Vernee Watson-Johnson facts for kids

Vernee Watson-Johnson, born Vernee Christell Watson on September 28, 1949, is an American actress, writer, and acting coach. She is well-known for her roles in popular TV shows.

She played Vernajean Williams in Welcome Back, Kotter from 1975 to 1979. Later, she became famous as Viola "Vy" Smith, the mother of Will Smith's character, in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990–1996). She also played head nurse Gloria Tyler in Bob Hearts Abishola (2019–2024). Since 2017, she has been playing Stella Henry on General Hospital. Vernee often appears as a nurse in her guest or recurring roles.

Early Life and Education

Vernee Watson-Johnson was born and grew up in New York City. She went to Cathedral High School. She then studied drama at New York University.

When she was 17, Vernee began her acting career. She joined a theater group called the Al Fann Theatrical Ensemble in Manhattan. She toured with this group for five years, gaining valuable experience.

Acting Career Highlights

Vernee Watson-Johnson has had a long and successful career in both movies and television.

Early Roles and TV Appearances

In 1972, Vernee played Blue's love interest in the movie Trick Baby. She was also a regular cast member on the TV show Foley Square from 1985 to 1986. On that show, she played Denise Willums, a secretary.

She had a small role on Sister, Sister as Patrice. She also played Lucille Banks, the mayor's secretary, on Carter Country. Vernee had a recurring role as "Birdie" on The Young and the Restless.

Vernee has appeared in many other popular TV shows over the years. These include The Love Boat, Married... with Children, ER, Malcolm in the Middle, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Desperate Housewives, The Big Bang Theory, Two and a Half Men, Criminal Minds, Young Sheldon, and Jessie.

Voice Acting and Commercials

Beyond live-action roles, Vernee Watson-Johnson is also a talented voice actress. She has worked with famous animation studios like Hanna-Barbera Productions and Warner Bros. Animation.

Her voice roles include Dee Dee Skyes in Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels and characters in A Pup Named Scooby-Doo, Animaniacs, Batman: The Animated Series, and Superman: The Animated Series. She also lent her voice to the animated movie The Ant Bully. From 1991 to 1992, she was the voice of baby Danielle in the show Baby Talk.

Vernee has also appeared in many TV commercials for well-known brands. These include McDonald's, Kellogg's, Pillsbury, and Walmart.

Recent Work and Awards

In 2017, Vernee Watson-Johnson joined the cast of General Hospital as Stella Henry. For this role, she won two Daytime Emmy Awards. She won in 2018 and again in 2019 for being an outstanding guest performer in a drama series.

More recently, she guest-starred as Helen in the show Bel-Air, which is a new version of The Fresh Prince. She also plays Gabby’s mother, Phyllis, on the Apple TV+ show Shrinking.

Personal Life

Vernee Watson-Johnson has been married twice. Her first marriage was to Joe Duckett from 1976 to 1977. She was later married to photographer Van Johnson from 1979 to 1991.

Vernee has two children with Van Johnson: a daughter named Sunde Jinia Johnson, born in 1983, and a son named Josh, born in 1987.

Filmography

Movies

• 1970: Cotton Comes to Harlem as Woman
• 1972: Trick Baby as Cleo Howard
• 1976: Norman... Is That You? as Melody
• 1981: All Night Long as Emily
• 1987: G.I. Joe: The Movie as Scientist (Voice)
• 1991: Showdown in Little Tokyo as Nonnie Russell – Coroner
• 1993: Batman: Mask of the Phantasm as Additional voices
• 2000: Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker as Joyce Carr (Voice, direct-to-video)
• 2002: Antwone Fisher as Annette Elkins
• 2004: Christmas with the Kranks as Dox
• 2005: The Legend of Frosty the Snowman as Mrs. Wader (Voice, direct-to-video)
• 2006: The Ant Bully as Head Nurse (Voice)
• 2006: Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties as Tourist #2
• 2019: Clemency as Mrs. Collins
• 2019: The Mandela Effect as Nadine

Television Shows

• 1975: That's My Mama! as Thelma (1 episode)
• 1975–1976: Welcome Back, Kotter as Verna Jean Williams (13 episodes)
• 1977: What's Happening!! as Judy Crane (Episode: "Nice Guys Finish Last")
• 1977: Good Times as Valerie (2 episodes)
• 1977–1979: Carter Country as Lucille Banks (44 episodes)
• 1977–1980: Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels as Dee Dee Skyes (Voice, main role)
• 1978–1984: The Love Boat as various characters (4 episodes)
• 1979–1981: Fantasy Island as various characters (3 episodes)
• 1981: The Jeffersons as Carol (Episode: "I've Still Got It")
• 1984: Benson as Elaine (2 episodes)
• 1985–1986: Foley Square as Denise Willums (14 episodes)
• 1990–1996: The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air as Viola "Vy" Smith (15 episodes)
• 1991–1992: Baby Talk as Danielle Craig (Voice, 20 episodes)
• 1993: Batman: The Animated Series as Dana Blessing / Doctor (Voice, 2 episodes)
• 1994–1996: Animaniacs as Mrs. Jenny / Robin (Voice, 2 episodes)
• 1996–1997: Sister, Sister as Patrice (5 episodes)
• 1999: The Young and the Restless as Birdie (19 episodes)
• 2002: The X-Files as Nurse Whitney Edwards (Episode: "Audrey Pauley")
• 2004, 2011, 2012, 2015: Two and a Half Men as Nurse / Karen (4 episodes)
• 2006: Dexter as Doakes's Mother (Episode: "Return to Sender")
• 2006: Desperate Housewives as ER Doctor (Episode: "Listen to the Rain on the Roof")
• 2007–2016: The Big Bang Theory as Nurse Althea (6 episodes)
• 2009: Criminal Minds as Miss Hightower (Episode: "To Hell... And Back")
• 2010: House as Nurse Smits (2 episodes)
• 2011: Good Luck Charlie as Principal Hibbert (Episode: "Teddy's Bear")
• 2013: A.N.T Farm as Granny (Episode: "early retiremANT")
• 2014: Jessie as Mrs. Harris (Episode: "From the White House to Our House")
• 2016: NCIS as Miss Helen Frimkes (Episode: "Being Bad")
• 2016: Mike & Molly as Blanche (Episode: "I See Love")
• 2017–present: General Hospital as Stella Henry (Recurring role)
• 2017–2019: Young Sheldon as Nurse Robinson (2 episodes)
• 2019–2024: Bob Hearts Abishola as Gloria Tyler, nurse (Main role)
• 2022: Bel-Air as Helen (Episode: "Can't Knock The Hustle")
• 2024: Shrinking as Phyllis (Episode: "Honesty Era")

Video Games

• 2003: True Crime: Streets of LA as Dispatcher
• 2004: Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas as Pedestrian
• 2006: The Ant Bully as Head Nurse
• 2020: Mafia: Definitive Edition as Additional voices

Awards

Vernee Watson-Johnson has won several awards for her acting.

• 2018: Outstanding Guest Performer in a Drama Series for General Hospital (Won)
• 2019: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for General Hospital (Won)