Vernee Watson-Johnson
Vernee Watson-Johnson | |
---|---|
Born |
Vernee Christell Watson January 14, 1954[1] Trenton, New Jersey, U.S. |
Nationality | American |
Other names | Vernee Watson-Johnson |
Occupation |
|
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 | 1 |
Vernee Christell Watson-Johnson (born Vernee Christell Watson; January 14, 1954) 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 (1975–79)[2] and as Viola "Vy" Smith on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990–96), playing the mother of Will Smith's character. 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"). “Family Dinner Tonight” American Honda Finance Company Commercial (September 2018)
Career
Watson-Johnson played Blue's love interest in the 1972 film Trick Baby. She was also a regular cast member of the 1985-86 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!! and several other series.[3]
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.[4] 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.[3] In 2017, Watson-Johnson was cast as Stella Henry on the soap opera General Hospital, aunt of Donnell Turner's character Curtis Ashford.[5][6] She won a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Special Guest Performer in a Drama Series for the role in 2018.[7]
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) with Johnson.[8] In 2005, Watson-Johnson was a witness in Michael Jackson's second case of child molestation.[9][10]
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
1970 | Cotton Comes to Harlem | Woman |
|
[11][12] |
1972 | Trick Baby | Cleo Howard | ||
1976 | Norman... Is That You? | Melody | ||
1978 | Death Drug | Carolyn Thomas | ||
1981 | All Night Long | Emily | ||
1991 | Showdown in Little Tokyo | Nonnie Russell - Coroner | ||
2002 | Antwone Fisher | Annette Elkins | ||
2006 | The Ant Bully | Head Nurse (voice) | ||
2018 | Home by Spring | Mrs. Wilson |
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 Sykes (voice) | Unknown episode/s | |
1977–1979 | Carter Country | Lucille Banks | 44 episodes | |
1977–1980 | Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels | Dee Dee Sykes (voice) | Main | [13] |
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 | |
2004 | Two and a Half Men | Nurse | Episode: "Ate the Hamburgers, Wearing the Hats" | |
2006 | Desperate Housewives | Nurse | Episode: “Listen to the rain on the roof” | |
2007–2008, 2010, 2012, 2016 |
The Big Bang Theory | Nurse Althea | 5 episodes Also credited as Vernée Watson |
|
2011 | Good Luck Charlie | Principal Hibbert | Episode: "Teddy's Bear" | |
2013 | Mr. Box Office | Mrs. Owens | Episode: "Holy Matriphony" | |
2015 | Two And A Half Men | Karen | Episode: "Boompa Loved His Hookers" | |
2016 | NCIS | Miss Helen Frimkes | Episode: "Being Bad" | |
2017–present | General Hospital | Stella Henry | Recurring | [5][6] |
2017 | Young Sheldon | Nurse Robinson | Guest Credited as Vernee Watson Episode: "Poker, Faith, and Eggs" |
|
2018 | The Resident | Mary Phillips | Episode: "The Elopement" |
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
References
- ↑ Historical Dictionary of African American Television - Watson, Vernee (1954-) - Kathleen Fearn-Banks, Anne Burford-Johnson
- ↑ The A to Z of African-American Television - Vernee Watson - By Kathleen Fearn-Banks
- 1 2 "Vernee Watson-Johnson profile". FilmReference.com. Retrieved April 20, 2011.
- ↑ "Vernee Watson-Johnson voiceography". Voice Chasers. Retrieved April 20, 2011.
- 1 2 Soaps.com (June 2, 2017). "GENERAL HOSPITAL COMINGS & GOINGS". Soaps.com. United States: SheKnows Media. Retrieved June 7, 2017.
- 1 2 Eades, Chris (June 7, 2017). "Who Plays Curtis' Aunt Stella on GENERAL HOSPITAL? — Meet Vernee Watson!". ABC Soaps In Depth. United States: Bauer Publications. Retrieved June 7, 2017.
- 1 2 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.
- ↑ JET Magazine - Actress Vernee Watson Has First Child, Girl, 6 1/2 Lbs. - May 9, 1983
- ↑ "Witness Testimony: 5/18: Actress Vernee Watson Johnson". CBS News. New York City: CBS. Retrieved April 20, 2011.
- ↑ "Michael Jackson Trial Continues". Life. United States: Time Inc. May 18, 2005. Retrieved April 20, 2011.
- ↑ "Cotton Comes to Harlem". Turner Classic Movies. Atlanta: Turner Broadcasting System (Time Warner). Retrieved June 7, 2017.
- ↑ Himes, Chester (1966). Cotton comes to Harlem. New York City: Dell Publishing. ASIN B0007EYQFO.
- ↑ http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Vernee-Watson-Johnson/