Vernee Christell Watson (born September 28, 1949) is an American actress, author, and acting coach. Watson-Johnson is known for her recurring roles as Vernajean Williams on Welcome Back, Kotter (1975–1979), as Viola "Vy" Smith on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990–1996), playing the mother of Will Smith's character, and head nurse Gloria Tyler on Bob Hearts Abishola (2019–2024). She is often featured in guest or recurring roles as a nurse. Since 2017 she has played Stella Henry on General Hospital.
Early life Vernee Christell Watson was born in New York City, where she was also raised. She graduated from Cathedral High School and New York University with a major in drama. She began her professional career at age 17 with the Al Fann Theatrical Ensemble in Manhattan and would tour with the group for five years.
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, Jessie, Mike and Molly, and several other series.
Watson-Johnson has additionally appeared in several TV commercials for various national brands, including McDonald's, Polaroid, Kellogg's, Pillsbury, Lysol, Taco Bell, IBM, Procter & Gamble, and Walmart.
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. 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. In 2017, Watson-Johnson was cast as Stella Henry on General Hospital, aunt of Donnell Turner's character Curtis Ashford. She won two Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Special Guest Performer in a Drama Series for the role in 2018 and 2019.
She guest starred as Helen on Peacock's dramatic Fresh Prince reimagining Bel-Air in its ninth episode. She plays Gabby’s (Jessica Williams) mother on the Apple TV+ show Shrinking.
Personal life Watson-Johnson has been married twice. Her first marriage was to Joe Duckett from 1976 until 1977, and she was last married to photographer Van Johnson from 1979 to 1991. Watson-Johnson has a daughter named Sunde Jinia Johnson (b. 1983) and a son named Josh (b. 1987) with Johnson. In 2005, Watson-Johnson was a witness in Michael Jackson's child molestation trial.
Filmography Film Year Title RoleNotes 1970 Cotton Comes to Harlem Woman 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 ScientistVoice 1991 Showdown in Little Tokyo Nonnie Russell – Coroner 1993 Batman: Mask of the Phantasm Additional voices 2000 Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker 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-video2006 The Ant Bully Head Nurse (voice) Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties Tourist #2 Credited as Vernée Watson Johnson 2019 Clemency Mrs. Collins 2019 The Mandela Effect Nadine2025Attack of the Killer Tomatoes: Organic Intelligence
Television Year Title RoleNotes 1975 That's My Mama! Thelma Episode: "That's Earl, Brother" 1975–1976 Welcome Back, Kotter Verna Jean Williams 13 episodes 1977–1978 Scooby's All-Star Laff-A-Lympics Dee Dee Skyes (voice) Main role 1977 What's Happening!! Judy Crane Episode: "Nice Guys Finish Last" 1977 Good Times Valerie 2 episodes 1977–1979 Carter Country Lucille Banks 44 episodes 1977–1980 Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels Dee Dee Skyes (voice) Main role 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" 1984 Benson Elaine 2 episodes 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 Danielle Craig (voice) 20 episodes 1991 Hell Hath No Fury Tyleen Television film 1993 Batman: The Animated Series Dana Blessing, Doctor (voice) 2 episodes 1993–1994 Grace Under Fire Vicki Hudson 2 episodes 1994–1996 Animaniacs Mrs. Jenny, Robin (voice) 2 episodes 1996 Superman: The Animated Series Female Neighbor, Female Worker (voice) 2 episodes 1996–1997 Sister, Sister Patrice 5 episodes 1999 The Young and the Restless Birdie Recurring role, 19 episodes 1999–2000 Batman Beyond Lorraine Tate (voice) 2 episodes 2001–2003Static Shock Mrs. Watkins (voice) 2 episodes 2002 The West Wing Nurse Episode: "Twenty Five" 2002 The X-Files Nurse Whitney Edwards Episode: "Audrey Pauley" 2004, 2011, 2012 Two and a Half Men Nurse 3 episodes 2005The Bernie Mac Show Aunt Sis Episode: "Who Gives This Bride" 2006 Dexter Doakes's Mother Episode: "Return to Sender" 2006 Desperate Housewives ER Doctor Episode: "Listen to the Rain on the Roof" 2006 Ghost Whisperer Traci Cotter Episode: "Giving up the Ghost" 2007 Days of Our Lives Dr. Ella Kraft 9 episodes 2007–2016 The Big Bang Theory Nurse Althea 6 episodes 2009Criminal 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" 2011Castle Mercy Episode: "Demons" 2013 Mr. Box Office Mrs. Owens Episode: "Holy Matriphony" 2013 A.N.T Farm Granny Episode: "early retiremANT" 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 role 2017–2019 Young Sheldon Nurse Robinson 2 episodes; credited as Vernee Watson2018SuperstoreLilianEpisode: "Delivery Day"2018 The Resident Mary PhillipsEpisode: "The Elopement" 2018 Home by Spring Mrs. Wilson Television film 2019–2024 Bob Hearts Abishola Gloria Tyler Main role, credited as Vernee Watson 2022 Bel-Air Helen Episode: "Can't Knock The Hustle" 2024Shrinking Phyllis Episode: "Honesty Era" 2024WondLaOl' Crusty (voice)Episode: "Chapter 3: Bargain"2025MatlockCeleste Carlisleseason 2 episode 7 "Prior Bad Acts"2026The Four SeasonsBeverly2 episodes; credited as Vernee Watson
Video games Year TitleRole 2003 True Crime: Streets of LA Dispatcher 2004 Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Pedestrian 2006 The Ant Bully Head Nurse 2020 Mafia: Definitive Edition Additional voices
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Title Result Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Guest Performer in a Drama Series General Hospital Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series General Hospital
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