Vernee Watson was born on September 28 in Harlem, New York, “but then I moved to Brooklyn, to the first projects ever built in New York City, the Williamsburg projects. Now they’re million-dollar condos,” she told Digest.
After appearing in bit parts on New York shows, Watson did two more sustained recurring soap roles in California, Y&R’s Birdie in 1999 and DAYS’s Dr. Ella Kraft in 2007.
The actress appeared with former First Lady Michelle Obama in an episode of JESSIE.
Watson has won two Daytime Emmy Awards. The first was in 2018 for Outstanding Guest Performer and the second was in 2019 as Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series.
Vernee played Will Smith’s mom on THE FRESH PRINCE OF BEL-AIR.
