Vanessa Bell Calloway
Acting • Born 1957-03-20
Biography
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
121 credits
Daylight
Movie • 1996
Grace Calloway
Good Hair
Movie • 2009
Self
Love Don't Co$t a Thing
Movie • 2003
Vivian Johnson
Biker Boyz
Movie • 2003
Anita
Lakeview Terrace
Movie • 2008
Aunt Dorrie
Death Spa
Movie • 1988
Marci Hewitt
Saints & Sinners: Judgment Day
Movie • 2021
Ella
Bebe's Kids
Movie • 1992
Jamika (voice)
A Holiday Chance
Movie • 2021
Sheryl
What's Love Got to Do with It
Movie • 1993
Jackie
Polly
Movie • 1989
Nancy
The Inkwell
Movie • 1994
Francis Phillips
To Hell and Back
Movie • 2014
A Beautiful Soul
Movie • 2012
Guardian Angel
Stompin'
Movie • 2007
Mrs. Jackson
Starkeisha
Movie • 2022
The Voice
The Devil You Know
Movie • 2022
Della Cowans
The Red Sneakers
Movie • 2002
Berniece
The Obama Effect
Movie • 2012
Molly Thomas
All About You
Movie • 2001
Donna Taylor
Black Girl, Erupted
Movie • 2023
Dr. Rebecca Francis
Archibald the Rainbow Painter
Movie • 1998
Diana
Love Song
Movie • 2000
Evie Livingston
Holla 2
Movie • 2013
Marion
Under the Boardwalk
Movie • 2023
Val (voice)
Polly: Comin' Home!
Movie • 1990
Nancy Dodds
Between Sisters
Movie • 2013
Lillian
The Last Fall
Movie • 2012
Marie Bishop
Memphis
Movie • 1992
Martha Kinship
Southside with You
Movie • 2016
Marian Robinson
Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch
Movie • 2024
Idella Landy
The Cherokee Kid
Movie • 1996
Abby Holsopple
The Bounce Back
Movie • 2016
Ellen
The Return of Desperado
Movie • 1988
Molly Pickett
Love Under New Management: The Miki Howard Story
Movie • 2016
Josephine
America's Dream
Movie • 1996
Miss Williams (segment "The Boy Who Painted Christ Black")
One of Them Days
Movie • 2025
Mama Ruth
Number One with a Bullet
Movie • 1987
Woman
The Preacher's Son
Movie • 2017
Elena
A Private Affair
Movie • 2000
Nikka
Love, Once and Always
Movie • 2018
Isabel
Unbroken: Path to Redemption
Movie • 2018
Lila Burkholder
Coming to America
Movie • 1988
Imani Izzi
Mosquito
Movie • 2022
Eve
Thriller
Movie • 2018
Mrs. Jackson
Why Colors?
Movie • 1992
Throwback Holiday
Movie • 2018
Mildred Anderson
Her Only Choice
Movie • 2018
Dr. Bailey
Dragged Across Concrete
Movie • 2019
Jennifer Johns
The Brothers
Movie • 2001
Dr. Thelma Woolridge
Coming 2 America
Movie • 2021
Imani Izzi
Harriet
Movie • 2019
Rit Ross
Stompin' at the Savoy
Movie • 1992
Dorothy
Cheaper by the Dozen
Movie • 2003
Diana Philips
Crimson Tide
Movie • 1995
Julia Hunter
Baby
Movie • 2021
Jackie
Message From a Mistress
Movie • 2017
Heather
The Divorce
Movie • 2014
Eva
American Skin
Movie • 2019
Bernice
The Undershepherd
Movie • 2012
Deaconess Carter
Queens of Christmas
Movie • 2024
Julia Mason
Dawg
Movie • 2002
Christine Hodges
Malcolm & Eddie
TV • 1996
L.A. Law
TV • 1986
Robyn Edwards
A Different World
TV • 1987
Lily Connors
Boston Public
TV • 2000
Mrs. Michelle Ronning
The District
TV • 2000
Gwen Hendrix
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
TV • 2000
Judge Himmel
One on One
TV • 2001
Michelle McCall
Joan of Arcadia
TV • 2003
Corey Phillips
CSI: Miami
TV • 2002
Tonya Washington
The Division
TV • 2001
Dana
Touched by an Angel
TV • 1994
Debra Willis
Simon & Simon
TV • 1981
China Beach
TV • 1988
The Sinbad Show
TV • 1993
227
TV • 1985
Cold Case
TV • 2003
Geraldine Watkins (1970)
The View
TV • 1997
Self
Where I Live
TV • 1993
Moesha
TV • 1996
Dr. Woods
Diagnosis: Murder
TV • 1993
Mrs. Calender
The Parkers
TV • 1999
Prey
TV • 1998
The Colbys
TV • 1985
Go On
TV • 2012
Joyce
The 100 Lives of Black Jack Savage
TV • 1991
Under One Roof
TV • 1995
Maggie Langston
Orleans
TV • 1997
Rosalee Clark
10-8: Officers on Duty
TV • 2003
Gina Barnes
Rhythm & Blues
TV • 1992
Black in the 80s
TV • 2005
Self
Let's Stay Together
TV • 2011
Castle
TV • 2009
Beryl Wickfield
Rizzoli & Isles
TV • 2010
Assistant District Attorney
NCIS
TV • 2003
Sally Hammond
Kenan
TV • 2021
Bobbi
Saints & Sinners
TV • 2016
Lady Ella Johnson
A Different World
TV • 1987
Danielle Vinson
Sherri
TV • 2022
Self - Guest
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child
TV • 1995
Princess Katusha (voice)
This Is Us
TV • 2016
Edie
The Black Hamptons
TV • 2022
Carolyn Britton
This Is Us
TV • 2016
Edie (uncredited)
The Temptations
TV • 1998
Johnnie Mae Matthews
A Black Lady Sketch Show
TV • 2019
Kiley's Mother
The Vince Staples Show
TV • 2024
The Conners
TV • 2018
Carrie Langham
Grey's Anatomy
TV • 2005
Lucinda Gamble
Unbelievable
TV • 2019
Sarah
Dream On
TV • 1990
Jeanette
Dexter
TV • 2006
Crisis Counselor
Strong Medicine
TV • 2000
Melanie Rhodes
Shameless
TV • 2011
Carol Fisher
Black Monday
TV • 2019
Ruth
The Closer
TV • 2005
Lynn Talmadge
Falcon Crest
TV • 1981
Nurse
Wicked City
TV • 2022
Tabitha
Harry's Law
TV • 2011
Jude Campbell
Max Monroe: Loose Cannon
TV • 1990
Velma Jones
The Wonderful World of Disney
TV • 1954
Nancy