JoBeth Williams
An actress who projected grounded, relatable strength, becoming the emotional anchor of both suburban horror classics and intimate family dramas.
Born 1948 (age 78)·American actress·Birthday: December 6·Baby Boomers
Biography
JoBeth Williams arrived on screen with a warmth that felt immediately familiar. After early roles, she became the definitive suburban mother of early-80s cinema, though her characters were far from passive. In 'Poltergeist,' she was Diane Freeling, fiercely protective and resourceful in the face of supernatural terror. In 'The Big Chill,' she was the pragmatic Karen, navigating the complicated nostalgia of reunited friends. Williams had a knack for portraying intelligent women grappling with extraordinary circumstances, whether it was nuclear war in 'The Day After' or a custody battle in 'Kramer vs. Kramer.' This quality made her a natural for television movies, where she tackled socially charged topics like surrogate motherhood in 'Baby M,' earning critical praise. Her career settled into a steady rhythm of film, television, and stage work, often in maternal or authoritative roles that leveraged her innate credibility. Beyond acting, she became an active director for television and a dedicated advocate for the Screen Actors Guild, serving multiple terms on its national board.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
JoBeth was born in 1948, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When JoBeth Was Born
The biggest hits of 1948
#1 Movie
The Red Shoes
Best Picture
Hamlet
#1 TV Show
Texaco Star Theatre
JoBeth's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1948Born
Israel declares independence; Berlin Blockade begins
Gas: $0.26/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Twelfth Street Rag" — Pee Wee HuntBest Picture: Hamlet
1953Started school
DNA structure discovered by Watson and Crick
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,750Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Song from Moulin Rouge" — Percy FaithBest Picture: From Here to Eternity
1961Became a teenager
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1964Could drive
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1966Could vote
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1969Turned 21
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1978Turned 30
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1988Turned 40
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1998Turned 50
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2008Turned 60
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2018Turned 70
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 78 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Earned three Primetime Emmy Award nominations for her roles in the TV movie 'Adam,' the miniseries 'Baby M,' and a guest spot on 'Frasier.'
- Starred as Diane Freeling in the landmark horror film 'Poltergeist,' a role that defined the archetype of the resilient horror movie mother.
- Served as the President of the Screen Actors Guild Foundation and was a long-term national board member of SAG-AFTRA.
- Directed multiple episodes of television series, including 'The Guardian,' 'Judging Amy,' and 'Dawson's Creek.'
Did You Know?
She was a competitive swimmer in high school and was offered athletic scholarships to college.
She turned down the role of Sarah Connor in 'The Terminator,' which later went to Linda Hamilton.
She is married to film director John Pasquin ('Santa Clause,' 'Jungle 2 Jungle').
She graduated from Brown University with a degree in English literature.
“I will not leave my children in a house that wants to keep them.”
