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Rolonda Watts

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Years active
  
1986-present

Name
  
Rolonda Watts

Role
  
Actress


Rolonda Watts Picture of Rolonda Watts

Born
  
July 12, 1959 (age 64) (
1959-07-12
)
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, US

Occupation
  
Actress, Television/Radio Host

Parents
  
Velma Gibson Watts, Roland Watts

Education
  
Columbia University, Spelman College

Movies and TV shows
  
Christmas Mail, Madea's Tough Love, A Mother's Love, Sister Code, Return to Babylon

Similar People
  
A J Buckley, Vanessa Lee Evigan, Ashley Scott, Piper Mackenzie Harris, John Murlowski

Profiles

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Rolonda Watts (born July 12, 1959) is an American actress, producer, voice over artist, novelist, motivational speaker, and television and radio talk show host. She was the host of eponymous Rolonda, an internationally syndicated talk show which aired from 1994 to 1997. Watts was the on-camera announcer for Judge Joe Brown, which ended its run in 2013. She is currently the on-camera announcer for Divorce Court.

Contents

Rolonda Watts Television Host Rolonda Watts Lands In Director Tim

Rolonda watts aleve commercial lunch


Early life and Education

Watts's mother, Dr. Velma Gibson Watts, was an associate dean at Wake Forest University and her father, Roland Watts, was chairman of Winston-Salem State University's Fine Arts Department. Watts attended Salem Academy in Winston-Salem, North Carolina as a teenager. She is a graduate of Spelman College in Atlanta, where she was editor-in-chief of the school newspaper and graduated Magna Cum Laude. In 1981, she earned a master's degree from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.

Career

After graduating from Columbia, Watts returned to North Carolina and began her career as a general assignment reporter at WFMY-TV in Greensboro, North Carolina. She later worked at WNBC, where she was nominated for an Emmy, and WABC-TV in New York as an anchor of a weekly political forum and reporter. In 1987, she began working as a host of Attitudes, a talk show on Lifetime Television. The next year, she took a job on the newsmagazine Inside Edition as a senior correspondent, weekend anchor and producer. King World Productions, the syndicator of Inside Edition and also The Oprah Winfrey Show, then asked her to start her own talk show. Rolonda aired for nearly four seasons from January 17, 1994 to September 1997. Watts was also supervising producer and one of the owners of the show. In a 2003 interview with Soap Opera Digest, Watts said she folded the show rather than lose her integrity. "Audiences were saying, 'Well, that was really nice of you to be so respectful, but where's Jerry [Springer]?' We had to make a tough decision, either we go that route or we find something else to do."

After leaving her talk show behind, Watts headed to Hollywood to pursue a career in acting. Her first break was in 1997 when she was cast as Vivica Shaw in Sister, Sister, a role she played for six episodes. Since then Watts has had guest starring roles in dozens of television shows, including The West Wing, JAG, The District Yes, Dear, and soap operas Days of Our Lives and The Bold and the Beautiful. In 2002, Soap Opera Digest named her "Scene Stealer of the Week" for her role as the cut-throat Attorney Cameron Reese on Days of our Lives. Watts is also the CEO/president of her own production company, Watts Works Productions, which co-produced her talk show Rolonda. In 2005, she hosted Lie Detector, a reality series for PAX-TV. That same year, she took over as announcer on Judge Joe Brown. She also appeared on Live With Regis and Kelly where she traveled cross-country as a judge for the show's "Great American Co-Host Search."

In October 2006, Watts returned to her talk-show roots. She signed with GreenStone Media, a radio network launched by feminists Gloria Steinem and Jane Fonda, to host an afternoon radio show. She hosted the show until the network's closure in August 2007. Subsequently, Watts served as announcer for the game show Temptation, which ran from September 2007 to May 2008. As of 2011, Watts is the voice of Professor Wiseman in the PBS Kids animated program Curious George, as well as voicing "Gladys" in the Nickelodeon series The Penguins of Madagascar. Watts is currently shooting two films, with five others waiting for release, including her first starring role in A Mother's Love and leading roles in Christmas Mail, House Arrest, Soul Ties, Broken Roads and 25 Hill, a film written and produced by Corbin Bernsen. In the short film Return to Babylon, Watts portrays Josephine Baker; in Defying the Stars. she plays Hollywood legend Dorothy Dandridge. She recently played the role of Betsy Holiday in Tyler Perry's first animated film Madea's Tough Love.

