80s actress who starred in horror classic breaks cover for rare Beverly Hills outing… can you guess who?

by

An actress famous for a horror film from the 1980s was spotted out in Beverly Hills last week, making a rare public appearance.

The 77-year-old actress started her entertainment career in the mid-1970s with small parts in TV shows.

Throughout her career, she’s shared the screen with many famous actors, such as Dustin Hoffman, Meryl Streep, Glenn Close, and Gene Wilder.

The actress has also received praise and awards, including an Oscar and an Emmy nomination.

The actor is married to a film director known for movies like “The Santa Clause” (1994) and “Miss Congeniality 2” (2005).

Can you guess who it is? 

JoBeth Williams is the actress best known for her role as Diane Freeling in the 1982 horror film, Poltergeist.

The actress dressed casually for her recent outing, pairing a black button-down shirt with a simple black tee underneath.

She additionally opted for a pair of dark brown sweatpants and comfy sneakers. 

The actress wore her hair shorter, styled with a middle part and soft waves that fell to her shoulders.

Williams finished her look with black-rimmed sunglasses and a black Yves Saint Laurent purse.

Born in Houston, Texas, in December 1948, the actress discovered her passion for acting as a teen and started performing in local theater.

She earned a Bachelor’s degree in English from Brown University and received training at the Trinity Repertory Company.

She began her professional acting career with a guest appearance on the 1984 episode of Great Performances.

In 1976, Williams made guest appearances on the NBC soap operas Somerset and Guiding Light.

She first started becoming well-known after appearing in the 1979 legal drama Kramer vs. Kramer, alongside Dustin Hoffman and Meryl Streep.

The project was a hit with both critics and audiences, and it even won the Academy Award for Best Picture.

Williams kept acting in films, including the popular 1980 comedy Stir Crazy, which starred Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor.

Two years after that, the actress landed a starring role in the scary movie Poltergeist, acting with Craig T. Nelson.

The film was directed by Tobe Hooper while the screenplay was co-written by Steven Spielberg. 

Poltergeist was a big hit in theaters, earning about $121 million despite costing only $10.7 million to make. It was also recognized by the Academy Awards with three nominations, one of which was for its impressive visual effects.

Williams portrayed the character of Diane’s mother in the film and had previously described the filming process as very difficult.

She told Variety in 2019 that filming was incredibly physically demanding. The director, Tobe Hooper, would often ask them to scream intensely when a scene required them to appear truly distressed.

We wondered what we were even shouting about, and he admitted they hadn’t quite figured that out yet either.

Williams said he felt like everyone involved performed well and that, ultimately, the movie turned out great.

The actress previously told Vanity Fair about how involved Spielberg was with the movie.

Williams said that deep down, he believes the person really wanted to direct the project, and was consistently involved throughout the process.

She explained that Hooper was very attentive to Steven’s suggestions, acknowledging that the film was ultimately Steven’s vision.

I’m certain Tobe sometimes found Steven’s constant involvement frustrating, but he never showed it.

The actor explained that Tobe usually led the way, but Steven often contributed his own ideas or offered alternative suggestions. Ultimately, it was a collaborative effort between the two, as Steven was very engaged in the process.

In 1986, Williams reprised her role of Diane in the sequel Poltergeist II: The Other Side. 

In the 1980s, she appeared in several films, including “The Big Chill” (1983), “Teachers” (1984), and “Welcome Home” (1989).

She received an Emmy nomination for her role in the 1983 TV movie, Adam, and was nominated again for the 1988 TV miniseries, Baby M.

She continued acting throughout the 1990s, appearing in movies like Wyatt Earp (1994) and Jungle 2 Jungle (1997).

She appeared in episodes of shows including Frasier as well as The Client. 

Throughout the 2000s, Williams appeared in guest roles on popular TV shows like Law & Order: SVU, Criminal Minds, Dexter, Private Practice, NCIS, Hart of Dixie, and The Good Doctor.

Her most recent credit was in the 2025 survival thriller titled Not Without Hope with Zachary Levi. 

Naomi Williams isn’t just an actress; she’s also a director. She directed the short film On Hope in 1994, which earned her an Academy Award nomination.

The actress married director John Pasquin in 1982, and they have two children together.

As someone who’s been following the entertainment industry for years, I’ve always admired the work of Pasquin. He’s a really versatile director – you might recognize his name from family favorites like The Santa Clause and Jungle 2 Jungle. He’s also directed episodes of popular shows like Growing Pains and, more recently, Last Man Standing. He’s definitely a pro at bringing a smile to your face!

Read More

2026-04-25 17:35