Who is JoBeth Williams?
Margaret JoBeth Williams was born in Houston, Texas USA, on 6 December 1948 – her zodiac sign is Sagittarius, and she holds American nationality. She’s an actress, film producer and director, with more than 120 acting credits to her name, both in films and on TV, while she’s probably still known best for her portrayal of the lead character Diane Freeling in the critically acclaimed 1982 horror thriller movie “Poltergeist”, directed by Tobe Hooper, and which also starred Heather O’Rourke and Craig T. Nelson. It follows a family whose home is haunted by demonic ghosts; the movie won four of the 15 awards for which it was nominated, including three Oscar nominations for Best Visual Effects, Best Sound Effects Editing and Best Music, Original Score.
Early life and education
JoBeth was raised in South Park, Houston by her father Fredric Roger Williams who was an opera singer and owner of his own wire and cable company, and her mother Frances Faye (nee Adams) who was a dietitian. Because JoBeth hasn’t mentioned having any siblings, it’s widely believed that she’s an only child.
She grew up wanting to become a child psychologist, but became interested in acting while attending Jones High School, appearing in many plays performed at the school.
Upon matriculating in 1966, JoBeth enrolled at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island from which she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English in 1970.
Roles in TV series
JoBeth made her debut TV series appearance in the 1974 episode “Feasting with Panthers” of the musical drama “Great Performances”, and gained recognition in 1976, for her portrayal of Carrie Wheeler in the drama “Somerset”. It was created by Robert Cenadella, starred Paul Sparer, Georgann Johnson and Susan MacDonald, and follows the lives of people from Somerset, Illinois; the series aired from 1970 to 1976, and was nominated for a 1974 Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Costume Design.
The following 14 years saw JoBeth appear in only two TV series: she played Paula Harris in two episodes of the sports drama “The White Shadow” in 1980, and portrayed Brandy Schlooe in 15 episodes of the soap opera “Guiding Light” between 1977 and 1981.
In 1995 and 1996, she played the main character Reggie Love in the crime thriller drama “The Client”, created by Judith Paige Mitchell, and which also starred John Heard and Polly Holliday. It tells the story of a lawyer who’s a recovering alcoholic, and the series was nominated for three awards.
A couple of JoBeth’s most notable performances in the 2000s were in the mystery crime drama “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit”, the drama “Judging Amy”, and the romantic comedy drama “Miss Match”.
Between 2011 and 2015, she played Candice Hart in the popular romantic comedy drama “Hart of Dixie”, created by Leila Gerstein, and which starred Rachel Bilson, Jaime King and Cress Williams. It follows doctor Zoe Hart who’s moved from New York City to Bluebell, Alabama, and has learned that the late Dr. Harley Wilkes has left his medical practice to her; the series won one of the five awards for which it was nominated.
Three of JoBeth’s most recent roles have been in the 2018 episode “Let Us Pray” of the comedy “Living Biblically”, the 2019 episodes “When It Rains, It Pours!” and “Baby Boom” of the romantic action drama “Station 19”, and the 2020 episode “Curse of the Skinwalker” of the mystery science fiction drama “Project Blue Book”.
Roles in movies
JoBeth made her debut film appearance in the 1978 horror thriller “The World Beyond”, and gained recognition in the following year, when cast to play Phyllis Bernard in the evergreen 1979 drama “Kramer vs. Kramer”, written and directed by Robert Benton, and which starred Dustin Hoffman, Meryl Streep and Jane Alexander. It follows an advertising executive from New York City and his wife, as they’re battling over their son’s custody – the movie won 44 awards, including five Oscars notably for Best Picture, and Best Actor (Dustin Hoffman), while it was nominated for 25 other awards.
Some of JoBeth’s most notable performances in the ‘80s were in the 1982 mystery thriller drama “Endangered Species”, the 1984 romantic crime comedy “American Dreamer”, and the 1988 comedy drama “Memories of Me”.
What marked the ‘90s for her was perhaps her portrayal of Bessie Earp in the biographical action adventure “Wyatt Earp”, written and directed by Lawrence Kasdan, and which starred Kevin Costner, Dennis Quaid and Gene Hackman. It follows Wyatt who’s become a myth thanks to his heroic actions, and the movie won three of the 11 awards for which it was nominated, including an Oscar nomination for Best Cinematography.
In 2002, JoBeth played the lead character Dr. Lillian Rose in the crime drama “The Rose Technique”, and portrayed Agnes Webb in the 2007 romantic comedy drama “In the Land of Women”.
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The year 2011 saw her play Edith in the comedy “The Big Year”, directed by David Frankel, and which starred Owen Wilson, Jack Black and Steve Martin. It follows two men who’ve entered a year-long bird watching competition, and the movie won a Guild of Music Supervisors Award for Best Music Supervision for Film Budgeted Over 20 Million Dollars.
Three of JoBeth’s most recent film roles have been in the 2017 romantic comedy “Alex & The List”, the 2019 action adventure drama “SGT. Will Gardner” and the 2020 drama “What the Night Can Do”, while she’s currently shooting for the upcoming movie “Chantilly Bridge”.
Other credits
JoBeth has 19 producing and four directing credits, with some of her most notable producing works being the 1991 thriller movie “Bump in the Night”, the 1994 short film “On Hope” and the 2013 short movie “Cash for Gold”.
She’s appeared in many documentaries, most recently in the 2006 movie “20 Most Horrifying Hollywood Murders”, the 2007 series “TV Land Confidential”, and the 2018 short video “Shelter: Remembering ‘The Day After’”.
JoBeth’s made a guest appearance in various talk-shows, such as “Hollywood Health Report”, “Red Carpet Report” and “Josh Gates Tonight”.
Awards and nominations
JoBeth’s won three of the nine awards for which she’s been nominated: the 1984 Kansas City Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress, for her performance in “American Dreamer”, the 2002 WorldFest Houston Career Achievement Award, and a 2002 Bearfest – Big Bear Lake International Film Festival Award of Excellence.
She was also nominated for a 1989 Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actress in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television, for “Baby M”, and a 1995 Oscar for Best Short Film, Live Action for “On Hope”.
Love life and husband
JoBeth prefers to keep the details of her love life to herself, but it’s still widely known that she’s a married woman, as well as a mother. She exchanged vows with American actor, producer and director John Pasquin on 14 March 1982, in a large ceremony attended by many of their friends and family members; John has only two acting credits, while he’s directed close to 50 movies and TV series.
They have two children together, Nick Pasquin and Will Pasquin, but the boys’ birthdates remain undisclosed; John also has daughter Sarah from his previous marriage.
JoBeth hasn’t mentioned any other men whom she’s perhaps been with, and as of August 2022, she’s married to John Pasquin, and they have two sons together.
Hobbies and other interests
JoBeth’s a philanthropist, and has donated money to various charity organizations aiming to improve the quality of life for underprivileged children, while she’s also donated to cancer research facilities.
Although she nowadays prefers to stay at her home, JoBeth was once passionate about travelling, and her career’s taken her all around the world – her dream travel destination is Paris, France.
She has her own favorite actor and actress, Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh, while some of her favorite movies include “Gone with the Wind”, “A Streetcar Named Desire”, and “That Hamilton Woman”.
JoBeth was physically quite active during her 20s, 30s and 40s, mostly because it was important for her career to stay fit.
Her favorite season is summer, as she enjoys relaxing at the beach and swimming in the ocean.
Age, height and net worth
JoBeth’s age is 73. She has long brown hair and blue eyes, her height is 5ft 7ins (1.7m) and she weighs around 130lbs (60kgs).
As of August 2022, JoBeth’s net worth’s been estimated at over $50 million.