Filmography

Producer
2021
Never and Again (associate producer)
1994
Rolonda (TV Series) (supervising producer - 968 episodes)
Actress
-
Booked (TV Series) (pre-production) as
Lynn
-
Dweller (completed) as
Dr. Chatman
2022
Past My Bedtime (Podcast Series) as
Additional Voice
2021
Partners in Rhyme (TV Series) as
Hazel
- Gone (2022) - Hazel
- Mom? (2021) - Hazel
- Weekday (2021) - Hazel
- PregNOT (2021) - Hazel
- F.O.E. (2021) - Hazel
- Carpe DM (2021) - Hazel
- Mic check (2021) - Hazel
- Pilot (2021) - Hazel
- All Ready (2021) - Hazel
- Dead Zone (2021) - Hazel
- Boss Up (2021) - Hazel
2022
Saints Row (Video Game) as
Santo Ileso Pedestrians (voice)
2022
Daniel X: Genesis (Podcast Series short)
2022
Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight (TV Series) as
High Priestess
- A Thread in the Dark (2022) - High Priestess (voice)
2022
Due Season as
Grandma Ro
2006
Curious George (TV Series) as
Professor Wiseman / Professor Weisman / Lady With Feather Boa / ...
- Leaf it to George/Cutting Hedge Technology (2022) - Professor Wiseman (voice)
- A Knight to Remember (2022) - Professor Wiseman (voice)
- George's Geode Jamboree/The Man with the Yellow Hair (2021) - Professor Wiseman
- Monkey Hill/Ready, Set, Flamin-go! (2021) - Professor Wiseman
- A Pig, a Pup, and a Monkey/Y'orchid-ing Me? (2021) - Professor Wiseman
- Aiming for the Stars/George vs. the Volcano (2021) - Professor Wiseman
- George of the Desert/The Texture Game (2021) - Professor Wiseman
- George Makes Pizza/Ladybugs! (2021) - Professor Wiseman
- Swimspiration/Museum of George (2020) - Professor Wiseman
- Raisins/A Bedtime Story for Compass (2020) - Professor Wiseman
- Prints of a Monkey/Lobby Sale (2020) - Professor Wiseman (voice)
- George's Little Library/Monkeys of a Feather (2020) - Professor Wiseman
- Bee Like Me/To the Lighthouse (2020) - Professor Wiseman
- Spelunkey Monkey/The Dive-In Movie (2020) - Professor Wiseman
- Tyrannosaurus Wrench/Bingo Monkey (2020) - Professor Wiseman (voice)
- George Gets the Hiccups/The Trash Cam (2020) - Professor Wiseman (voice)
- Jurassic George (2020) - Professor Wiseman (voice)
- Antonio the Avocado/Curious Clouds (2020) - Professor Weisman
- Flower Monkey/George and the Golden Egg Hunt (2019) - Professor Wiseman (voice)
- All Washed Up/George's Fancy Pants (2019) - Professor Wiseman (voice)
- In Search of Space Monkeys (2019) - Professor Wiseman (voice)
- George's High-Tech Sleep Over/The Ring's the Thing (2019) - Professor Wiseman (voice)
- Monkey the Magnificent/Curious George: Cat Sitter (2019) - Professor Wiseman / Lady With Feather Boa (voice)
- Curious George's Amazon Adventure/Monkey Senses (2015) - Professor Wiseman (voice)
- George's Photo Finish/Monkey Mystery Gift (2014) - Professor Wiseman (voice)
- Monkey Goes Batty/Curious George and the Balloon Hound (2014) - Professor Wiseman (voice)
- Red Planet Monkey/Tortilla Express (2014) - Professor Wiseman (voice)
- Curious George's Backwards Flight Plan/Curious George Hog Trainer (2014) - Professor Wiseman (voice)
- Where's the Firedog?/Toot Toot Tootsie Goodbye (2013) - Professor Wiseman (voice)
