JoBeth Williams continues to dazzle decades after conquering the big screen as one of the most magnetic leading ladies of the 1980s.
The star, now 76, has been turning heads once again as she graces Hollywood’s biggest red carpets — most recently stealing the show at the 31st Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards.
The Houston-born actress began her career humbly, hosting the children’s show Jabberwocky before breaking into daytime television with roles on Somerset and Guiding Light.
But her true breakout came in 1979’s Kramer vs. Kramer, where she played Dustin Hoffman’s free-spirited girlfriend — unforgettable for the scene where Hoffman’s young son catches her strolling naked to the bathroom.
From there, Williams embodied the quintessential 80s woman — smart, relatable, and undeniably sexy — with her unforgettable turns in Poltergeist and The Big Chill, cementing her status as one of Hollywood’s ultimate screen sirens.
And she’s still got it.
JoBeth Williams continues to dazzle decades after conquering the big screen as one of the most magnetic leading ladies of the 1980s
Williams became famous for her unforgettable turns in Poltergeist
At the 31st Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards, Williams proved that age is no barrier to star power.
Draped in a jaw-dropping black gown with sheer panels, she owned the red carpet with the confidence and glamour that made her an icon.
Beyond her iconic 80s roles, JoBeth Williams has proven she’s much more than a screen siren — she’s a Hollywood force.
After cutting her teeth on soap operas like Somerset and Guiding Light, she made audiences take notice in 1982’s The Day After, the harrowing TV movie about nuclear war.
Her raw, emotional performance showed she could tackle serious drama with the same intensity that made her horror and comedy roles unforgettable.
Of course, it was Poltergeist that cemented her legend.
As Diane Freeling, the devoted yet daring suburban mom facing terrifying supernatural forces, Williams blended maternal warmth with fearless sensuality.
She returned for Poltergeist II: The Other Side, proving that she could carry a franchise.
The Houston-born actress began her career humbly, hosting the children’s show Jabberwocky before breaking into daytime television with roles on Somerset and Guiding Light
As Diane Freeling in Poltergeist, the devoted yet daring suburban mom facing terrifying supernatural forces, Williams blended maternal warmth with fearless sensuality
From there, Williams embodied the quintessential 80s woman — smart, relatable, and undeniably sexy — with her unforgettable turns in Poltergeist and The Big Chill, cementing her status as one of Hollywood’s ultimate screen sirens
She returned for Poltergeist II: The Other Side, proving that she could carry a franchise
in 2022, Williams looked back on the movie and the famous midnight marijuana scene, where she and Cragi t nelson smoke pot after the kids have gone to bed.
‘Craig was a comedy writer at one time. In fact, I think he did stand-up too in his early days,’ she told Vanity Fair .
‘But he’s very funny, and so Tobe and Steven would just let us run with things. Craig got into that whole thing, doing that with his stomach, which of course had me in genuine hysterics, and I think we really began to feel like we were stoned after a while.
‘We weren’t, by the way.’
Around the same time as Poltergeist became a hit, she wowed audiences in The Big Chill, holding her own alongside an all-star ensemble including Glenn Close, Kevin Kline, and William Hurt.
Williams didn’t just shine in front of the camera — she mastered life behind it too.
In the late 90s and early 2000s, she directed episodes of shows like Judging Amy, Homicide: Life on the Street, and Crossing Jordan, earning respect in an industry still dominated by men.
The star, now 76, has been turning heads once again as she graces Hollywood’s biggest red carpets — most recently stealing the show at the 2025 Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards
Draped in a jaw-dropping black gown with sheer panels, she owned the red carpet with the confidence and glamour that made her an icon
Her personal life has been equally grounded.
Married to actor-producer John Pasquin, Williams has balanced Hollywood fame with family life, all while maintaining a low-profile, authentic presence.
Even now, at 76, Williams proves that true Hollywood glamour only gets better with age.
Her red carpet appearance at the SAG Awards in a sheer black gown reminded the world why she’s still unforgettable — smart, sexy, and utterly magnetic.
