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Vanessa Bell Calloway

Actor, Director, ProducerBorn March 20, 1957 (68 years)
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.

Movies & Shows on Plex

  • Dragged Across Concrete
  • The Conners
  • The Temptations
  • Real Husbands of Hollywood
  • Falcon Crest
  • Death Spa
  • Dawg
  • About Scout
  • Prey
  • The Red Sneakers
  • All About You
  • Love Under New Management: The Miki Howard Story
  • To Hell and Back
  • A Holiday Chance
  • Between Sisters
  • Someday at Christmas
  • Emergency Contact

Known For

  • What's Love Got to Do with It
  • Daylight
  • Harriet
  • Southside with You
  • Bebe's Kids
  • One of Them Days
  • The Vince Staples Show
  • The Red Sneakers
  • Carl Weber’s The Black Hamptons
  • The Inkwell
  • Love, Once and Always
  • The Devil You Know
  • Wicked City (2022)
  • Saints & Sinners
  • Love Song
  • The Cherokee Kid
  • American Skin
  • Under the Boardwalk
  • The Obama Effect
  • The Last Fall
  • Throwback Holiday
  • Between Sisters

Filmography

2025
One of Them Days · as Mama Ruth
2024
2024
2023
Under the Boardwalk · as Val (voice)
2023
The Couch: Black Girl Erupted · as Dr. Rebecca Francis
2022
Wicked City (2022) (TV Series) · as Tabitha
2022
Carl Weber’s The Black Hamptons (TV Series) · as Carolyn Britton
2022
The Devil You Know · as Della Cowans
2022
Starkeisha · as The Voice
2021
Grand Crew (TV Series) · as Brenda
2021
2021
Sacrifice (TV Series) · as Carol Steinburg
2021
Coming 2 America · as Imani Izzi
2021
Kenan (TV Series) · as Bobbi
2021
2019
Harriet · as Rit Ross
2019
Unbelievable (TV Series) · as Sarah
2019
American Skin · as Bernice
2019
A Black Lady Sketch Show (TV Series) · as Kiley's Mother
2019
Black Monday (TV Series) · as Ruth
2018
2018
Throwback Holiday · as Mildred Anderson
2018
The Conners (TV Series) · as Carrie Langham
2018
Her Only Choice · as Dr. Bailey
2018
Thriller · as Mrs. Jackson
2018
Unbroken: Path to Redemption · as Lila Burkholder
2018
Rel (TV Series) · as Nancy
2018
Love Is___ (TV Series) · as 'wiser' Angela
2018
2017
2017
The Preacher's Son · as Elena
2016
The Bounce Back · as Ellen
2016
This Is Us (TV Series) · as Edie
2016
Queen Sugar (TV Series) · as Betty
2016
2016
2016
Saints & Sinners (TV Series) · as Lady Ella Johnson
2016
LAPD African Cops · as Officer Collins
2015
In The Cut (TV Series) · as Samantha
2015
About Scout · as Faith Price
2015
Emergency Contact · as Ruthie Biltmore
2015
2014
Survivor's Remorse (TV Series) · as Camille Jordan
2014
Hand of God (TV Series) · as Eunetta Graham
2014
Reckless (2014) (TV Series) · as Judge Kress
2014
Murder in the First (TV Series) · as Veronza Ervin
2014
The Divorce · as Eva
2013
Holla II · as Marion
2013
2013
Real Husbands of Hollywood (TV Series) · as Trina's Mother
2012
Go On (TV Series) · as Joyce
2012
The Obama Effect · as Molly Thomas
2012
A Beautiful Soul · as Guardian Angel
2012
The Last Fall · as Marie Bishop
2012
The Undershepherd · as Deaconess Carter
2011
Ringer (TV Series) · as Agent Royce Wiegler
2011
Harry's Law (TV Series) · as Judge Jude Campbell
2011
2011
Shameless (US) (TV Series) · as Carol Fisher
2010
Detroit 1-8-7 (TV Series) · as Bonnie Mccord
2010
Outlaw (TV Series) · as Cast
2010
Rizzoli & Isles (TV Series) · as Assistant District Attorney
2009
Divas · as Wendy Johnson
2009
Applause for Miss E · as Miss E
2009
HawthoRNe (TV Series) · as Gail Strummer
2009
