Akron Watson

Akron Watson, born in Dallas, TX, has established a significant presence in the entertainment industry as an actor, singer, and voice artist. His career highlights include a Broadway revival of “The Color Purple,” where he starred in the ensemble and as Young Man. He further showcased his stage versatility in projects such as the Off-Broadway world premiere of “The Fortress of Solitude” in 2014, and regional productions like “Dreamgirls” at North Shore Music Theater and “The Royale” at Repertory Theatre of St. Louis. Watson’s ability to transition between classical and contemporary works demonstrates his range and commitment to various theatrical forms.

Beyond the stage, Watson has made notable contributions to film and television. He was seen as Bacon in “Miss Juneteenth” (2020), a film that garnered a 99% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. His television credits include a recurring role as Eric Houston in Fox’s “Empire” (2019–2020) for four episodes, and guest appearances in NBC’s “Friday Night Lights” and “Chase,” and “Chicago Med” in 2019. His vocal talents extend to video games such as “Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel!” (2014) where he voiced Dunks Watson, and anime series like Satoshi-Toonami’s “Michiko & Hatchin.

Watson’s career has also included ventures into reality television, securing a golden ticket during Season 6 of “American Idol.” His Broadway roles further include playing Trevor as a replacement in the original Broadway production of “The Play That Goes Wrong” in 2017 and appearing in the original Broadway production of “King Kong” in 2018. More recently, in 2022, he was a performer in the Off-Broadway world premiere of “Black No More.” Through these diverse roles, Akron Watson demonstrates a consistent progression in his artistic pursuits across multiple platforms.