JoBeth Williams Movies
A graduate of Brown University, JoBeth Williams launched her acting career on the East Coast repertory theater circuit. Williams made her Broadway bow in 1980's A Coupla White Chicks Sitting Around Talking and gained a TV following as a regular on the daytime serials The Guiding Light and Somerset. She made an impressible film debut in a "flash part" in the Oscar-winning Kramer vs. Kramer (1979). Williams' star ascended with such roles as the mother of long-suffering Heather O'Rourke in the first two Poltergeist films and the sixties activist-cum-housewife in The Big Chill (1983). While she hasn't always been well-served by Hollywood, she has managed to show up in a number of worthwhile assignments, ranging from 1984's Teachers (in which she spontaneously performing the most dramatically justifiable striptease in movie history) to 1994's Wyatt Earp (as Bessie Earp) Her TV-movie credits are even more impressive: she had several memorable moments in the post-apocalyptic The Day After (1983) and was brilliant as the anguished mother of the murdered title character in Adam (1983). She has also participated in series television, lending her voice to the character of Angel in the animated nighttimer Fish Police (1992) and essaying the Susan Sarandon role in the 1995 weekly TV adaptation of The Client. In addition, she served as executive producer of the 1991 TV movie Bump in the Night, and as co-producer of the Oscar-nominated documentary On Hope (1994). JoBeth Williams is married to director John Pasquin. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 2007
Emmy Award-winning actress Tammy Blanchard (Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows) essays the role of a young girl whose fragile mind was tragically fractured due to years of abuse by her unstable mother (JoBeth Williams). The setting is the late 1950s: multiple personality disorder has yet to be recognized as a serious condition by the mainstream medical community, and Dr. Cornelia Wilbur (Jessica Lange) is struggling against the sexist attitudes of her chauvinistic male colleagues. Chief among her arrogant detractors is Dr. Atcheson (Ron White), a highly respected medico who seems to view Dr. Wilbur with little but thinly-veiled contempt. When Dr. Wilbur hypnotizes withdrawn abuse victim Sybil (Blanchard) in an attempt to bring the sixteen distinct personalities possessed by the girl into harmony, the shocking truth about her tormented childhood gradually comes into focus while forming the foundation of the case file that will finally see multiple personality disorder recognized as a legitimate medical condition. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jessica Lange, Tammy Blanchard, (more)
- 2001
Martha Coolidge (Real Genius, Out to Sea) directed this light PBS drama about a rich eccentric who is overly generous with his fortune. Ally McBeal's Peter MacNicol stars as Daniel Ponder, the wealthy man in question, who finds himself charged with murder after his young bride is found dead. Produced in 2001, The Ponder Heart co-stars JoBeth Williams, Angela Bettis, Boyce Holleman, and Star Trek: The Next Generation's Brent Spiner. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide
Two friends get their first taste of adult responsibilities in this made-for-cable comedy-drama. Francesca (Mischa Barton) and Hazel (Ingrid Uribe) are two 12-year-old girls growing up in Percaucus, an economically depressed community that's seen better days. Hazel, who has an avid interest in politics and history, is upset with the slow decay of her hometown; she thinks new leadership would help, and when she discovers the city charter states no age requirement for the office of mayor, she decides to run against Mayor Harrison (Larry Musser), who has held the office for 28 years and is otherwise running unopposed. Meanwhile, Hazel's best friend Francesca loves the ballet, and has studied for years with the avid encouragement of her grandmother Phoebe (Joan Plowright). Phoebe has managed to get Francesca an audition for a scholarship with a prestigious dance academy; however, "Frankie," as her friends call her, also loves baseball, and has battled a sexist coach and dubious teammates to make it onto the local Little League team. Between her heavy schedule of dance practices and rehearsals, and her time with the team, Francesca's schoolwork is starting to suffer, and she realizes something will have to give. Frankie and Hazel was directed by actress-turned-filmmaker JoBeth Williams; it was produced for the Showtime premium cable network. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Joan Plowright, Mischa Barton, (more)
- 2000