- We Otter Be Friends/Sir George and the Dragon (2012) - Professor Wiseman / Wizard (voice)
- No Knowing Gnocchi/Here Comes the Tide (2012) - Professor Wiseman (voice)
- Hamster Cam/The Great Monkey Detective (2011) - Professor Wiseman (voice)
- Go West, Young Monkey/Meet the New Neighbors (2011) - Professor Wiseman (voice)
- George-O-Matic/Curious George, Sheep Herder (2011) - Professor Wiseman (voice)
- Monkey Size Me/Metal Detective (2011) - Professor Wiseman (voice)
- George and Marco Sound It Out/A Monkey's Duckling (2010) - Professor Wiseman (voice)
- Movie House Monkey/Cooking with Monkey (2010) - Professor Wiseman (voice)
- George Measures Up/Something New Under the Sun (2010) - Professor Wiseman (voice)
- Relax/The Box and the Hound (2010) - Professor Wiseman (voice)
- Curious George, Personal Trainer/Sprout Outing (2009) - Professor Wiseman (voice)
- Wheels on the Bus/Seed Trouble (2009) - Professor Wiseman (voice)
- The Man with the Monkey Hands/Whistlepig Wednesday (2008) - Professor Wiseman (voice)
- The Amazing Maze Race/The Color of Monkey (2008) - Professor Wiseman (voice)
- For the Birds/Curious George-Asaurus (2008) - Professor Wiseman (voice)
- Ice Station Monkey/The Perfect Carrot (2008) - Professor Wiseman (voice)
- Curious George, Sea Monkey/Old McGeorgie Had a Farm (2008) - Professor Wiseman (voice)
- Robot Monkey Hullabaloo/Curious George and the Slithery Day (2008) - Professor Wiseman (voice)
- A Bridge Too Farm/Monkey Fever (2008) - Professor Wiseman (voice)
- Scaredy Dog/Say Goodnight, George (2008) - Professor Wiseman (voice)
- The Fully Automatic Monkey Fun Hat/Creatures of the Night (2007) - Professor Wiseman (voice)
- Monkey Stagehand/The Magic Garden (2007) - Professor Wiseman (voice)
- All-New Hundley/Signs Up (2007) - Professor Wiseman (voice)
- Grease Monkeys in Space/Pinata Vision (2007) - Professor Wiseman (voice)
- Up a Tree/Curious George and the Trash (2007) - Professor Wiseman (voice)
- Monkey Underground/Cat Mother (2007) - Professor Wiseman (voice)
- Housebound!/Curious George Rides a Bike (2007) - Professor Wiseman (voice)
- Keep Out Cows/Curious George and the Missing Piece (2007) - Professor Wiseman (voice)
- Surprise Quints/Muddy Monkey (2007) - Professor Wiseman (voice)
- Candy Counter/Curious George, Rescue Monkey (2006) - Professor Wiseman (voice)
- Curious George's Rocket Ride/Curious George, Station Master (2006) - Professor Wiseman (voice)
- Water to Ducks/Animal Magnetism (2006) - Professor Wiseman (voice)
- Curious George, Dog Counter/Squirrel for a Day (2006) - Professor Wiseman (voice)
- Curious George and the Invisible Sound/Curious George, a Peeling Monkey (2006) - Professor Wiseman (voice)
- Curious George on Time/Curious George's Bunny Hunt (2006) - Professor Wiseman (voice)
- Curious George's Home for Pigeons/Out of Order (2006) - Professor Wiseman (voice)
- Curious George Flies a Kite/From Scratch (2006) - Professor Wiseman (voice)
2022
Bull (TV Series) as
Adaline Palmer
- Safe Space (2022) - Adaline Palmer
2020
Madagascar: A Little Wild (TV Series) as
Edith
