Vernee Watson-Johnson
Vernee Watson-Johnson | |
---|---|
Born | Vernee Christell Watson September 28, 1949[1][2][3][4] New York City, U.S. |
Occupations |
|
Years active | 1970–present |
Known for | Vernajean Williams – Welcome Back, Kotter Viola "Vy" Smith – The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air |
Spouse(s) |
Joe Duckett
(m. 1976; div. 1977)Van Johnson
(m. 1979; div. 1991) |
Children | 2 |
Vernee Christell Watson-Johnson (née Watson; born September 28, 1949) is an American actress, author, voice artist, and acting coach. Watson-Johnson is best known for her recurring roles as Vernajean Williams on Welcome Back, Kotter (1975–1979) and as Viola "Vy" Smith on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990–1996), playing the mother of Will Smith's character.[5] She also voiced Dee Dee on Hanna-Barbera's animated series Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels. She also appeared in an NCIS episode (Season 14, Episode 2: "Being Bad").
Early life
Watson-Johnson was born and raised in New York City.[3] She graduated from Cathedral High School and New York University with a major in drama.[3] She began her professional career at age 17 with the Al Fann Theatrical Ensemble in Manhattan and would tour with the group for 5 years.[3]
Career
Watson-Johnson played Blue's love interest in the 1972 film Trick Baby. She was also a regular cast member of the 1985–1986 situation comedy Foley Square as Denise Willums, the secretary for Alex Harrigan, played by the show's star, Margaret Colin. She played a small role on Sister, Sister as Lisa's (Jackée Harry) best friend Patrice, and as the mayor's secretary, Lucille Banks, on Carter Country. She also had a recurring role as "Birdie" on The Young and the Restless. In 2005, she appeared in the film Christmas with the Kranks. In addition, Watson-Johnson has made appearances in episodes of television shows as The Love Boat, Hill Street Blues, Married... with Children, L.A. Law, Suddenly Susan, Dharma & Greg, The X-Files, ER, Days of Our Lives, Malcolm in the Middle, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Desperate Housewives, Ghost Whisperer, Benson, The Big Bang Theory, Good Times, Dexter, Two and a Half Men, Southland, Criminal Minds, A.N.T. Farm, What's Happening!!, Young Sheldon, and several other series.[6]
As a voice actress, she has been tied to Hanna-Barbera Productions and Warner Bros. Animation with roles in shows such as Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels, Laff-A-Lympics, A Pup Named Scooby-Doo, Animaniacs, Batman: The Animated Series, Superman: The Animated Series and Batman Beyond, as well as the feature film The Ant Bully, and several video games related to these productions.[7] From 1991 to 1992, she lent her voice to the show Baby Talk, where she was the voice of baby Danielle (played by Alicia and Celicia Johnson). In 2006, Watson-Johnson had roles in three films: The Ant Bully, The Celestine Prophecy and Garfield: A Tale of Two Kitties.[6] In 2017, Watson-Johnson was cast as Stella Henry on the soap opera General Hospital, aunt of Donnell Turner's character Curtis Ashford.[8][9] She won two Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Special Guest Performer in a Drama Series for the role in 2018 and 2019.[10]
Personal life
Watson-Johnson has been married twice. Her first marriage was to Joe Duckett from 1976 until 1977, and was last married to photographer Van Johnson from 1979 to 1991. Watson-Johnson has a daughter name Sunde Jinia Johnson (b. 1983) and a son named Josh with Johnson.[11] In 2005, Watson-Johnson was a witness in Michael Jackson's second child molestation trial.[12][13]
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
1970 | Cotton Comes to Harlem | Woman | [14][15] | |
1972 | Trick Baby | Cleo Howard | ||
1976 | Norman... Is That You? | Melody | Credited as Vernée Watson | |
1978 | Death Drug | Carolyn Thomas | ||
1981 | All Night Long | Emily | Credited as Vernee Watson | |
1987 | G.I. Joe: The Movie | Scientist (voice) | ||
1991 | Showdown in Little Tokyo | Nonnie Russell - Coroner | ||
1991 | Hell Hath No Fury | Tyleen | TV Movie | |
1993 | Batman: Mask of the Phantasm | Additional Voices | ||
2000 | Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker | Ms. Joyce Carr (voice) | Direct-to-Video | |
2002 | Antwone Fisher | Annette Elkins | ||
2004 | Christmas with the Kranks | Dox | ||
2005 | The Legend of Frosty the Snowman | Mrs. Wader (voice) | Direct-to-Video | |
2006 | The Ant Bully | Head Nurse (voice) | ||
2018 | Home by Spring | Mrs. Wilson | TV Movie | |
2019 | Clemency | Mrs. Collins |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
1975–1976 | Welcome Back, Kotter | Verna Jean Williams | 13 episodes | |
1977 | Scooby's All-Star Laff-A-Lympics | Dee Dee Skyes (voice) | Unknown episode/s | |
1977 | What's Happening!! | Judy Crane | Episode: "Nice Guys Finish Last" | |
1977 | Good Times | Valerie | Episode: "Thelma's African Romance (Part 1)" | |
1977–1979 | Carter Country | Lucille Banks | 44 episodes | |
1977–1980 | Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels | Dee Dee Skyes (voice) | Main | [16] |
