From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Cara Williams (born June 29, 1925) is an American film and television actress. She is best known for her role as Billy's Mother in The Defiant Ones (1958), for which she was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, and for her role as Gladys Porter on the television series Pete and Gladys, which ran from 1960-1962 and for which she was nominated for the Emmy Award for Best Lead Actress in a Comedy.