Max Hanson (Jonathan Jackson), a popular high school student with considerable artistic and athletic talent, finds himself under pressure from everyone--especially his parents--to focus exclusively on art and to give up ice hockey. The only person who apparently harbors no judgmental attitudes towards Max is a teenage girl named Molly (Carly Pope), with whom he falls in love. Unfortunately, Molly is "into" wild parties and drugs--and before long, so is Max. As he sinks deeper and deeper into the morass of heroin addiction, Max seems to be beyond redemption . . . and far beyond the influence of his caring but domineering mother Sophie (JoBeth Williams). Posing a number of tough questions, but wisely offering no easy answers, the made-for-TV Trapped in a Purple Haze originally aired on April 17, 2000. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jonathan Jackson, JoBeth Williams, (more)
It is hardly an unusual occurrence when the Minneapolis airport is snowed in...even on Christmas eve, stranding thousands of disgruntled tourists. What makes this particular snowbound evening a bit different from others is the identity of two would-be flyers who must wait out the blizzard before they can take off to their respective destinations. Maddie Parker (JoBeth Williams), on the verge of divorcing her briefly unfaithful husband, has arrived at the terminal with sister and daughters, en route to her mother (Dina Merrill)'s house in Chicago. At the same time, Maddie's sportswriter husband, Matt (Michael Ontkean), who plans to visit his dad in Miami, is likewise cooling his heels in the selfsame terminal. Thus thrust together, Maddie and Matt are given ample time to decide if they ought to give their relationship a second chance. Meanwhile, long-married older couple Earl and Ruth Pulmer (Charles Durning and Barbara Barrie), battle-scarred veterans of many a domestic skirmish, benignly stand on the sidelines and kibitz. Although the conclusion of the film is foregone, getting there is half the fun. A Chance of Snow made its cable TV debut via the Lifetime network on December 7, 1998. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- JoBeth Williams, Michael Ontkean, (more)
A handful of friends find their love lives criss-crossing unexpectedly in this comedy set in San Francisco. Adam (Josh Charles) is a struggling artist who makes ends meet by driving a cab. Adam can't stop thinking about his ex-girlfriend Kate (Joanna Going) ever since she left him for Anne (JoBeth Williams), a lesbian art instructor with a knack for seducing other women. Meanwhile, Adam's current flame, Nina (Annabella Sciorra), is fooling around on the side with Kevin (Jon Bon Jovi), a bartender who is also Adam's best friend. Not wanting to limit his options, Kevin also takes an interest in Rebecca (Penelope Ann Miller), a new barmaid he's working with. Rebecca, on the other hand, has been approached by Anne, but while Rebecca is interested, she's new to lesbian love and isn't very comfortable yet with other women (or her own body). Little City was the debut feature film for former TV writer Roberto Benabib. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 1996
This fact-based TV movie stars JoBeth Williams as Pam Willis, a case worker for the Los Angeles Commission on Assaults Against Women. In the course of a standard investigation, Pam comes upon Laura Keyes (Kellie Martin), a 14-year-old deafmute girl who has been locked up since childhood and never taught sign language. Even worse, Laura has endured a lifetime of unspeakable abuse at the hands of her father. Taking Laura under her wing, Pam endeavors to teach the terrified girl how to communicate and function in the "outside" world--and in the process, awakens the soul that has been so long buried within Laura's battered consciousness. This mission turns out to be a desperate race against time when Laura's bestial father begins scouring the slums in search of his "runaway" daughter. Breaking Through debuted December 30, 1996 on ABC. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kellie Martin, JoBeth Williams, (more)
After the Silence concerns a deaf girl who must contend with numerous difficulties in order to make sure her father pays for abusing her. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- JoBeth Williams, Kellie Martin, (more)
- 1994
In this first episode of a two-part story, Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) is swept off his feet by sexy businesswoman Madeleine (JoBeth Williams). So smitten is our hero that he invites Madeleine on a romantic runaway to the isle of Bora Bora. Upon arriving in the tropical paradise, Frasier runs smack dab into his ex-wife, Lilith Sternin (Bebe Neuwirth in her second Cheers appearance). And the worst is still to come -- Art Garfunkel makes a memorable "appearance" as one Frasier's call-in radio listeners. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1994
