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JoBeth Williams

JoBeth Williams

32 movies on Netflix

Biography

JoBeth Williams is an American actress who moved from daytime television to feature films. Born in Houston, she first appeared on screen in the children's series Jabberwocky and had regular roles on the soap operas Somerset and Guiding Light. Her feature debut came in Kramer vs. Kramer (1979), and she went on to star in Stir Crazy (1980), The Dogs of War (1980) and Poltergeist (1982) as the suburban mother Diane Freeling, a part she returned to in Poltergeist II: The Other Side (1986). Other films include The Big Chill (1983), American Dreamer (1984), which brought her a Best Actress award from the Kansas City Film Critics Circle, Teachers (1984), Switch (1991), Dutch (1991) and Wyatt Earp (1994). A three-time Emmy nominee, she led the series The Client and later had recurring roles on Dexter and Private Practice. Her short film On Hope, her directing debut, earned an Academy Award nomination.

77years old

Turns 78 on December 6in 54 days

  • Born Houston
  • Star sign: SagittariusThe sign runs November 22 to December 21
  • Also credited as Margaret Jobeth Williams

Movie Career

Films
32
Career span
46 years1979 to 2025

Genres

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  1. Behind the camera

    Williams directed the 1994 short film On Hope, which was her first time directing. The film brought her a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film.

  2. First role

    Williams's first television role was on the syndicated children's series Jabberwocky, which debuted in 1972; she joined in season two, replacing original hostess Joanne Sopko, and her character was named JoBeth.

  3. A change of course

    Williams took on the role of president of the Screen Actors Guild Foundation in 2009, and she now holds the title of president emerita of that foundation.

JoBeth Williams movies on Netflix

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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  1. Poltergeist1982 Horroras Diane Freeling

    IMDb rating 7.3197K votes

  2. Kramer vs. Kramer1979 Dramaas Phyllis Bernard

    IMDb rating 7.8168K votes

  3. Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot1992as Gwen Harper

    IMDb rating 4.447K votes

  4. Poltergeist II: The Other Side1986as Diane Freeling

    IMDb rating 5.733K votes

  5. Jungle 2 Jungle1997as Dr. Patricia Cromwell

    IMDb rating 5.328K votes

  6. The Day After1983as Nurse Nancy Bauer

    IMDb rating 7.021K votes

  7. Stir Crazy1980as Meredith

    IMDb rating 6.733K votes

  8. Dutch1991as Natalie Standish

    IMDb rating 6.516K votes

Most often with

Lawrence Kasdan directed two of these films. Craig T. Nelson appears in three of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Films together

Box office

What JoBeth Williams's films earned in cinemas worldwide.

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Combined worldwide box office

$686 million

15 of the 32 films have a worldwide figure.

Of the 32 films: 15 worldwide figure; 4 us gross only; 7 never in cinemas; 5 figure not found; 1 too new to count.

  • 15Worldwide figure
  • 4US gross only
  • 7Never in cinemas
  • 5Figure not found
  • 1Too new to count

Highest grossing

The eight biggest films earned 89% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.

  1. 1
    Poltergeist1982as Diane Freeling
    $122M17.8% of the total
  2. 2
    Kramer vs. Kramer1979as Phyllis Bernard
    $106M15.5% of the total
  3. 3
    Stir Crazy1980as Meredith
    $101M14.8% of the total
  4. 4
    Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot1992as Gwen Harper
    $71M10.3% of the total
  5. 5
    Jungle 2 Jungle1997as Dr. Patricia Cromwell
    $60M8.7% of the total
  6. 6
    The Big Chill1983as Karen Bowens
    $56M8.2% of the total
  7. 7
    Fever Pitch2005as Maureen Meeks
    $51M7.4% of the total
  8. 8
    Poltergeist II: The Other Side1986as Diane Freeling
    $41M6.0% of the total
Wyatt Earp (1994), $25.1 millionIn the Land of Women (2007), $17.6 millionSwitch (1991), $15.5 millionThe Big Year (2011), $8.2 millionThe Dogs of War (1980), $5.5 millionDutch (1991), $4.6 millionEndangered Species (1982), $1.5 million

$77.9 millionfrom the other 7 films with a worldwide figure, 11% of the total