[1] Before his acting career, he received two Purple Heart awards for his service in World War II.

A character actor since 1950, his most notable roles were in the movies Julius Caesar (1953), Sayonara (1957), and The Money Pit (1986).

In addition, he played on such daytime dramatic dramas as Moment of Truth (1965) (a Canadian serial), Search for Tomorrow (1966–1968), and Love of Life (1972–1973).

Watson's most iconic role was wealthy publisher Mac Cory on the soap opera Another World.

Watson earned the role after a critically acclaimed turn playing Kent in King Lear at the 1974 New York Shakespeare Festival.