Vernee Watson is an actress who's best known for her recurring roles as Vernajean Williams on Welcome Back, Kotter and as Will Smith's mother Viola "Vy" Smith on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. She joined the cast of General Hospital in the role of Curtis Ashford's aunt, Stella Henry, in 2017. In a modern turn of events, Watson won a Daytime Emmy Award in the Outstanding Guest Performer category in 2018 and then won for the same character in the Outstanding Supporting Actress category in 2019.
Born in the New York City area on January 14, 1954, Watson graduated from Cathedral High School and studied math and then drama at New York University. She never finished her degree, deciding instead to focus on her budding acting career, which at that time consisted mainly of commercial work. However, Watson was able to get her SAG card at the tender age of 17 for speaking just one line in the 1970 film Cotton Comes to Harlem. That same year, she joined the Al Fann Theatrical Ensemble in Manhattan and toured with the group for five years.
Watson has appeared in almost every major television series over the course of the past five decades. Some of her earliest television work includes series like Room 222, The Corner Bar, and That's My Mama. After starring on Welcome Back, Kotter from 1975 to 1976, she went on to appear in series like Carter Country, Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels, Fantasy Island, The Love Boat, Foley Square, Sister, Sister, and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Some of her most recent primetime television credits include Two and Half Men and The Big Bang Theory.
With such a long resume, it's no surprise that Watson's Emmy-winning GH stint isn't her first foray into the world of soap operas. She appeared as a nurse on GH in 2013, and she also briefly played the role of Birdie on The Young and the Restless in 1999 and the role of Dr. Ella Kraft on Days of our Lives in 2007.
Watson has a daughter name Sunde Jinia Johnson, whom she shares with her ex-husband, photographer Van Johnson.
General Hospital
Stella Henry
June 7, 2017 to Present
Young Sheldon
Nurse Robinson
2017-2019
Rel
Dr. Roberts
2019
Superstore
Lillian
2018
Home by Spring (TV Movie)
Mrs. Wilson
2018
The Resident
Mary Phillips
2018
Grace and Frankie
Doreen
2017
The Big Bang Theory
Althea
2006-2016
NCIS
Miss Helen Frimkes
2016
School of Rock
Mrs. Calpakis
2016
Archer
Cop
2016
The Odd Couple
Frannie
2016
Mike & Molly
Blanche
2016
The Middle
Cashier
2016
Rush Hour
Grandma
2016
How Not to Propose (TV Movie)
Patty
2015
Fresh Off the Boat
Mrs. Parker
2015
Two and a Half Men
Karen/Nurse Lorna/Nurse Phyllis
2004-2015
The Exes
Wendy
2014
Selfie
Denise
2014
Key and Peele
Johnson Family Member
2014
Jessie
Mrs. Harris
2014
Love That Girl!
Ms. Spencer
2014
Teen Wolf
Eichen House Attendant
2014
Ironside
Lilliam Wade
2013
Mr. Box Office
Mrs. Owens
2013
Suide Up
Coach Jan Bigsby
2013
Suburgatory
Fatima
2013
A.N.T. Farm
Grammy
2013
Animal Practice
Evelyn
2012
Ben and Kate
Gladys
2012
Reed Between the Lines
Valencia
2011
Castle
Mercy LaGrande/Mercedes King
2011
The Mentalist
Psychiatrist
2011
Good Luck Charlie
Principal Hibbert
2011
House
Nurse Smits
2010
Melissa & Joey
Ms. Lunt
2010
Raising the Bar
Judge Edith Washington
2009
Applause for Miss E (TV Movie)
Charlene
2009
Criminal Minds
Maxine Hightower
2009
Southland
Mrs. Johnson
2009
Good Behavior (TV Movie)
Judge Wales
2008
Cold Case
Belinda Hutchins
2008
Shark
Judge Miriam Keller
2008
Without a Trace
Eye Witness
2008
The Boondocks
Lorna Ray Freeman
2007
Days of our Lives
Dr. Ella Kraft
2007
Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip
Zelda
2006-2007
Eyes
Anna Santiago
2007
Ghost Whisperer
Traci Cotter
2006
Dexter
Doakes' Mother
2006
Desperate Housewives
ER Doctor
2006
Close to Home
Judge Tibbs
2005
Eve
Laverna
2005
The Bernie Mac Show
Aunt Sis
2005
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
Manager
2005
Jack & Bobby
Vera Vaughn
2004
Soul Food
Cassandra DeLeon
2004
JAG
Mrs. Drabowski/Annette Dunwoody
1999-2004
The Lyon's Den
Judge Julie Willard
2003
The West Wing
Nurse
2003
Malcolm in the Middle
Gloria
2003
Static Shock
Mrs. Watkins
2001-2003
Judging Amy
Lorraine Edwards
2003
Hidden Hills
Zack's Mom
2003
MDs
ER Admit Clerk
2002
Presidio Med
Mrs. Redmond
2002
The X-Files
Nurse Whitney Edwards
2002
The Guardian
Ella Kurtz
2002
NYPD Blue
Loretta Murray
2001
ER
April Wilson
2001
That's Life
Judge
2001
The District
Mrs. Lenora Simms