In the conclusion of a two-part story, Frasier's dreams of a romantic rendezvous in Bora Bora are dashed when he runs smack-dab into his ex-wife, Lilith (Bebe Neuwirth), who is vacationing with her new beau, a seismologist named Brian (James Morrison). In his efforts to one-up his former spouse, Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) succeeds only in convincing everyone on the island -- including his girlfriend Madeleine (JoBeth Williams) -- that he's a few bricks shy of a full load. Upon returning to Seattle, Frasier is desperate to patch things up with Madeleine, but the omnipresent Lilith botches this up as well. It is giving nothing away this late in the game to note that there is a BIG surprise at episode's end -- but it was one of TV's best-kept secrets of 1994. (And listen for the voice of Roz's latest "bad date.") ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
A nurse suffering from multiple-personality syndrome dies, leaving her sister to team up with police to figure out why. At first the sister suspects murder, but further investigation reveals an even more painful truth. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- JoBeth Williams, Corbin Bernsen, (more)
- 1994
Directed by Linda Yellen, this made-for-cable movie originally aired on the Showtime network and featured a star-studded cast including Dudley Moore, Liza Minelli, and James Belushi. The plot centers around several fraternity and sorority graduates who have decided to regroup at their alma mater. Nick (Belushi), a determined but gloomy reporter, attends on the sole hope of finding some good gossip. His highest hope lies within the career ties of his ex-lover Winnie (JoBeth Williams), who now serves as publicist to rising politician Rebecca Ferguson Stone (Patricia Wetig). Fellow alumni Charlie (Ben Gazzara) is returning for equally dishonest reasons--he's hoping to convince his ex Francie (Gena Rowlands) to pay off his gambling debts. Francie, however, has found herself more interested in bonding with a single mom/housekeeper (Ally Sheedy). All of their lives take a turn for the unexpected when the big man on campus mysteriously dies. ~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide
- 1993
Based on actual events, this drama centers on an abused wife who stands accused of murdering her husband. With no one else to help her, she desperately begs her alcoholic brother, a lawyer who has fallen on hard times, to represent her in court. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Brian Dennehy, JoBeth Williams, (more)
- 1993
Can it be true that, a long, long time ago Martin Crane (John Mahoney) cheated on his late wife? That's the conclusion to which Martin's sons, Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) and Niles (David Hyde Pierce), have jumped. The reason? The boys have "caught" Martin in a compromising position with Marilyn Lawlor (Patricia Crowley), an old family friend whom Frasier and Niles have known since they were kids. And as if that wasn't complication enough, a big surprise awaits our two outraged heroes at episode's end. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1993
A group of seven women reunite three times a year to share their experiences with each other in this made-for-cable drama. ~ Kristie Hassen, All Movie Guide
- 1992
This true story tells of the loving adoption of a Down Syndrome boy by a volunteer following the decision of the boy's parents to not allow a life-extending operation. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Chris Burke
In the made-for-television thriller Victim of Love, a psychologist (JoBeth Williams) falls in love with a widowed professor (Pierce Brosnan), who happens to also be having an affair with one of her patients (Virginia Madsen). When Williams discovers that Brosnan is not only the man responsible for her patient's emotional turmoil, but also that he murdered his wife in order to be with Madsen, the therapist is thrown into a world of danger. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Movie Guide
- 1990
In this made-for-TV mystery a troubled psychologist must somehow reach a traumatized 8-year old boy who witnessed a family murder. The trouble is the boy cannot distinguish between reality and fact. According to him, the killer is Captain Hook from Peter Pan. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
My Name Is Bill W reunited the stars of the highly acclaimed 1986 TV movie The Promise: James Garner and James Woods. This time Woods has the bigger role as the real-life Bill Wilson, who comes marching home from World War One with a "little" liquor problem. He drinks steadily throughout the Prohibition Era, but Wilson's habit doesn't catch up with him until he is ruined by the 1929 stock market crash. This disaster propels Wilson into flat-out alcoholism, costing him his family and his reputation. While drying out in detox, Wilson strikes up a friendship with Bob Smith (Garner), an alcoholic doctor. Through Smith's influence, Bill Wilson organizes a small band of chronic drinkers into what will eventually become Alcoholics Anonymous. The formation of AA consumes the emotional final third of My Name Is Bill W, which like its Garner/Woods predecessor The Promise was originally presented as a Hallmark Hall of Fame TV special. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
