Erica Watson

{{Infobox person

| name = Erica Watson

| birth_name = Erica Faye Watson

| birth_date = {{birth date|1973|02|26}}

| birth_place = Chicago, Illinois, U.S.

| death_date = {{death date and age|2021|02|27|1973|02|26}}

| death_place = Montego Bay, Jamaica

| education = Columbia College Chicago (BA, MA)

}}

Erica Faye Watson (February 26, 1973 – February 27, 2021) was an American actress, comedian and writer. She is best known for her roles in Precious and Chi-Raq.{{Cite web|url=https://abc7chicago.com/10378505/|title=Chicago comedian, 'Windy City Live' contributor Erica Watson dies from COVID-19, family says|date=March 1, 2021|website=ABC7 Chicago}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/04/obituaries/erica-faye-watson-dead-coronavirus.html|title=Erica Faye Watson, Comedic 'Hidden Gem of Chicago,' Dies at 48|newspaper=The New York Times|date=March 4, 2021|last1=Risen|first1=Clay}}

Early life and education

Watson was born on February 26, 1973,{{Cite web|url=https://www.radio.com/wbbm780/news/local/chicago-actress-erica-watson-dies-from-covid-complications|title=Chicago actress Erica Watson dies from COVID-19 complications|date=February 28, 2021|website=www.radio.com}} and grew up in Chicago. She attended St. Thomas the Apostle Elementary School and Kenwood Academy High School. She graduated from Columbia College Chicago in 1998 with a degree in film directing and a masters in Master of Arts in entertainment and media management in 2005.{{Cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavirus/ct-ent-erica-watson-chicago-actor-dies-covid-0302-20210301-3qji4wjnczhbjmauuvnzvhk44m-story.html|title=Chicago actor and comedian Erica Watson dies at 48 from COVID-19 complications|first=Doug|last=George|website=Chicago Tribune|date=March 2021 }}

Career

Following graduation, Watson moved to New York City where she performed comedy and a one-woman show in 2010 which examined her identity a plus-size Black woman. She returned to Chicago after the show's tour where she took on roles in Precious, Chi-Raq, Empire, and The Chi.

Personal life

She died of complications from COVID-19 in Montego Bay, where she had been living until her death, one day after her 48th birthday during the COVID-19 pandemic in Jamaica. She was 48 years old.