1978–1984 | The Love Boat | Various | 4 episodes | |
1979 | The World's Greatest Super Friends | University Scientist (voice) | Episode: "Universe of Evil" | |
1979–1981 | Fantasy Island | Various | 3 episodes | |
1981 | The Jeffersons | Carol | Episode: "I've Still Got It" | |
1985–1986 | Foley Square | Denise Willums | 14 episodes | |
1990–1996 | The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air | Viola "Vy" Smith | 15 episodes | |
1991–1992 | Baby Talk | Baby Danielle Craig (voice) | 20 episodes | |
1993–1994 | Grace Under Fire | Vicki Hudson | 2 Episodes | |
1996–1997 | Sister, Sister | Patrice | 5 episodes | |
1999 | The Young and the Restless | Birdie | 19 episodes | |
2002 | The West Wing | Episode: "Twenty Five" | ||
2002 | The X-Files | Nurse Whitney Edwards | Episode: "Audrey Pauley" | |
2004–2012 | Two and a Half Men | Nurse | 2 episodes | |
2006 | Dexter | Doakes' Mother | Episode: "Return to Sender" | |
2006 | Desperate Housewives | ER Doctor | Episode: "Listen to the Rain on the Roof" | |
2007 | Days of Our Lives | Dr. Ella Kraft | 9 episodes | |
2007–2016 | The Big Bang Theory | Nurse Althea | 6 episodes | |
2009 | Criminal Minds | Miss Hightower | Episode: To Hell... And Back | |
2010 | House | Nurse Smits | 2 episodes | |
2010 | Melissa & Joey | Miss Lunt | Episode: "Pilot" | |
2011 | Good Luck Charlie | Principal Hibbert | Episode: "Teddy's Bear" | |
2011 | Castle | Mercy | Episode: "Demons" | |
2013 | Mr. Box Office | Mrs. Owens | Episode: "Holy Matriphony" | |
2014 | Jessie | Mrs. Harris | Episode: "From the White House to Our House" | |
2015 | Two and a Half Men | Karen | Episode: "Boompa Loved His Hookers" | |
2016 | School of Rock | Mrs. Calpakis | 2 episodes | |
2016 | NCIS | Miss Helen Frimkes | Episode: "Being Bad" | |
2016 | Mike & Molly | Blanche | Episode: "I See Love" | |
2017–present | General Hospital | Stella Henry | Recurring | [8][9] |
2017, 2019 | Young Sheldon | Nurse Robinson | Guest Credited as Vernee Watson 2 episodes |
|
2018 | The Resident | Mary Phillips | Episode: "The Elopement" | |
2019–present | Bob Hearts Abishola | Gloria, a nurse | Main role Credited as Vernee Watson |
[17] |
Video games
Year | Title | Role |
---|---|---|
2003 | True Crime: Streets of LA | Dispatcher |
2004 | Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas | Pedestrian |
2006 | The Ant Bully | Head Nurse |
Awards
Year | Award | Category | Title | Role | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Daytime Emmy Award | Outstanding Guest Performer in a Drama Series | General Hospital | Stella Henry | Won | |
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series | Won |
References
- ^ Company, Johnson Publishing (1982). Jet. Johnson Publishing Company. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
{{cite book}}
:|last1=
has generic name (help) - ^ "Happy Birthday To Vernee Watson!". Soap Opera Digest. 28 September 2018.
- ^ a b c d "TV's Vernee Watson does some theater". The Daily American. 27 August 1979. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
- ^ Bolden, Bonnie (7 January 1977). "Television Actress Claims Raleigh County Roots". Beckley Post-Herald. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
- ^ Fearn-Banks, Kathleen; Burford-Johnson, Anne (October 3, 2014). "Watson, Vernee (1954-)". Historical Dictionary of African American Television. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 502. ISBN 978-0810879171.
- ^ a b "Vernee Watson-Johnson profile". FilmReference.com. Retrieved April 20, 2011.
- ^ "Vernee Watson-Johnson voiceography". Voice Chasers. Retrieved April 20, 2011.
- ^ a b "General Hospital: Comings & Goings". Soaps.com. Retrieved June 7, 2017.
- ^ a b Eades, Chris (June 7, 2017). "Stella on GENERAL HOSPITAL — Meet Vernee Watson!". ABC Soaps In Depth. Retrieved June 7, 2017.
- ^ Ramos, Dino-Ray (April 29, 2018). "Daytime Emmy Awards Complete Winners List: Days Of Our Lives, The Talk, GMA Among Honorees". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
- ^ "Actress Vernee Watson Has First Child, Girl, 6 1/2 Lbs". Jet. 64 (9): 62. May 9, 1983. ISSN 0021-5996.
- ^ "Jackson's Cousin Testifies". The New York Times. May 19, 2005. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
- ^ "Michael Jackson Trial Continues". Life. United States. May 18, 2005. Retrieved April 20, 2011.
- ^ "Cotton Comes to Harlem". Turner Classic Movies. Atlanta. Retrieved June 7, 2017.
- ^ Himes, Chester (August 3, 2011). Cotton comes to Harlem. New York City: Knopf Doubleday. ISBN 978-0307803245.
- ^ "Vernee Watson Johnson". Behind the Voice Actors. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
- ^ "CBS Fall 2019-20 Schedule: Some Diverse Moves For The Most-Watched Network, But Lots Of Familiar Faces". Deadline. May 15, 2019. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
External links
- 1949 births
- Living people
- 20th-century American actresses
- 21st-century American actresses
- Actresses from New York City
- American television actresses
- African-American actresses
- American film actresses
- American voice actresses
- Daytime Emmy Award winners
- Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series winners