Vanessa Bell Calloway
Vanessa Bell Calloway is an American actress and dancer. She is known for her film roles as Princess Imani Izzi in the 1988 comedy Coming to America, as well as for her roles in What's Love Got to Do with It, The Inkwell, Crimson Tide, and Daylight. She is a nine-time NAACP Image Award nominee.
She began her acting career in the ABC daytime soap opera, All My Children in 1985. After moving to Los Angeles in 1986, she began appearing in episodes of prime time shows such as The Colbys, Falcon Crest, 227, China Beach, A Different World, and L.A. Law. She made her film debut on Number One with a Bullet (1987), before supporting role of Eddie Murphy's character's arranged wife in the 1988 comedy Coming to America.
In 1990, she co-starred alongside Joe Morton in the ABC drama series, Equal Justice. During the 1990s, she had a number of supporting roles in films, including What's Love Got to Do with It (1993) opposite Angela Bassett, The Inkwell (1994), and Crimson Tide (1995) as Denzel Washington's character wife. She also voiced main role in the 1992 animated comedy, Bébé's Kids.
She had a number of leading and supporting roles in made for television movies. In 1995, she co-starred opposite James Earl Jones and Joe Morton in the short-lived CBS prime time soap opera, Under One Roof, the first drama series that featured African-American lead characters. For her role on the series, Calloway was nominated for the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series. She had leading roles on the short-lived NBC sitcom Rhythm & Blues (1992–93), and starred alongside Larry Hagman as his girlfriend in the CBS drama Orleans (1997).
In the 2000s, she had recurring roles on Boston Public and The District. She co-starred in films including The Brothers, All About You, Dawg, Biker Boyz, Love Don't Cost a Thing, and Cheaper by the Dozen. She has guest starred on The Division, Strong Medicine, The Closer, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Dexter, Rizzoli & Isles, Castle, and Grey's Anatomy. From 2010 to 2011, she had the recurring role in the TNT medical drama, Hawthorne. In 2011, she began appearing in the Showtime comedy-drama, Shameless.
In 2016, she was cast as lead character in the Bounce TV first prime time soap opera, Saints & Sinners. Also in 2016, she co-starred as president Obama's future mother-in-law, Marian Shields Robinson, and in the comedy-drama film Southside with You. In 2018, she appeared in the Christian drama film Unbroken: Path to Redemption and the crime thriller Dragged Across Concrete. In 2019, she played abolitionist Harriet Tubman's mother in the biographical drama film Harriet. She reprised her role as Imani Izzi in the 2021 sequel Coming 2 America.
Known for
Grey's Anatomy
Lucinda Gamble
NCIS
Sally Hammond
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
Judge Himmel
Shameless
Carol Fisher
Castle
Beryl Wickfield
Dexter
Crisis Counselor
Simon & Simon
CSI: Miami
Tonya Washington
Strong Medicine
Melanie Rhodes
Rizzoli & Isles
Assistant District Attorney
L.A. Law
Robyn Edwards
This Is Us
Edie
This Is Us
Edie (uncredited)
The District
Gwen Hendrix
Cold Case
Geraldine Watkins (1970)
The Conners
Carrie Langham
Touched by an Angel
Debra Willis
Saints & Sinners
Lady Ella Johnson
Diagnosis: Murder
Mrs. Calender
Joan of Arcadia
Black Monday
Ruth
Kenan
Bobbi
227
Falcon Crest
Nurse
The Parkers
Moesha
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child
Princess Katusha (voice)
The Closer
Lynn Talmadge
Go On
Joyce
Unbelievable
Sarah
Boston Public
Mrs. Michelle Ronning
Let's Stay Together
Malcolm & Eddie
The Colbys
The Sinbad Show
The Temptations
Johnnie Mae Matthews
A Black Lady Sketch Show
Kiley's Mother
The Division
Dana
Dream On
Jeanette
Rhythm & Blues
A Different World
Lily Connors
A Different World
Danielle Vinson
The Vince Staples Show
The Black Hamptons
Carolyn Britton
Where I Live
Harry's Law
Judge Jude Campbell
Under One Roof
Maggie Langston
Wicked City
Tabitha
10-8: Officers on Duty
Coming to America
Imani Izzi
One of Them Days
Mama Ruth
China Beach
Love Don't Co$t a Thing
Vivian Johnson
Coming 2 America
Imani Izzi
Prey
Cheaper by the Dozen
Diana Philips
The 100 Lives of Black Jack Savage
Crimson Tide
Julia Hunter
Dragged Across Concrete
Jennifer Johns
Orleans
Rosalee Clark
Daylight
Grace Calloway
Lakeview Terrace
Aunt Dorrie
Harriet
Rit Ross
Under the Boardwalk
Val (voice)
Black in the 80s
Self
Biker Boyz
Anita
Unbroken: Path to Redemption
Lila Burkholder
Bebe's Kids
Jamika (voice)
What's Love Got to Do with It
Jackie
The Cherokee Kid
Abby Holsopple
The Brothers
Dr. Thelma Woolridge
Southside with You
Death Spa
Marci Hewitt
American Skin
Bernice
A Holiday Chance
Sheryl
All About You
Number One with a Bullet
Woman
The Bounce Back
Ellen
Thriller
Mrs. Jackson
The Devil You Know
Della Cowans
Good Hair
Self
Love Under New Management: The Miki Howard Story
Josephine
Dawg
Christine Hodges
Love, Once and Always
Isabel
The Inkwell
Francis Phillips
Stompin' at the Savoy
Dorothy
The Preacher's Son
Elena
Archibald the Rainbow Painter
Diana
The Red Sneakers
Berniece
The Last Fall
Marie Bishop
The Undershepherd
Deaconess Carter
Message From a Mistress
Heather
Her Only Choice
Dr. Bailey
America's Dream
Miss Williams (segment "The Boy Who Painted Christ Black")
Polly
Nancy
Love Song
Evie Livingston
To Hell and Back
Mosquito
Eve
The Obama Effect
Molly Thomas
The Divorce
Eva
The Return of Desperado
Molly Pickett
Memphis
Martha Kinship
Saints & Sinners: Judgment Day
Ella
A Private Affair
Nikka
Starkeisha
The Voice
Holla 2
Marion
A Beautiful Soul
Guardian Angel
Sherri
Self - Guest
Why Colors?
Polly: Comin' Home!
Nancy Dodds
Black Girl, Erupted
Dr. Rebecca Francis
Throwback Holiday
Mildred Anderson
Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch
Idella Landy
Baby
Jackie
The View
Self
Between Sisters
Lillian
Queens of Christmas
Stompin'
Mrs. Jackson
One on One
Michelle McCall