Vanessa Bell Calloway
Acting
Born: March 20, 1957 (age 69) · Cleveland, Ohio, USA
Highest Rated
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.
Known for
Grey's Anatomy
2005
Dexter
2006
Coming to America
1988
Shameless
2011
Cheaper by the Dozen
2003
NCIS
2003
Coming 2 America
2021
Castle
2009
Crimson Tide
1995
CSI: Miami
2002
Daylight
1996
This Is Us
2016
Photos (3)
Movies (61)
Coming to America
Imani Izzi
Crimson Tide
Julia Hunter
Coming 2 America
Imani Izzi
Harriet
Rit Ross
One of Them Days
Mama Ruth
Love Don't Co$t a Thing
Vivian Johnson
Cheaper by the Dozen
Diana Philips
Dragged Across Concrete
Jennifer Johns
Daylight
Grace Calloway
Unbroken: Path to Redemption
Lila Burkholder
Lakeview Terrace
Aunt Dorrie
Southside with You
Marian Robinson
Biker Boyz
Anita
What's Love Got to Do with It
Jackie
Under the Boardwalk
Val (voice)
American Skin
Bernice
The Devil You Know
Della Cowans
Love, Once and Always
Isabel
Starkeisha
The Voice
Death Spa
Marci Hewitt
The Cherokee Kid
Abby Holsopple
Bebe's Kids
Jamika (voice)
The Brothers
Dr. Thelma Woolridge
A Beautiful Soul
Guardian Angel
The Bounce Back
Ellen
The Undershepherd
Deaconess Carter
Mosquito
Eve
Number One with a Bullet
Woman
Thriller
Mrs. Jackson
Dawg
Christine Hodges
The Inkwell
Francis Phillips
All About You
Donna Taylor
Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch
Idella Landy
Message From a Mistress
Heather
Polly
Nancy
Stompin' at the Savoy
Dorothy
The Preacher's Son
Elena
The Last Fall
Marie Bishop
The Divorce
Eva
Between Sisters
Lillian
To Hell and Back
2014
The Return of Desperado
Molly Pickett
Archibald the Rainbow Painter
Diana
Queens of Christmas
Julia Mason
Her Only Choice
Dr. Bailey
Holla 2
Marion
America's Dream
Miss Williams (segment "The Boy Who Painted Christ Black")
The Red Sneakers
Berniece
Saints & Sinners: Judgment Day
Ella
Divas!
Wendy
Love Under New Management: The Miki Howard Story
Josephine
Polly: Comin' Home!
Nancy Dodds
A Private Affair
Nikka
Stompin'
Mrs. Jackson
Throwback Holiday
Mildred Anderson
Black Girl, Erupted
Dr. Rebecca Francis
Love Song
Evelyne Livingston
The Obama Effect
Molly Thomas
Memphis
Martha Kinship
A Holiday Chance
Sheryl
Baby
Jackie
TV Shows (55)
NCIS
Sally Hammond · 1 eps
Grey's Anatomy
Lucinda Gamble · 2 eps
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
Judge Himmel · 1 eps
CSI: Miami
Tonya Washington · 1 eps
Shameless
Carol Fisher · 20 eps
Castle
Beryl Wickfield · 1 eps
Dexter
Crisis Counselor · 1 eps
Diagnosis: Murder
Mrs. Calender · 1 eps
Rizzoli & Isles
Assistant District Attorney · 3 eps
This Is Us
Edie · 7 eps
This Is Us
Edie (uncredited) · 1 eps
The Closer
Lynn Talmadge · 1 eps
Falcon Crest
Nurse · 1 eps
Cold Case
Geraldine Watkins (1970) · 1 eps
L.A. Law
Robyn Edwards · 1 eps
The Conners
Carrie Langham · 1 eps
Touched by an Angel
Debra Willis · 1 eps
Strong Medicine
Melanie Rhodes · 1 eps
Dream On
Jeanette · 2 eps
Simon & Simon
1 eps
A Different World
Lily Connors · 1 eps
A Different World
Danielle Vinson · 1 eps
Boston Public
Mrs. Michelle Ronning · 3 eps
The Division
Dana · 1 eps
The District
Gwen Hendrix · 4 eps
Moesha
Dr. Woods · 1 eps
One on One
Michelle McCall · 1 eps
Black Monday
Ruth · 2 eps
Joan of Arcadia
Corey Phillips · 1 eps
The Parkers
1 eps
A Black Lady Sketch Show
Kiley's Mother · 1 eps
Harry's Law
Jude Campbell · 2 eps
China Beach
1 eps
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child
Princess Katusha (voice) · 1 eps
227
1 eps
Malcolm & Eddie
1 eps
Unbelievable
Sarah · 1 eps
The Colbys
1 eps
Go On
Joyce · 2 eps
10-8: Officers on Duty
Gina Barnes · 3 eps
Ringer
Royce Wiegler · 1 eps
The Wonderful World of Disney
Nancy · 1 eps
Grand Crew
Brenda · 1 eps
Kenan
Bobbi · 2 eps
Saints & Sinners
Lady Ella Johnson · 48 eps
Carl Weber's The Black Hamptons
Carolyn Britton · 12 eps
The Vince Staples Show
Anita · 7 eps
The Temptations
Johnnie Mae Matthews · 2 eps
Let's Stay Together
1 eps
Prey
1 eps
Rhythm & Blues
13 eps
The 100 Lives of Black Jack Savage
1 eps
Wicked City
Tabitha · 6 eps
Where I Live
1 eps
Orleans
Rosalee Clark · 8 eps