- A Tale of Two Kitties (2020) - Edith (voice)
2020
My Daughter's Psycho Friend (TV Movie) as
Principal Wilkins
2019
Lego City Adventures (TV Series short)
- Handle with Car/The Silver Blur (2020) - (voice)
- Buster Moves/To Cop or Not to Cop (2020) - (voice)
- Slam the Door/JAILBREAK! (2019) - (voice)
- Shirley Keeper/3, 2, 1 (2019) - (voice)
- Evil Layers/Buster (2019) - (voice)
- Small Carol/Last Man Floating (2019) - (voice)
- Poppy Starr/The Spooky One (2019) - (voice)
- Doorman of the City/Fendrich In The Wild (2019) - (voice)
- Race to the Top/Meet Harl Hubbs (2019) - (voice)
- Sky Police/Father's Day Parade (2019) - (voice)
- Cubs and Robbers/Billy the Bug (2019) - (voice)
2019
The Marcus Garvey Story as
Amy Jacques Garvey
2019
Cannon Busters (TV Series) as
Mumbles / Mama Hitch / Additional Voices
- 9INE (2019) - Mumbles (English version, voice)
- Watch Out For The Wet Spot (2019) - Mama Hitch (English version, voice)
- Grifters Gonna Grift (2019) - Mama Hitch (English version, voice)
- High Risk, Low Reward! (2019) - Mumbles / Additional Voices (English version, voice)
2019
Evil Intent as
Dr. Keller
2018
Criminal Minds (TV Series) as
Dr. Melissa Myers
- Flesh and Blood (2018) - Dr. Melissa Myers
- Rule 34 (2018) - Dr. Melissa Myers
2017
Web Cam Girls (TV Movie) as
Principal Lewis
2016
In the Cut (TV Series) as
Beverly Clark
- Beverly's Back (2016) - Beverly Clark
2016
Kulipari (TV Series) as
Chief Olba
- Episode #1.11 (2016) - Chief Olba (voice)
- Episode #1.9 (2016) - Chief Olba (voice)
- Episode #1.6 (2016) - Chief Olba (voice)
- Episode #1.4 (2016) - Chief Olba (voice)
- Episode #1.2 (2016) - Chief Olba (voice)
2015
Mann and Wife (TV Series) as
Shauna
- Give That Mann a Stake (2016) - Shauna
- Mann's New Church (2015) - Shauna
2016
American Bred as
Juliana Greco
2015
Soul Ties as
Nadine
2015
Sister Code as
Dr. Riley
2015
Madea's Tough Love as
Betsy Holiday (voice)
2015
Whitney (TV Movie) as
Alberta (uncredited)
2013
Return to Babylon as
Josephine Baker
2013
House Party: Tonight's the Night (Video) as
Victoria
2012
Broken Roads as
Shirley
2012
I Will Follow You Into the Dark as
Eunice
2012
Good Luck Charlie (TV Series) as
Diane Van der Weiss
- Amy Needs a Shower (2012) - Diane Van der Weiss
2011
The Penguins of Madagascar (TV Series short) as
Gladys
- Feline Fervor (2012) - Gladys (voice)
- Gut Instinct/I Know Why the Caged Bird Goes Insane (2011) - Gladys (voice)
2012
House Arrest as
Parole Officer Grimes
2011
25 Hill as
Mrs. Banner
2011
Tim Alexander's A Mother's Love as
Regina Reynolds
2010
Christmas Mail as
Sally Covington
2009
Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas (TV Movie) as
Professor Wiseman (voice)
2009
League of Legends (Video Game) as
Illaoi (voice)
2009
Special Agent Oso (TV Series)
- The Living Flashlight/Sand Castle Royale (2009) - (voice)
2008
Can You Teach My Alligator Manners? (TV Series) as
Mrs. Sullivan
- Classroom Manners (2008) - Mrs. Sullivan
2001
Days of Our Lives (TV Series) as
Cameron Reese
2006
Rugrats (TV Series) as
Gospel Singer / Chorus
- Rugrats Tales from the Crib: Three Jacks and a Beanstalk (2006) - Gospel Singer / Chorus (voice, as Rolanda Watts)