2001
Andy Day Now
2001
Dharma & Greg
Ms. Valko
2001
Chicken Soup for the Soul
Mrs. Nelsen
2000
Profiler
Internal Affairs Agent/Linda Anderson
1996-2000
Batman Beyond
Lorraine Tate
1999-2000
The Young and the Restless
Birdie
1999
Martial Law
Lynn Davis
1998
The Steve Harvey Show
Dr. Glenda Burke
1998
Superman
Female Neighbor/Councilwoman
1996-1997
Suddenly Susan
Karen
1997
Sister, Sister
Patrice
1996-1997
Animaniacs
Mrs. Jenny/Oprah Winfrey/Robin
1994-1996
Superman: The Last Son of Krypton (TV Movie)
Female Worker/Councilwoman
1996
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Viola "Vy" Smith
1990-1995
Captain Planet and the Planeteers
Judge
1995
Party of Five
Officer Windlan
1995
CBS Schoolbreak Special
Mrs. Black
1995
Last Days of Russell (TV Movie)
Darlene
1994
Me and the Boys
Mrs. Kitchim
1994
Grace Under Fire
Vicki Hudson
1993-1994
Roc
Angela Burke
1993
Batman: The Animated Series
Dana Blessing/Doctor
1993
Baby Talk
Danielle Craig
1991-1992
Diagnosis Murder: The House on Sycamore Street (TV Movie)
Esther Wiggins
1992
Empty Nest
Jill
1992
Diagnosis Murder: Diagnosis of Murder (TV Movie)
Esther Wiggins
1992
Hell Hath No Fury (TV Movie)
Tyleen
1991
Close Encounters (TV Movie)
1990
Over My Dead Body
Doris
1990
L.A. Law
Wilma Russ
1990
Just Life (TV Movie)
1990
Married With Children
Renee
1989
The Robert Guillaume Show
Angela
1989
The Munsters Today
Miss Foster
1989
Murphy Brown
Secretary #17
1989
TV 1010
Mrs. Hiekkila
1989
A Pup Named Scooby-Doo
Selma
1988
A Different World
Carla Meyers
1988
Mr. Belvedere
Carnival Worker
1988
Foley Square
Denise Williums
1985-1986
Hill Street Blues
Ruby Brown
1985
Benson
Elaine, Benson's Sister
1984
Punky Brewster
Receptionist
1984
The Love Boat
Lydia Somers/Alita Daniels/Ellen Gerner
1978-1984
London and Davis in New York (TV Movie)
Frances Meyers
1984
The New Scooby and Scrappy-Doo Show
1983
Chicago Story
Denise
1982
American Playhouse
Secretary
1982
Fantasy Island
Carrie Wilson/Rochelle McKenzie/Andrea
1979-1981
The Jeffersons
Carol
1981
The Violation of Sarah McDavid (TV Movie)
Kip Leslie
1981
Eight Is Enough
Jackie Calhoun
1980
Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels
Dee Dee Skyes
1977-1980
Vega$
Annabel Nelson/Dorothy
1979-1980
The World's Greatest SuperFriends
University Scientist
1979
Carter Country
Lucille Banks
1977-1979
Love's Savage Fury (TV Movie)
Jewel
1979
Scooby's Laff-A Lympics
Dee Dee Sykes
1977
What's Happening!!
Judy Crane
1977
Good Times
Valerie
1977
Green Eyes (TV Movie)
Rosalie Dubeck
1977
Welcome Back, Kotter
Vernajean Williams
1975-1976
The Boy in the Plastic Bubble (TV Movie)
Gwen
1976
That's My Mama
Thelma
1975
The Corner Bar
Angel
1972
Room 222
1970
The Mandela Effect
Nadine
Clemency
Mrs. Collins
2019
A Man Called Jon
Helen Black
2015
Beyond the Heavens
Chief Ruth Hauck
2013
Highland Park
May
2013
Nocturnal Agony
Lois
2011
Life of Lemon
Kathy
2011
The Nation
Ella
2009
The Ant Bully
Head Nurse
2006
Garfield 2
Tourist #2
2006
The TV Set
Barbara
2006
The Celestine Prophecy
Principal
2006
Legend of Frosty the Snowman
Mrs. Wader
2005
Christmas with the Kranks
Dox
2004
Admissions
Stanford Interviewer
2004
Baby of the Family
Sarah's Mother
2002
Antwone Fisher
Aunt Annette
2002
Home Room
Duty Nurse
2002
No Turning Back
Detective Bryan
2001
Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker
Ms. Carr
2000
The Kid
Newsstand Cashier
2000
Angie
ICU Desk Nurse
1994
Batman: Mask of the Phantasm
Voices
1993
Showdown in Little Tokyo
Nonnie Russell -- Coroner
1991
Caged Fear
Y-Vonne
1991
G.I. Joe: The Movie
Scientist
1987
All Night Long
Emily
1981
Death Drug
Carolyn
1978
Norman… Is That You?
Melody
1976
Trick Baby
Cleo Howard
1972
Cotton Comes to Harlem
Woman
1970
Daytime Emmys Winner, Outstanding Supporting Actress (2019; for General Hospital)
Daytime Emmys Winner, Outstanding Guest Performer (2018; for General Hospital)
Daytime Emmys Nominee, Outstanding Supporting Actress (2019; for General Hospital)
Daytime Emmys Nominee, Outstanding Guest Performer (2018; for General Hospital)
Daytime Emmys Pre-nominee, Outstanding Supporting Actress (2019; for General Hospital)
![B&B's Denise Richards "surprised" by Shauna's fate](/bb/recaps/2020/images/201030_sm.jpg "B&B's Denise Richards "surprised" by Shauna's fate")
![Tamara Braun discusses her return as DAYS' Ava, hopes the mob princess has more "levels"](/days/recaps/2020/images/201113_sm.jpg "Tamara Braun discusses her return as DAYS' Ava, hopes the mob princess has more "levels"")