Castle (2009) (TV Series) · as Beryl Wickfield
2009
2008
Lakeview Terrace · as Aunt Dorrie
2007
Stompin' · as Mrs. Jackson
2006
Dexter (TV Series) · as Crisis Counselor
2006
Tyler Perry's House of Payne (TV Series) · as Brenda Carlson
2005
The Closer (TV Series) · as Lynn Talmadge
2005
Grey's Anatomy (TV Series) · as Lucinda Gamble
2003
Cheaper by the Dozen · as Diana Philips
2003
Love Don't Cost a Thing · as Vivian Johnson
2003
2003
Cold Case (TV Series) · as Geraldine Watkins (1970)
2003
Joan of Arcadia (TV Series) · as Corey Phillips
2003
All of Us (TV Series) · as Marvella James
2003
NCIS (TV Series) · as Sally Hammond
2003
Biker Boyz · as Anita
2002
CSI: Miami (TV Series) · as Tonya Washington
2002
Dawg · as Christine Hodges
2002
2001
One On One (TV Series) · as Michelle Mccall
2001
2001
The Brothers · as Dr. Thelma Woolridge
2001
The Division (TV Series) · as Dana
2000
Love Song · as Evie Livingston
2000
Boston Public (TV Series) · as Mrs. Michelle Ronning
2000
The District (TV Series) · as Gwen Hendrix
2000
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (TV Series) · as Judge Himmel
2000
Strong Medicine (TV Series) · as Melanie Rhodes
1999
The Parkers (TV Series)
1998
The Temptations (TV Series) · as Johnnie Mae Matthews
1998
1998
Prey (TV Series)
1997
The Gregory Hines Show (TV Series) · as Kyra Lewis
1997
Orleans (TV Series) · as Rosalee Clark
1996
The Cherokee Kid · as Abby Holsopple
1996
Daylight · as Grace Calloway
1996
Malcolm & Eddie (TV Series)
1996
Sparks (TV Series) · as Monique
1996
America's Dream · as Miss Williams (segment "the Boy Who Painted Christ Black")
1996
Moesha (TV Series)
1995
Crimson Tide · as Julia Hunter
1995
Under One Roof (TV Series) · as Maggie Langston
1995
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child (TV Series) · as Princess Katusha (voice)
1994
Touched by an Angel (TV Series) · as Debra Willis
1994
The Inkwell · as Francis Phillips
1993
Diagnosis Murder (TV Series) · as Mrs. Calender
1993
The Sinbad Show (TV Series)
1993
1993
Where I Live (TV Series)
1992
Rhythm & Blues (TV Series)
1992
Bebe's Kids · as Jamika (voice)
1992
Stompin' at the Savoy · as Dorothy
1992
Memphis · as Martha Kinship
1991
1990
Polly: Comin' Home! · as Nancy Dodds
1990
Dream On (TV Series) · as Jeanette
1990
Intimate Portrait (TV Series) · as Narrator
1990
Equal Justice (TV Series) · as Delia Wayne
1989
Polly · as Nancy
1989
Dragnet (1989) (TV Series) · as Receptionist
1989
Doctor Doctor (TV Series) · as Gail Butterfield
1989
A Little Bit Strange · as Marilyn Mcclane-Masterson
1989
Father Dowling Mysteries (TV Series) · as Dr. Emily Stone
1988
Death Spa · as Marci Hewitt
1988
Coming to America · as Imani Izzi
1988
China Beach (TV Series)
1988
In the Heat of the Night (TV Series) · as Audrey Moore
1988
The Return of Desperado · as Molly Pickett
1987
A Different World (TV Series) · as Danielle Vinson
1987
The Tracey Ullman Show (TV Series) · as Cindy #4
1987
1986
L.A. Law (TV Series) · as Robyn Edwards
1985
The Colbys (TV Series)
1985
227 (TV Series)
1984
1st & Ten (TV Series) · as Della King
1983
Webster (TV Series) · as Denice
1981
Falcon Crest (TV Series) · as Nurse
1981
Simon & Simon (TV Series)
1971
Great Performances (TV Series) · as Idella Landy
1970
All My Children (TV Series) · as Yvonne Caldwell
1965
Days of our Lives (TV Series) · as Charlene
1954
Disneyland (TV Series) · as Nancy

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