Vernee Watson

At A Glance

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.

Acting Portfolio: TELEVISION

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

Acting Portfolio: FILM

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

Awards & Acclaim

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)

Vital Statistics

PLACE OF BIRTH: Trenton, New Jersey

DATE OF BIRTH: January 14, 1954

News Archives

News Archive: Vernee Watson dishes on her GH gig [May 11, 2019]

News Archive: 2018 Daytime Emmys: General Hospital's Vernee Watson wins Guest Performer Emmy [Apr 29, 2018]

News Archive: 2019 Daytime Emmys: General Hospital's Max Gail and Vernee Watson sweep Supporting categories [May 5, 2019]

News Archive: Vernee Watson back to General Hospital [Sep 2, 2020]

Related Information

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Who's Who: Read a biography of Stella Henry.

More Biographies: Read up on dozens of other past and present GH stars.

Archived News: Review more past GH news headlines.

News and More: Return to Soap Central's GH FrontPage.