
TVJosh Gates Tonight
2020
as Self
MovieSGT. Will Gardner
2019
as Sherry
TVA Million Little Things
2018
as Lana Strobe
MovieAlex & the List
2018
as Mrs. Stern
TVStation 19
2018
as Reggie
TVThe Good Doctor
2017
as Ruth
MovieBarracuda
2017
as Patricia
MovieWithin
2016
as Rosemary Fletcher
MovieThe Last Film Festival
2016
as Mayor
TVHeartbeat
2016
as Isobel Dixon
MovieIn My Dreams
2015
as Charlotte Smith
TVYour Family or Mine
2015
as Ricky
TVMarry Me
2014
as Myrna
TVExtant
2014
as Leigh Kern
TVPerception
2012
as Margaret Pierce
TVScandal
2012
as Sandra Harding
MovieLove's Christmas Journey
2011
as Beatrice
MovieThe Big Year
2011
as Edith
TVHart of Dixie
2011
as Candice Hart
TVAgainst the Wall
2011
as Emily
TVLaw & Order: LA
2010
as Mrs. Walker
TVRizzoli & Isles
2010
as Tilly Dunn
MovieUncorked
2009
as Sophia Browning
MovieTiMER
2009
as Marion
TVChildrens Hospital
2008
as Linda
TVPrivate Practice
2007
as Bizzy Forbes
MovieSybil
2007
as Hattie Dorsett
MovieIn the Land of Women
2007
as Agnes Webb
TVTwenty Good Years
2006
as Kate
TVThe Nine
2006
TVDexter
2006
as Gail Brandon
Movie14 Hours
2005
as Jeanette Makins
MovieCrazylove
2005
as Mrs. Mayer
MovieInto the Fire
2005
as June Sickles
TVCriminal Minds
2005
as Professor Ursula Kent
MovieFever Pitch
2005
as Maureen Meeks
TVNumb3rs
2005
as Margaret Eppes
TVMiss Match
2003
as Lianne Fox
TVNCIS
2003
as Leona Phelps
TVLas Vegas
2003
as Liz
MovieThe Curse of Poltergeist
2002
MovieSearching for Debra Winger
2002
as Self
MovieThe Rose Technique
2002
as Dr. Lillian Rose
MovieRepossessed
2002
TV24
2001
as Miriam Henderson
MovieThe Ponder Heart
2001
as Edna Earle Ponder
TVThe Guardian
2001
as Sarah
TVStrong Medicine
2000
as Margie
MovieTrapped in a Purple Haze
2000
as Sophie Hanson
TVLaw & Order: Special Victims Unit
1999
as Mrs. Rawley
TVJudging Amy
1999
as Gemma Lawnsdale
MovieJackie's Back!
1999
as Jo Face (Jackie's Vocal Coach)
MovieIt Came from the Sky
1999
as Alice Bridges
TVPayne
1999
as Constance Payne
MovieThe Big Chill: A Reunion
1999
as Self
MovieJustice
1999
as Jane Newhart
MovieA Chance of Snow
1998
as Madeline 'Maddie' Parker
TVFrom the Earth to the Moon
1998
as Marge Slayton
MovieWhen Danger Follows You Home
1997
as Anne Werden
MovieJungle 2 Jungle
1997
as Dr. Patricia Cromwell
MovieJust Write
1997
as Sidney Stone
MovieAfter the SIlence
1996
as Pam Willis (as Jobeth Williams)
TVE! True Hollywood Story
1996
MovieRuby Jean and Joe
1996
as Rose
TVThe Client
1995
as Reggie Love
MovieA Season of Hope
1995
as Elizabeth Hackett
MovieVoices from Within
1994
as Nancy Parkhurst
MovieParallel Lives
1994
as Winnie Winslow
MovieWyatt Earp
1994
as Bessie Earp
MovieFinal Appeal
1993
as Christine Biondi
TVFrasier
1993
as Danielle (voice)
MovieChantilly Lace
1993
as Natalie
Sex, Love and Cold Hard Cash
1993
as Sarah Gallagher
MovieCommercial Entertainment Product
1992
as Diane Freeling
MovieJonathan: The Boy Nobody Wanted
1992
as Ginny Moore
TVBatman: The Animated Series
1992
as May and June (voice)
MovieMe, Myself and I
1992
as Crazy / Sane Diane
TVFish Police
1992
as Angel (voice)
MovieStop! Or My Mom Will Shoot
1992
as Lt. Gwen Harper
MovieDutch
1991
as Natalie Standish
MovieSwitch
1991
as Margo Brofman
MovieVictim of Love
1991
as Tess Harper
MovieTimeless Tales: The Elves and the Shoemaker
1990
as Bettina (voice)
MovieChild in the Night
1990
as Dr. Hollis
MovieWelcome Home
1989
as Sarah
MovieMy Name Is Bill W.
1989
as Lois Wilson
MovieMemories of Me
1988
as Lisa
TVBaby M
1988
as Marybeth Whitehead
MovieMurder Ordained
1987
as Lorna Anderson
TVMurder Ordained
1987
as Lorna Anderson
MovieAdam: His Song Continues
1986
as Reve Walsh
MoviePoltergeist II: The Other Side
1986
as Diane Freeling
MovieDesert Bloom
1986
as Lily Chismore
MovieKids Don't Tell
1985
as Claudia Ryan
MovieAmerican Dreamer
1984
as Cathy Palmer
MovieTeachers
1984
as Lisa Hammond
MovieThe Day After
1983
as Nurse Nancy Bauer
MovieAdam
1983
as Reve Walsh
MovieThe Big Chill
1983
as Karen Bowens
MovieEndangered Species
1982
as Harriet Purdue
MoviePoltergeist
1982
as Diane Freeling
MovieJoe Dancer: The Big Black Pill
1981
as Tiffany Farinpour
MovieThe Dogs of War
1980
as Jessie
MovieStir Crazy
1980
as Meredith
MovieFun and Games
1980
as Laura Weston
MovieKramer vs. Kramer
1979
as Phyllis Bernard
TVThe White Shadow
1978
as Paula Harris
MovieThe World Beyond
1978
as Marian Faber
MovieFeasting with Panthers
1974
as Constance Wilde
TVThe Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962
as Self
TVHallmark Hall of Fame
1951
as Lois Wilson
Horrifying Hollywood Murders
as Self
