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. 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 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
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class="unsortable"|Notes
! class="unsortable"|
|-
| 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
| Scientist
|Voice
|
|-
| 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-video
|-
| 2022
| Bel-Air
| Helen
| Episode: "Can't Knock The Hustle"
|
|-
| 2024
|Shrinking
| Phyllis
| Episode: "Honesty Era"
|
|-
|2024
|WondLa
|Ol' Crusty (voice)
|Episode: "Chapter 3: Bargain"
|
|-
! scope="row" |
| Daytime Emmy Award
| Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
| General Hospital
|
|
|}