Classic TV Icon Vernee Watson: A Look Back at Her Life and Career

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Vernee Watson is best known for her recurring classic TV roles as Vernajean Williams on Welcome Back, Kotter, and Viola “Vy” Smith on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. More recently, she's played Tyler, the head nurse, on Bob Hearts Abishola.

A Closer Look

Vernee Christell Watson was born on September 28, 1949, 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 has made countless TV and movie appearances, including shows like Carter Country, Hill Street Blues, L.A. Law, Suddenly Susan, The X-Files, Days of Our Lives, Malcolm in the Middle, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Desperate Housewives, Ghost Whisperer, Benson, The Big Bang Theory, among others.

Her feature films have included Christmas with the Kranks.

That Voice

Vernee Watson's voiceover work is legendary in TV commercials and beyond. Her voice has been heard on animated TV shows like 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 Ant Bully, and several video games related to these productions.

Watson also lent her voice to the show Baby Talk, where she was the voice of baby Danielle and so much more.

Besides her soap opera appearance on Days of Our Lives, Watson was cast as Stella Henry in General Hospital. She won two Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Special Guest Performer in a Drama Series.

Personally Speaking

Vernee Watson has been married and divorced twice and has two children.