Margaret JoBeth Williams (born December 6, 1948) is an American film, television and stage actress. She is the 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 (1993-1994). She made her directorial debut with the 1994 short film On Hope, for which she received an Academy Award nomination for Best Live Action Short Film. She also starred in the TV series The Client (1995-1996) and had recurring roles in the TV series' Dexter (2007) and Private Practice (2009-2011).
Academy Award for Best Short Film (Live Action), Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or a Movie, Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress - Comedy Series, Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress In A Mini-series or Motion Picture Made for Tel...
Movies
Poltergeist, Poltergeist II: The Other Side, Kramer vs. Kramer, The Big Chill, American Dreamer, Stir Crazy, Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot, Fever Pitch, The Day After, Jungle 2 Jungle, My Name Is Bill W., The Big Year, Wyatt Earp, The Dogs of War, In the Land of Women, Memories of Me, Desert Bloom, Lov...
TV Shows
Your Family or Mine, Payne, Somerset, Jabberwocky, Fish Police, The Client, The Worst Week of My Life (US), Life In General
Star Sign
Sagittarius
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Quote
1
I was raised in cities but I was raised in Texas, so there's a certain amount of connection to the earth.
2
I think a lot of the time, we don't give our family connections the kind of credit they deserve, like how important they are to us and how much they mean to us. I think family makes all the difference.
3
It was my first scene in any movie and my only scene in Kramer vs. Kramer (1979). I was petrified.
4
I've seen my own kids go through their own ups and downs, and as a mother, you want to make it better.
5
I would like, certainly, to do different things.
6
I was concerned about doing a sequel and repeating myself. That was before I read the script.
7
Larry Kasdan wanted us all there, all the time, even if we weren't filming.
8
I think there's a danger of a being typecast as the all-American mom forever.
9
I wanted to play the part that Mary Kay played, the lawyer who wanted to have baby and felt her clock ticking, because it was something I could relate to.
10
I felt they had really moved the characters in a direction that was very interesting. The family had really felt the impact of what had happened to the.
11
Now that I'm directing is where I've felt how difficult it is. Out of 200 or so movies made last year, only seven were directed by women. There's been an enormous leap of women producers and heads of studios, but strangely enough, those women haven't given other women a boost. It's very frustrating.
Her very first television role was on the Boston produced, first run syndicated children's television series; Jabberwocky (1977). The show featured live actors, puppets, musical numbers, and cartoon segments. Williams joined the cast of "Jabberwocky" in season two, replacing Joanne Sopko, the first season hostess, partnered with Tucker Smallwood, director/host. The show ran until 1978.
5
Jobeth's part in The Dogs of War (1980) was significantly cut in the American version released but much less so in the British version. Steven Spielberg happened to catch the unedited version in London and immediately cast her as the down-to-earth mom whose family is tormented by apparitions in Poltergeist (1982).
6
Supposedly turned down the lead in the sitcom Murphy Brown (1988), which had been created by Diane English with JoBeth in mind.
$8 Million
