Margaret JoBeth Williams (born December 6, 1948) is an Academy Award, Golden Globe, and Emmy nominated American film and television actress and director, and current President of the Screen Actors Guild Foundation. Williams rose to prominence appearing in such films asΒ Stir Crazy (1980), Poltergeist (1982), The Big ChillΒ (1983),Β The Day AfterΒ (1983),Β TeachersΒ (1984), and Poltergeist II: The Other SideΒ (1986). A three-timeΒ Emmy AwardΒ nominee, she was nominated forΒ Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a MovieΒ for her work in the TV movieΒ AdamΒ (1983) and the TV miniseriesΒ Baby MΒ (1988). Her third nomination was for her guest role in the sitcomΒ FrasierΒ (1994). Her directorial debut with the 1994 short filmΒ On HopeΒ earned her anΒ Academy AwardΒ nomination forΒ Best Live Action Short Film. She also starred in the TV seriesΒ The ClientΒ (1995β96), and had recurring roles in the TV seriesΒ DexterΒ (2007) andΒ Private PracticeΒ (2009β11). In 2009 she began serving as president of theΒ Screen Actors Guild Foundation; she is President Emeritus of the foundation. She has also had numerous guest starring roles on TV and has starred in several TV movies.