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Vernee Watson guest stars on Bel-Air

The General Hospital actress remains busy and also has a role on Bob Hearts Abishola.

By Cheryl E PrestonPublished 2 years ago 3 min read
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Vernee Watson is a constant presence on television.

Actress Vernee Watson is living an actor’s dream. She has remained relevant and continued her craft since starting in the theater for a five-year run at age 17. Many aging entertainers are remembered for decades-old past roles but Watson has continued with multiple memorable roles through the years.

Vernee has been gracing television and movie screens for 6 decades and is widely known for her recurring roles as Vernajean Williams on Welcome Back, Kotter on ABC (1975-1979) and as Viola "Vy" Smith the mother of Will Smith's character Will on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air on NBC (1991-1996). She also portrayed different nurses in various episodes of Two and a Half Men on ABC and was a nurse named Althea on the CBS sitcom The Bog Bang Theory.

Vernee Watson: The early years

Watson’s career began in 1970 with a bit role in the film Cotton Comes to Harlem and she portrayed the character Blue's ( Mel Stewart) love interest in the 1972 Blaxploitation film Trick Baby. She was also a regular cast member of the 1985–1986 sit-com Foley Square as Denise Williams, the secretary for Alex Harrigan, ( Margaret Colin).

Watson appeared on Sister Sister as Lisa's (Jackée Harry) best friend Patrice, and she was the mayor's secretary, Lucille Banks, on Carter Country. She was in the Holiday film Christmas with Kranks and soap fans may recall she also had a recurring role on the CBS daytime drama The Young and the Restless as Birdie.

Vernee Watson does double and triple duty

The actress currently simultaneously has roles as Stella Henry on the ABC soap General Hospital and Gloria Taylor on the CBS sitcom Bob Hearts Abishola). Watson can be seen in several recent television commercials and she also guest-starred on Bel-Air which is currently streaming on Peacock.

The original Fresh Prince was lighthearted. humorous and fun and the actors who portrayed the characters were beloved and are recognized and thought of warmly to this day. The reboot is gritty. dramatic, and tackling more serious subject matter. On Bel-Air, Watson reunited with another Fresh Prince alum Daphne Maxwell Reid who took over the role of Aunt Vivian Banks after Janet Huber left the hit series.

The two women were sisters on The Fresh Prince but on Bel-Air they portrayed “Helen and “Janice,” who are members of the Art Council Board. The actresses appeared in episode 109 of the reboot which was available for streaming on March 24th on Peacock. Nothing has been said about Hubert possibly guest starring on the show but she and Watson were together on General Hospital where Janet was briefly in the role of Yvonne Godfrey who married Mike Corbin ( Max Gail) and both characters suffered from dementia.

Vernee Watson keeps moving forward

In 2005 the actress testified for the defense during Michael Jackson.s trial. Watson had been asked help raise money for Gavin Arvizo but says she refused because she felt the mother of the cancer-stricken boy would take the money. Watson is also a director and has been nominated for and won two Daytime Emmy Awards for her General Hospital character.

The first was in 2018 for Outstanding Guest Performer in a Drama and the second was for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama in 2019. There are rumbling that Watson and Reid may continue to guest star on Bel-Air but nothing has been said at this point as to whether or not Hubert the original Sunt Bov will be asked to appear on the sown which ended season one on March 31 so stay tuned.

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About the Creator

Cheryl E Preston

Cheryl is a widow who enjoys writing about current events, soap spoilers and baby boomer nostalgia. Tips are greatly appreciated.

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