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Vanessa Bell Calloway

Actress / Television Actress / Film Actress / Voice Actress / Screenwriter / Film Producer | * 03/20/1957 (67) | Cleveland, Ohio (United States of America (USA))
Vanessa Bell Calloway (née Bell; born March 20, 1957) is an American actress. Beginning her career as a dancer, Bell Calloway became known for her film roles as Princess Imani Izzi in the 1988 comedy Coming to America and its sequel. Since then, Bell Calloway appeared in more than 150 film and television productions. She is a nine-time NAACP Image Awards nominee. Bell Callaway appeared in films Death Spa (1988), What's Love Got to Do with It (1993), The Inkwell (1994), Crimson Tide (1995), Daylight (1996), The Brothers (2001) and Biker Boyz (2003). Bell Calloway had several starring roles on television series and movies, include first African Am... ()
Photo of 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-timeNAACP Image Awardnominee.She began her acting career in the ABC daytime soap opera,All My Childrenin 1985. After moving to Los Angeles in 1986, she began appearing in episodes of prime time shows such asThe Colbys,Falcon Crest,227,China Beach,A Different World, andL.A. Law. She made her film debut onNumber One with a Bullet(1987), before supporting role ofEddie Murphy's character's arranged wife in the 1988 comedyComing to America.In 1990, she co-starred alongsideJoe Mortonin the ABC drama series,Equal Justice. During the 1990s, she had a number of supporting roles in films, includingWhat's Love Got to Do with It(1993) oppositeAngela Bassett,The Inkwell(1994), andCrimson Tide(1995) asDenzel 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 oppositeJames Earl JonesandJoe Mortonin the short-livedCBSprime 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 theNAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series. She had leading roles on the short-lived NBC sitcomRhythm & Blues(1992–93), and starred alongsideLarry Hagmanas his girlfriend in the CBS dramaOrleans(1997).In the 2000s, she had recurring roles onBoston PublicandThe District. She co-starred in films includingThe Brothers,All About You,Dawg,Biker Boyz,Love Don't Cost a Thing, andCheaper by the Dozen. She has guest starred onThe 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 theBounce TVfirst 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 filmSouthside with You. In 2018, she appeared in the Christian drama filmUnbroken: Path to Redemptionand the crime ThrillerDragged Across Concrete. In 2019, she played abolitionistHarriet Tubman's mother in the biographical drama filmHarriet.She reprised her role as Imani Izzi in the 2021 sequelComing 2 America.

Most frequent genres for this person: Drama | Comedies | Kids & Family

Known for these Movies & Shows

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Movies with Vanessa Bell Calloway as Actress(54)

as Val (voice)2023 Under the Boardwalk
as Eve2022 Mosquito
as Jackie2021 Baby
as Imani Izzi2021 Coming 2 America
as Sheryl2021 A Holiday Chance
as Bernice2019 American Skin
as Rit Ross2019 Harriet
as Mrs. Jackson2018 Thriller
as Mildred Anderson2018 Throwback Holiday
as Jennifer Johns2018 Dragged Across Concrete
as Lila Burkholder2018 Unbroken: Path to Redemption
as Dr. Bailey2018 Her Only Choice
as Isabel2018 Love, Once and Always
as Elena2017 The Preacher's Son
as Ellen2016 The Bounce Back
as Eva2014 The Divorce
as Marion2013 Holla 2
as Lillian2013 Between Sisters
as Molly Thomas2012 The Obama Effect
as Guardian Angel2012 A Beautiful Soul
as Deaconess Carter2012 The Undershepherd
as herself2009 Good Hair
as Aunt Dorrie2008 Lakeview Terrace
as Mrs. Jackson2007 Stompin'
as Diana Philips2003 Cheaper by the Dozen
as Anita2003 Biker Boyz
as Vivian Johnson2003 Love Don't Co$t a Thing
as Berniece2002 The Red Sneakers
as Dr. Thelma Woolridge2001 The Brothers
as Nikka2000 A Private Affair
as Evie Livingston2000 Love Song
as Miss Williams (segment "The Boy Who Painted Christ Black")1996 America's Dream
as Abby Holsopple1996 The Cherokee Kid
as Grace Calloway1996 Daylight
as Julia Hunter1995 Crimson Tide
as Francis Phillips1994 The Inkwell
as Jamika (voice)1992 Bebe's Kids
as Martha Kinship1992 Memphis
as Nancy Dodds1990 Polly: Comin' Home!
as Marci Hewitt1990 Death Spa
as Nancy1989 Polly
as Imani Izzi1988 Coming to America
as Molly Pickett1988 The Return of Desperado

TV Shows/Series with Vanessa Bell Calloway as Actress(48)

as Carolyn Britton2022 The Black Hamptons
as Ruth2019 Black Monday
as Kiley's Mother2019 A Black Lady Sketch Show
as Carrie Langham2018 The Conners
as Edie2016 This Is Us
as Edie (uncredited)2016 This Is Us
as Lady Ella Johnson2016 Saints & Sinners
as Joyce2012 Go On
as Carol Fisher2011 Shameless
as Assistant District Attorney2010 Rizzoli & Isles
as Beryl Wickfield2009 Castle
as Crisis Counselor2006 Dexter
as Lucinda Gamble2005 Grey's Anatomy
as Lynn Talmadge2005 The Closer
as Sally Hammond2003 NCIS
as Geraldine Watkins (1970)2003 Cold Case
as Tonya Washington2002 CSI: Miami
as Mrs. Michelle Ronning2000 Boston Public
as Gwen Hendrix2000 The District
as Judge Himmel2000 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
as Johnnie Mae Matthews1998 The Temptations
1998 Prey
as herself1997 The View
as Rosalee Clark1997 Orleans
1996 Moesha
as Maggie Langston1995 Under One Roof
as Debra Willis1994 Touched by an Angel
as Mrs. Calender1993 Diagnosis: Murder
as Danielle Vinson1987 A Different World
as Robyn Edwards1986 L.A. Law
1985 227

Movies with Vanessa Bell Calloway as Crew(1)

Directing/Director2021 Someday At Christmas

Additional Information

Full Name: Vanessa Calloway
Born: Wednesday, 03/20 1957 (March) in Cleveland, Ohio (United States of America (USA)) (current age: 67 years + 8 days)
Zodiac sign: Pisces (Chinese zodiac sign: Rooster)
Languages: English (EN, native language)
Educated at: Ohio University, Cleveland Central Catholic High School
Member of: Alpha Kappa Alpha
Other names for Vanessa Bell Calloway (nicknames, foreign languages etc.):
"Vanessa Bell"
Vanessa Bell Calloway frequently works together with these people:
William Allen Young (13x, Actor)
Raphael Sbarge (12x, Actor)
John Rubinstein (12x, Actor)
Jack McGee (12x, Actor)
Steven Culp (11x, Actor)
Anthony Zuiker (11x, Crew)
Isabella Rose Landau (11x, Actress)
Lee Garlington (10x, Actress)
Mark Moses (10x, Actor)
Bobby Hosea (10x, Actor)
Eddie Murphy (5x, Actor)
WatchPlayStream ID: PEOPLE:9227, Added: 05/06/2018, Last updated: 03/13/2024