Susan Kelechi Watson

Last updated
Susan Kelechi Watson
Susan Kelechi Watson.jpg
Watson at the 2017 Paleyfest
Born (1981-11-11) November 11, 1981 (age 42)
NationalityAmerican
Education Howard University (BFA)
New York University (MFA)
OccupationActress
Years active2004–present

Susan Kelechi Watson (born November 11, 1981) is an American actress. She is known for her work on the television show Louie [1] and for her role as Beth Pearson in This Is Us . She was nominated for the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for the latter.

Contents

Early life

Watson was born in Brooklyn on November 11, 1981. [2] Her parents were born in Jamaica. [3] Watson's middle name, "Kelechi", is of Nigerian Igbo origins meaning "Thank God". [4] Watson obtained a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Howard University and a Master of Fine Arts degree from the Tisch School of the Arts Graduate Acting Program. [5]

Career

Watson had a recurring role on the television show Louie from 2012 through 2014. She has had recurring roles on NCIS, The Following , and The Blacklist . She appeared in a play at the American Airlines Theatre in New York City by playwright Richard Greenberg entitled A Naked Girl on the Appian Way in 2005. [6] From 2016 to 2022, she had starred in the NBC drama series This Is Us as Beth Pearson. [7]

Watson played Andrea Vogel in the Fred Rogers biopic A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood alongside Tom Hanks in 2019. [8] In September 2022, she appeared in the European premiere of Eureka Day at The Old Vic theatre in London. [9]

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
2004 Hack PaulaEpisode: "Extreme Commerce"
2004 The Jury Andrea DavisEpisode: "Lamentation on the Reservation"
2004–2005 Third Watch Emma St. Claire12 episodes
2005 Law & Order: Trial by Jury Jill TolbertEpisode: "Blue Wall"
2007 Medium Subordinate Episode: "Joe Day Afternoon"
2007 Kidnapped Elle King3 episodes
2007 Private Practice Beth O'BrienEpisode: "In Which Sam Receives an Unexpected Visitor..."
2007AlibiGenevieve EganTelevision movie
2007–2008 NCIS NCIS Intel Analyst Nikki Jardine3 episodes
2008 Numb3rs Nina HunterEpisode: "Pay to Play"
2004, 2009 Law & Order Tanya Ware / Thea CurryEpisodes: "Can I Get a Witness?", "The Drowned and the Saved"
2010FuturestatesTiaEpisode: "Tia & Marco"
2011EdenDet. Monica LopezEpisode: Pilot
2011 The Good Wife Lauryn FisherEpisode: "What Went Wrong"
2013 Golden Boy April McGeeEpisode: "Vicious Cycle"
2014And, We're Out of TimeDianaTelevision film
2012–2014 Louie Janet12 episodes
2014 Royal Pains NaomiEpisode: "I Did Not See That Coming"
2013–2016 The Blacklist Ellie4 episodes
2014 The Following Cindy3 episodes
2015 Blue Bloods DetectiveEpisode: "Sins of the Father"
2015 Veep Sue's friendEpisode: "Election Night"
2015 Happyish SandyEpisode: "Starring Rene Descartes, Adweek and HRH the Princess of Arendelle"
2016 Billions Wilma 'Billie' KeenEpisode: "YumTime"
2016 Limitless EloEpisode: "Fundamentals of Naked Portraiture"
2016–2022 This Is Us Beth PearsonMain role
2016 Divorce Victoria TucksonEpisode: "Counseling"
2019 A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood Andrea Vogel
2021 Ada Twist, Scientist Mom Twist (voice)Main role
2021 Rumble Maggie (voice)
2022 Great Performances: Merry Wives Madam Nkechi FordEpisode: S49 Ep28 [10]

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References

  1. Sangweni, Yolanda (23 October 2012). "New and Next: Meet Actress and 'Louie' Star Susan Kelechi Watson". Essence. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
  2. "Susan Kelechi Watson: Actress (1981–)". Biography.com. Archived from the original on November 10, 2018. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
  3. "Here's Why Louis CK's Kids Are White But Their Mother Is Black In 'Louie'". Business Insider .
  4. "Thanks be to God : ekele chukwu (English : Igbo)". Google Translate. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  5. "The Essential Shakespeare". Florence, Italy: Villa La Pietra. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
  6. Rooney, David (6 October 2005). "A Naked Girl on the Appian Way". Variety . Retrieved 27 November 2017.
  7. Fernandez, Maria Elena (3 October 2017). "Susan Kelechi Watson on Designing Her Own Hairstyles on This Is Us and Sparring With Her TV Husband". Vulture.com . Retrieved 27 November 2017.
  8. N'Duka, Amanda (September 13, 2018). "'This Is Us' Star Susan Kelechi Watson Joins Tom Hanks In Mister Rogers Pic 'You Are My Friend'". Deadline. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
  9. "Cast joining Helen Hunt in Old Vic's Eureka Day announced | WhatsOnStage". www.whatsonstage.com. Retrieved 2022-08-21.
  10. "Great Performances: Merry Wives ~ About | Great Performances". Pbs.org. 29 March 2022. Retrieved 4 June 2022.