2005
Shackles (Video) as
June Rutherford
2005
Complete Savages (TV Series) as
Claire
- Bad Reception (2005) - Claire
2004
JAG (TV Series) as
Judge Deborah Mayfield
- Camp Delta (2004) - Judge Deborah Mayfield
2004
My Wife and Kids (TV Series) as
Angeline Boudreaux
- Poker Face (2004) - Angeline Boudreaux
2004
Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide (TV Series) as
Ms. Morrison
- Teachers & Detention (2004) - Ms. Morrison (as Rolanda Watts)
2004
Yes, Dear (TV Series) as
Sylvia
- Dead Aunt, Dead Aunt- (2004) - Sylvia (as Rolanda Watts)
2003
The Proud Family (TV Series) as
Reshonda Watson
- Election (2003) - Reshonda Watson (voice)
2003
The Bold and the Beautiful (TV Series) as
Attorney Julie Shoemaker
- Episode #1.4124 (2003) - Attorney Julie Shoemaker
- Episode #1.4123 (2003) - Attorney Julie Shoemaker
- Episode #1.4122 (2003) - Attorney Julie Shoemaker
- Episode #1.4091 (2003) - Attorney Julie Shoemaker
- Episode #1.4090 (2003) - Attorney Julie Shoemaker
2003
Boston Public (TV Series) as
Monica Clemens
- Chapter Sixty-Four (2003) - Monica Clemens
2003
Maniac Magee (TV Movie) as
Mrs. Beale
2003
One on One (TV Series) as
Dr. Taylor
- The Test (2003) - Dr. Taylor
2002
For Your Love (TV Series) as
Dr. Covington
- The 'What I Done' Show (2002) - Dr. Covington
2001
The District (TV Series) as
Mrs. Waters
- Thursday (2001) - Mrs. Waters
2001
7th Heaven (TV Series) as
Sylvia Carter
- Are (2001) - Sylvia Carter
- Chances- (2001) - Sylvia Carter
2001
18 Wheels of Justice (TV Series) as
Laure-Anne Betrie
- A Family Upside Down (2001) - Laure-Anne Betrie
2001
The Division (TV Series) as
Doctor
- Secrets and Lies (2001) - Doctor
2000
Rude Awakening (TV Series) as
Marcus' lawyer
- Me, Myself, and I (2000) - Marcus' lawyer
2000
The West Wing (TV Series) as
Melissa
- The White House Pro-Am (2000) - Melissa
2000
Best Actress (TV Movie) as
Rolonda Watts (as Rolanda Watts)
2000
The Steve Harvey Show (TV Series) as
Janet
- Guess Who's Not Coming to Counseling (2000) - Janet
1999
The Jamie Foxx Show (TV Series) as
Bonita Walters
- Fire and Desire: Part 2 (1999) - Bonita Walters
1997
Sister, Sister (TV Series) as
Vivica Shaw
- Twins or Consequences (1998) - Vivica Shaw
- We Are Family (1998) - Vivica Shaw
- Rosebud (1998) - Vivica Shaw
- The Best Policy (1997) - Vivica Shaw
- Show Me the Money (1997) - Vivica Shaw
- Working Girls (1997) - Vivica Shaw
1998
Smart Guy (TV Series) as
Lydia Huckabee
- That's My Momma (1998) - Lydia Huckabee
1997
Meet Wally Sparks as
Rolonda Watts
1996
The Stupids as
Talk Show Hostess (as Rolanda Watts)
1996
Girl 6 as
Reporter Nita
1992
Lifestories: Families in Crisis (TV Series short) as
Reporter
- Blood Brothers: The Joey DiPaolo Story (1992) - Reporter
Soundtrack
2009
Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas (TV Movie) (performer: "Our Christmas Monkey")
1996
The Stupids (performer: "I'm My Own Grandpaw" - as Rolanda Watts)
Thanks
-
Hollywood Celebrity (Documentary) (the producers wish to thank) (post-production)
2006
America's Next Top Model (TV Series) (special thanks - 1 episode)
