Vanessa Bell Calloway
Known for Acting · 122 credits
- Born
- 1957-03-20 (age 69)
- Place of birth
- Cleveland, Ohio, USA
- Also known as
- Vanessa Bell
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.
Known For
TV Shows (59)
Grey's Anatomy
2005
as Lucinda Gamble
NCIS
2003
as Sally Hammond
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
2000
as Judge Himmel
Dexter
2006
as Crisis Counselor
Shameless
2011
as Carol Fisher
CSI: Miami
2002
as Tonya Washington
Castle
2009
as Beryl Wickfield
This Is Us
2016
as Edie / Edie (uncredited)
The Closer
2005
as Lynn Talmadge
The View
1997
as Self
Sherri
2022
as Self - Guest
Rizzoli & Isles
2010
as Assistant District Attorney
Cold Case
2003
as Geraldine Watkins (1970)
Diagnosis: Murder
1993
as Mrs. Calender
Falcon Crest
1981
as Nurse
Strong Medicine
2000
as Melanie Rhodes
L.A. Law
1986
as Robyn Edwards
Touched by an Angel
1994
as Debra Willis
Simon & Simon
1981
The Division
2001
as Dana
A Different World
1987
as Lily Connors / Danielle Vinson
Boston Public
2000
as Mrs. Michelle Ronning
Moesha
1996
as Dr. Woods
The District
2000
as Gwen Hendrix
The Conners
2018
as Carrie Langham
Joan of Arcadia
2003
as Corey Phillips
One on One
2001
as Michelle McCall
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child
1995
as Princess Katusha (voice)
Harry's Law
2011
as Jude Campbell
227
1985
China Beach
1988
The Parkers
1999
Dream On
1990
as Jeanette
Black Monday
2019
as Ruth
Unbelievable
2019
as Sarah
A Black Lady Sketch Show
2019
as Kiley's Mother
Ringer
2011
as Royce Wiegler
Malcolm & Eddie
1996
The Wonderful World of Disney
1954
as Nancy
10-8: Officers on Duty
2003
as Gina Barnes
The Colbys
1985
Saints & Sinners
2016
as Lady Ella Johnson
Go On
2012
as Joyce
Grand Crew
2021
as Brenda
The Vince Staples Show
2024
as Anita
Kenan
2021
as Bobbi
The Black Hamptons
2022
as Carolyn Britton
The Temptations
1998
as Johnnie Mae Matthews
Wicked City
2022
as Tabitha
The Sinbad Show
1993
Let's Stay Together
2011
Prey
1998
The 100 Lives of Black Jack Savage
1991
Where I Live
1993
Rhythm & Blues
1992
Under One Roof
1995
as Maggie Langston
Black in the 80s
2005
as Self
Max Monroe: Loose Cannon
1990
as Velma Jones
Orleans
1997
as Rosalee Clark
Movies (63)
Love Don't Co$t a Thing
2003
as Vivian Johnson
Coming to America
1988
as Imani Izzi
One of Them Days
2025
as Mama Ruth
Coming 2 America
2021
as Imani Izzi
Crimson Tide
1995
as Julia Hunter
Cheaper by the Dozen
2003
as Diana Philips
Dragged Across Concrete
2019
as Jennifer Johns
Daylight
1996
as Grace Calloway
Harriet
2019
as Rit Ross
Under the Boardwalk
2023
as Val (voice)
Unbroken: Path to Redemption
2018
as Lila Burkholder
Mosquito
2022
as Eve
Biker Boyz
2003
as Anita
What's Love Got to Do with It
1993
as Jackie
Lakeview Terrace
2008
as Aunt Dorrie
Number One with a Bullet
1987
as Woman
The Undershepherd
2012
as Deaconess Carter
Polly
1989
as Nancy
Queens of Christmas
2024
as Julia Mason
Stompin'
2007
as Mrs. Jackson
Divas!
2015
as Wendy
The Bounce Back
2016
as Ellen
Stompin' at the Savoy
1992
as Dorothy
Good Hair
2009
as Self
Polly: Comin' Home!
1990
as Nancy Dodds
Throwback Holiday
2018
as Mildred Anderson
The Cherokee Kid
1996
as Abby Holsopple
Message From a Mistress
2017
as Heather
Starkeisha
2022
as The Voice
Her Only Choice
2018
as Dr. Bailey
The Preacher's Son
2017
as Elena
A Beautiful Soul
2012
as Guardian Angel
Bebe's Kids
1992
as Jamika (voice)
The Devil You Know
2022
as Della Cowans
Love, Once and Always
2018
as Isabel
The Red Sneakers
2002
as Berniece
Saints & Sinners: Judgment Day
2021
as Ella
American Skin
2019
as Bernice
The Brothers
2001
as Dr. Thelma Woolridge
Southside with You
2016
as Marian Robinson
A Private Affair
2000
as Nikka
Death Spa
1988
as Marci Hewitt
Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch
2024
as Idella Landy
Black Girl, Erupted
2023
as Dr. Rebecca Francis
America's Dream
1996
as Miss Williams (segment "The Boy Who Painted Christ Black")
Baby
2021
as Jackie
To Hell and Back
2014
Dawg
2002
as Christine Hodges
The Last Fall
2012
as Marie Bishop
The Inkwell
1994
as Francis Phillips
Thriller
2018
as Mrs. Jackson
The Obama Effect
2012
as Molly Thomas
All About You
2001
as Donna Taylor
The Return of Desperado
1988
as Molly Pickett
The Divorce
2014
as Eva
Love Song
2000
as Evie Livingston
Archibald the Rainbow Painter
1998
as Diana
A Holiday Chance
2021
as Sheryl
Love Under New Management: The Miki Howard Story
2016
as Josephine
Memphis
1992
as Martha Kinship
Between Sisters
2013
as Lillian
Holla 2
2013
as Marion
Why Colors?
1992
About 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.… With 122 credits spanning from 1954 to 2025, Vanessa Bell Calloway has appeared in 63 films and 59 TV shows.
Fans searching for Vanessa Bell Calloway movies, Vanessa Bell Calloway filmography, or the latest projects starring Vanessa Bell Calloway can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Vanessa Bell Calloway Movies
- Love Don't Co$t a Thing (2003) — as Vivian Johnson
- Coming to America (1988) — as Imani Izzi
- One of Them Days (2025) — as Mama Ruth
- Coming 2 America (2021) — as Imani Izzi
- Crimson Tide (1995) — as Julia Hunter
Where to Watch Vanessa Bell Calloway Films
Most Vanessa Bell Calloway movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Vanessa Bell Calloway, check our movies catalogue and browse page.