Vanessa Bell Calloway
Known for: Acting
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.
Filmography
Series
Grey's Anatomy
Lucinda Gamble
2005
Series
NCIS
Sally Hammond
2003
Series
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
Judge Himmel
2000
Series
Shameless
Carol Fisher
2011
Series
Dexter
Crisis Counselor
2006
Series
Castle
Beryl Wickfield
2009
Series
CSI: Miami
Tonya Washington
2002
Series
The Closer
Lynn Talmadge
2005
Series
The View
Self
1997
Series
Sherri
Self - Guest
2022
Series
Falcon Crest
Nurse
1981
Series
Cold Case
Geraldine Watkins (1970)
2003
Series
This Is Us
Edie
2016
Series
This Is Us
Edie (uncredited)
2016
Series
Diagnosis: Murder
Mrs. Calender
1993
Series
Rizzoli & Isles
Assistant District Attorney
2010
Series
Strong Medicine
Melanie Rhodes
2000
Series
L.A. Law
Robyn Edwards
1986
Series
The Division
Dana
2001
Series
Simon & Simon
1981
Series
Touched by an Angel
Debra Willis
1994
Series
A Different World
Lily Connors
1987
Series
A Different World
Danielle Vinson
1987
Series
The District
Gwen Hendrix
2000
Series
Boston Public
Mrs. Michelle Ronning
2000
Series
The Conners
Carrie Langham
2018
Series
Moesha
Dr. Woods
1996
Series
The Parkers
1999
Series
One on One
Michelle McCall
2001
Series
Joan of Arcadia
Corey Phillips
2003
Series
China Beach
1988
Series
227
1985
Film
Coming to America
Imani Izzi
1988
Series
Black Monday
Ruth
2019
Series
Dream On
Jeanette
1990
Series
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child
Princess Katusha (voice)
1995
Series
Harry's Law
Jude Campbell
2011
Series
Unbelievable
Sarah
2019
Series
Malcolm & Eddie
1996
Film
Crimson Tide
Julia Hunter
1995
Series
A Black Lady Sketch Show
Kiley's Mother
2019
Series
The Colbys
1985
Series
Ringer
Royce Wiegler
2011
Series
Go On
Joyce
2012
Series
10-8: Officers on Duty
Gina Barnes
2003
Series
Saints & Sinners
Lady Ella Johnson
2016
Series
The Vince Staples Show
Anita
2024
Film
Love Don't Co$t a Thing
Vivian Johnson
2003
Film
Cheaper by the Dozen
Diana Philips
2003
Series
Kenan
Bobbi
2021
Series
Grand Crew
Brenda
2021
Film
Coming 2 America
Imani Izzi
2021
Film
Daylight
Grace Calloway
1996
Series
The Wonderful World of Disney
Nancy
1954
The Sinbad Show
1993
Film
One of Them Days
Mama Ruth
2025
Film
Lakeview Terrace
Aunt Dorrie
2008
Film
Dragged Across Concrete
Jennifer Johns
2019
Film
Biker Boyz
Anita
2003
Series
Let's Stay Together
2011
Series
The Black Hamptons
Carolyn Britton
2022
Film
What's Love Got to Do with It
Jackie
1993
Series
The Temptations
Johnnie Mae Matthews
1998
Film
Under the Boardwalk
Val (voice)
2023
Film
Harriet
Rit Ross
2019
Series
Prey
1998
Series
Wicked City
Tabitha
2022
Film
Unbroken: Path to Redemption
Lila Burkholder
2018
Film
Mosquito
Eve
2022
Series
Black in the 80s
Self
2005
Film
Southside with You
Marian Robinson
2016
Series
The 100 Lives of Black Jack Savage
1991
Series
Where I Live
1993
Max Monroe: Loose Cannon
Velma Jones
1990
Series
Rhythm & Blues
1992
Series
Orleans
Rosalee Clark
1997
Film
Bebe's Kids
Jamika (voice)
1992
Film
Death Spa
Marci Hewitt
1988
Under One Roof
Maggie Langston
1995
Film
American Skin
Bernice
2019
Film
Good Hair
Self
2009
Film
The Bounce Back
Ellen
2016
Film
The Brothers
Dr. Thelma Woolridge
2001
Film
The Devil You Know
Della Cowans
2022
Film
The Cherokee Kid
Abby Holsopple
1996
Film
The Undershepherd
Deaconess Carter
2012
Film
Stompin'
Mrs. Jackson
2007
Film
Dawg
Christine Hodges
2002
Film
Thriller
Mrs. Jackson
2018
Film
Polly
Nancy
1989
Film
Archibald the Rainbow Painter
Diana
1998
Film
Love, Once and Always
Isabel
2018
Film
The Last Fall
Marie Bishop
2012
Film
Baby
Jackie
2021
Film
The Preacher's Son
Elena
2017
Film
Number One with a Bullet
Woman
1987
Film
All About You
Donna Taylor
2001
Film
Her Only Choice
Dr. Bailey
2018
Film
A Beautiful Soul
Guardian Angel
2012
Film
Polly: Comin' Home!
Nancy Dodds
1990
Film
Message From a Mistress
Heather
2017
Film
The Red Sneakers
Berniece
2002
Film
The Inkwell
Francis Phillips
1994
Film
America's Dream
Miss Williams (segment "The Boy Who Painted Christ Black")
1996
Film
Starkeisha
The Voice
2022
Film
Divas!
Wendy
2015
Film
The Return of Desperado
Molly Pickett
1988
Film
Saints & Sinners: Judgment Day
Ella
2021
Film
Queens of Christmas
Julia Mason
2024
Film
Memphis
Martha Kinship
1992
Film
The Divorce
Eva
2014
Film
Love Song
Evie Livingston
2000
Film
Throwback Holiday
Mildred Anderson
2018
Film
Black Girl, Erupted
Dr. Rebecca Francis
2023
Film
Stompin' at the Savoy
Dorothy
1992
Film
A Private Affair
Nikka
2000
Film
Holla 2
Marion
2013
Film
Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch
Idella Landy
2024
Film
The Obama Effect
Molly Thomas
2012
Film
Love Under New Management: The Miki Howard Story
Josephine
2016
Film
To Hell and Back
2014
Film
Between Sisters
Lillian
2013
Why Colors?
1992
Film
A Holiday Chance
Sheryl
2021