Born 1948 (age 77) · Houston, Texas, USA
Appears in 122 titles

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.

Filmography

Poltergeist
7.2
Poltergeist
1982
as Diane Freeling
Kramer vs. Kramer
7.6
Kramer vs. Kramer
1979
as Phyllis Bernard
Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot
5.3
Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot
1992
as Lt. Gwen Harper
Wyatt Earp
6.8
Wyatt Earp
1994
as Bessie Earp
The Big Year
6.0
The Big Year
2011
as Edith
Fever Pitch
6.2
Fever Pitch
2005
as Maureen Meeks
Poltergeist II: The Other Side
6.0
Poltergeist II: The Other Side
1986
as Diane Freeling
The Big Chill
6.8
The Big Chill
1983
as Karen Bowens
In the Land of Women
5.9
In the Land of Women
2007
as Agnes Webb
Jungle 2 Jungle
5.3
Jungle 2 Jungle
1997
as Dr. Patricia Cromwell
Stir Crazy
6.5
Stir Crazy
1980
as Meredith
The Day After
6.8
The Day After
1983
as Nurse Nancy Bauer
Within
5.5
Within
2016
as Rosemary Fletcher
Switch
5.9
Switch
1991
as Margo Brofman
TiMER
6.3
TiMER
2009
as Marion
In My Dreams
6.4
In My Dreams
2015
as Charlotte Smith
Dutch
6.5
Dutch
1991
as Natalie Standish
The Dogs of War
5.8
The Dogs of War
1980
as Jessie
Teachers
5.7
Teachers
1984
as Lisa Hammond
Sybil
6.6
Sybil
2007
as Hattie Dorsett