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