Rolonda Watts

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Rolonda Garnelle Watts started speaking in complete sentences at only 11 months. Growing up a country girl in Winston-Salem , North Carolina , many told little "Ro" that she talked too much, asked too many questions, acted far too dramatic, and was a bit too bossy. It certainly paid off….

Today, Rolonda is a talk show host, journalist, actor, producer, and writer in Hollywood. She is also the CEO/President of her own production company, Watts Works Productions.

"Every success I've had in my life has come from someone somewhere telling me I could never do it because no one like me had ever done anything like it before," Rolonda admits. "My whole life is about believing in myself and my dreams, and holding fast to faith, no matter what."

Rolonda attributes her tenacity to her parents, Roland and Velma Watts. The two educators were strict disciplinarians who always stressed the importance of a strong positive attitude and a good education. Her Dad, who she was named after, is a highly acclaimed graphic artist and the retired Chairman of Winston-Salem State University's Fine Arts Department. Rolonda 's Mom, Dr. Velma Gibson Watts, is a retired Associate Dean of the Wake Forest University School of Medicine. Rolonda has a younger brother and a pet Boxer, Jack.

As a kid, Rolonda was a tomboy; climbing trees, riding horses, shooting BB guns, swimming, playing field hockey, and tennis. She is still very proud of the "Most Outstanding Girl Camper" award she received at 12 that led to her first summer job as a Junior Camp Counselor and Lifeguard.

Rolonda spent her teenage years at Salem Academy, an all-girls College preparatory school founded by the Moravians in 1772. She was the only Black student during her four years at the Academy, where she also studied in five European countries. Rolonda was voted President of the Salem Academy Glee Club, which sang at the White House. She also served as a Page for the North Carolina House of Representatives and won the prestigious "I Dare You" Award for exhibiting courage during challenging times.

It was also at Salem Academy that Rolonda fell in love with the stage, landing lead roles in both school and community plays. Her senior yearbook quote: "Ya'll, I'm going to be famous one day, and I promise I won't forget my friends."

At Spelman College, Rolonda double-majored in Theatre Arts and English and was a three-year magna cum laude graduate. She landed many lead roles in college musicals, including “Miss Adelaide” in “Guys and Dolls” and “Sally Bowles” in “Cabaret.”

Rolonda 's fascination with journalism was also growing as she served as the Editor-in-Chief of “The Spelman Spotlight” newspaper. After graduating, Rolonda headed for New York City and The Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism where she earned her Master's degree in the Science of Journalism. She also served as President of Sigma Delta Chi, the national journalists' society.

Faced with life's proverbial fork in the road, Rolonda decided to first go for a career in news. She began as a general assignment news reporter at WFMY-TV (CBS) in Greensboro, NC. Her special reports, including one where a member of the Hell's Angels shot at her helicopter, caught the attention of executives at New Jersey Nightly News, who hired her as an investigative reporter and weeknight anchorwoman. Rolonda was only 22.

Rolonda later moved to WNBC-TV in New York as a reporter and local morning news anchor for the “The Today Show.” There, she received an Emmy nomination for “Live Spot News Coverage” for her reports on a deadly train crash. She also made news herself when she successfully negotiated a hostage situation in Harlem.

Rolonda then moved to WABC-TV, where she anchored, reported, and also moderated “EYEWITNESS NEWS CONFERENCE,” the station's weekly political forum.

The cities of New York and Newark each established an official “ROLONDA DAY” for her journalistic, community, and humanitarian works.

Rolonda then moved from local news to try out her gift of gab nationally, hosting the talk show, “ATTITUDES,” for Lifetime Television. Rolonda received a Cable Ace nomination for “Best Talk Show.”

Rolonda hit the television news magazine scene as Senior Correspondent, Weekend Anchor, and Producer for “INSIDE EDITION.” Her investigations covering the world, including her special report on “Teenage Alcoholism in Iceland.” It was then that Roger King, the Chairman of King World Productions, asked Rolonda to try hosting a show of her own.

Most viewers know Rolonda from “THE ROLONDA SHOW” (King World/ Watts Works). Shot in New York , the internationally syndicated talker ran for four successful seasons. Rolonda was also Supervising Producer and one of the owners of the show. When it was over, she headed for Hollywood where she has been professionally acting, producing, and writing her first novel.

Rolonda's first big Hollywood break came in the recurring role of “Vivica Shaw” the vivacious vixen on “Sister/Sister,” (WB). Rolonda would go on to show off both her comedic and dramatic talents by guest starring in dozens of other television shows, from “West Wing,” “JAG,” and “The District” to “Yes, Dear,” “Days of Our Lives,” and “The Bold and The Beautiful.”

Rolonda raised a lot of eyebrows in her first major film role portraying Hollywood legend Dorothy Dandridge the hour before her death. Carol Burnett's daughter, the late Carrie Hamilton, directed the short film, entitled, “DEFYING THE STARS.”

Rolonda also plays the role of “Josephine Baker” in the independent film, “SILENT MADNESS.”

A master of many trades, Rolonda still maintains her strong presence as a host in reality television. Most recently, she hosted “LIE DETECTOR” for PAX-TV. She also appeared on “LIVE WITH REGIS AND KELLY” (ABC) where she traveled cross-country as a judge for the show's “Great American Co-Host Search.”

In radio, Rolonda has co-hosted morning talk shows for KABC and KLAC in Los Angeles. She recently co-hosted the morning drive show for 100.3 - “The Beat.”

Rolonda served on the Board of Directors for Literacy Volunteers of New York City, the Board of Advisors for Rahway State Prison's Lifers Group, the Board of Advisors for New York City University's Dental School, and the Board of Advisors for the United Negro College Fund, and, most recently, enjoyed being a volunteer tutor for H.E.L.P., the Hollywood Education and Literacy Project. She is a member of Women in Film, AFTRA, and SAG. She also received the Spelman College Alumna Award from the Los Angeles Chapter for her many work, including raising scholarship funds.

Rolonda holds an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from Winston-Salem State University.

Rolonda is single and living in Los Angeles where she is enjoying a successful voiceover/animation career. She is the new promo voice for “The Judge Joe Brown Show,”(Paramount Studios), and in the Universal Studios upcoming animated series, “Curious George,” Rolonda plays “Professor Wiseman.”