Vernee Christell Watson-Johnson (née Watson; born September 28, 1949)
is an American actress, author, voice artist, and acting coach.
Watson-Johnson is best known for her recurring roles as Vernajean
Williams on Welcome Back, Kotter (1975â€"1979) and as Viola "Vy" Smith
on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990â€"1996), playing the mother of
Will Smith's character. She also voiced Dee Dee on Hanna-Barbera's
animated series Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels. She also appeared
in an NCIS episode (Season 14, Episode 2: "Being Bad").Watson-Johnson
was born and raised in New York City. 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 5 years.Watson-Johnson
played Blue's love interest in the 1972 film Trick Baby. She was also
a regular cast member of the 1985â€"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, and several other series.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 the soap opera 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.
is an American actress, author, voice artist, and acting coach.
Watson-Johnson is best known for her recurring roles as Vernajean
Williams on Welcome Back, Kotter (1975â€"1979) and as Viola "Vy" Smith
on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990â€"1996), playing the mother of
Will Smith's character. She also voiced Dee Dee on Hanna-Barbera's
animated series Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels. She also appeared
in an NCIS episode (Season 14, Episode 2: "Being Bad").Watson-Johnson
was born and raised in New York City. 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 5 years.Watson-Johnson
played Blue's love interest in the 1972 film Trick Baby. She was also
a regular cast member of the 1985â€"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, and several other series.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 the soap opera 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.
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