- The Girls Go Bald (2006) - (special thanks)
2003
Dorothy Dandridge: An American Beauty (TV Movie documentary) (thanks)
Self
-
Hollywood Celebrity (Documentary) (post-production) as
Self
2023
Sherri (TV Series) as
Self
- Luenell (2023) - Self
2020
Tamron Hall (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode #1.110 (2020) - Self
2018
One on One with Jasper Cole (TV Series) as
Self - Guest
- Rolonda Watts (2018) - Self - Guest
2018
The Actor's Choice (TV Series) as
Self
- Rolanda Watts (2018) - Self
2016
Unsung Hollywood (TV Series documentary) as
Self
- Tim Reid (2016) - Self
2016
2nd Annual Truth Awards (TV Special) as
Self - Co-Host
2016
4th Annual Gospel Goes to Hollywood Awards (TV Special) as
Self
2015
Unsung (TV Series documentary) as
Self
- Al B. Sure! (2015) - Self
2014
45th NAACP Image Awards (TV Special) as
Self
2013
Judge Joe Brown (TV Series) as
Announcer
- Episode dated 24 January 2013 (2013) - Announcer (voice)
2011
Love Cures Cancer: Take a Chance on Love II (Documentary) as
Self - Guest
2007
Temptation (TV Series) as
Announcer (2007)
2007
BET Awards 2007 (TV Special) as
Self
2006
14th Annual Inner City Destiny Awards (Video) as
Self - Presenter
2006
Bring That Year Back 2006: Laugh Now, Cry Later (TV Special) as
Self
2006
America's Next Top Model (TV Series)
- The Girls Go Bald (2006)
2006
37th NAACP Image Awards (TV Special) as
Self
2005
Lie Detector (TV Series) as
Host
2004
TV in Black: The First Fifty Years (Video documentary) as
Self
2003
Dorothy Dandridge: An American Beauty (TV Movie documentary) as
Self
2003
The 17th Annual Soul Train Music Awards (TV Special) as
Self
2002
2nd Annual BET Awards (TV Special documentary) as
Self
2002
Rendez-View (TV Series short) as
Self
- Get Over Yourself (2002) - Self
1996
Late Night with Conan O'Brien (TV Series) as
Self - Guest
- Rolonda Watts/Fran Lebowitz/Garth Brooks (1996) - Self - Guest
1996
The Daily Show (TV Series) as
Self
- Rolonda Watts (1996) - Self
1995
Maury (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode dated 15 November 1995 (1995) - Self
1995
New York Undercover (TV Series) as
Self
- You Get No Respect (1995) - Self
1994
Rolonda (TV Series) as
Host / Self - Host
- Date (1994) - Self - Host
1994
Showtime at the Apollo (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode #8.12 (1994) - Self
1994
Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? (TV Series) as
Self
- Frix the Grand Prix (1994) - Self
1994
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode #3.137 (1994) - Self
1994
Moving Image Salutes Steven Spielberg (TV Special) as
Self
1991
Attitudes (TV Series) as
Self - Co-Hostess
- The Final Episode (1991) - Self - Co-Hostess
1980
News 4 New York (TV Series) as
Anchor (1980-1985)
1968
Eyewitness News (TV Series) as
N.Y. Anchor (1985-1993)
Archive Footage
2021
The Sons of Sam: A Descent into Darkness (TV Mini Series documentary) as
Self - Host, Inside Edition
- Rabbit Hole (2021) - Self - Host, Inside Edition
2009
Late Night with Conan O'Brien (TV Series) as
Self
- The White Stripes (2009) - Self

References

Rolonda Watts Wikipedia