Acting · Cleveland, Ohio, USA · Born March 20, 1957
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.
MovieOne of Them Days
2025
as Mama Ruth
MovieQueens of Christmas
2024
as Julia Mason
MoviePurlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch
2024
as Idella Landy
TVThe Vince Staples Show
2024
as Anita
MovieUnder the Boardwalk
2023
as Val (voice)
MovieBlack Girl, Erupted
2023
as Dr. Rebecca Francis
TVWicked City
2022
as Tabitha
TVSherri
2022
as Self - Guest
TVThe Black Hamptons
2022
as Carolyn Britton
MovieMosquito
2022
as Eve
MovieThe Devil You Know
2022
as Della Cowans
MovieStarkeisha
2022
as The Voice
MovieBaby
2021
as Jackie
TVGrand Crew
2021
as Brenda
MovieA Holiday Chance
2021
as Sheryl
MovieComing 2 America
2021
as Imani Izzi
TVKenan
2021
as Bobbi
MovieSaints & Sinners: Judgment Day
2021
as Ella
MovieHarriet
2019
as Rit Ross
TVUnbelievable
2019
as Sarah
MovieAmerican Skin
2019
as Bernice
TVA Black Lady Sketch Show
2019
as Kiley's Mother
MovieDragged Across Concrete
2019
as Jennifer Johns
TVBlack Monday
2019
as Ruth
MovieThrowback Holiday
2018
as Mildred Anderson
TVThe Conners
2018
as Carrie Langham
MovieHer Only Choice
2018
as Dr. Bailey
MovieThriller
2018
as Mrs. Jackson
MovieUnbroken: Path to Redemption
2018
as Lila Burkholder
MovieLove, Once and Always
2018
as Isabel
MovieMessage From a Mistress
2017
as Heather
MovieThe Preacher's Son
2017
as Elena
TVThis Is Us
2016
as Edie
MovieSouthside with You
2016
as Marian Robinson
MovieLove Under New Management: The Miki Howard Story
2016
as Josephine
TVSaints & Sinners
2016
as Lady Ella Johnson
MovieThe Bounce Back
2016
as Ellen
MovieDivas!
2015
as Wendy
MovieTo Hell and Back
2014
MovieThe Divorce
2014
as Eva
MovieHolla 2
2013
as Marion
MovieBetween Sisters
2013
as Lillian
TVGo On
2012
as Joyce
MovieThe Obama Effect
2012
as Molly Thomas
MovieA Beautiful Soul
2012
as Guardian Angel
MovieThe Last Fall
2012
as Marie Bishop
MovieThe Undershepherd
2012
as Deaconess Carter
TVRinger
2011
as Royce Wiegler
TVHarry's Law
2011
as Jude Campbell
TVLet's Stay Together
2011
TVShameless
2011
as Carol Fisher
TVRizzoli & Isles
2010
as Assistant District Attorney
MovieGood Hair
2009
as Self
TVCastle
2009
as Beryl Wickfield
MovieLakeview Terrace
2008
as Aunt Dorrie
MovieStompin'
2007
as Mrs. Jackson
TVDexter
2006
as Crisis Counselor
TVThe Closer
2005
as Lynn Talmadge
TVGrey's Anatomy
2005
as Lucinda Gamble
TVBlack in the 80s
2005
as Self
MovieCheaper by the Dozen
2003
as Diana Philips
MovieLove Don't Co$t a Thing
2003
as Vivian Johnson
TVCold Case
2003
as Geraldine Watkins (1970)
TV10-8: Officers on Duty
2003
as Gina Barnes
TVJoan of Arcadia
2003
as Corey Phillips
TVNCIS
2003
as Sally Hammond
MovieBiker Boyz
2003
as Anita
TVCSI: Miami
2002
as Tonya Washington
MovieDawg
2002
as Christine Hodges
MovieThe Red Sneakers
2002
as Berniece
TVOne on One
2001
as Michelle McCall
MovieAll About You
2001
as Donna Taylor
MovieThe Brothers
2001
as Dr. Thelma Woolridge
TVThe Division
2001
as Dana
MovieLove Song
2000
as Evie Livingston
TVBoston Public
2000
as Mrs. Michelle Ronning
TVThe District
2000
as Gwen Hendrix
TVCSI: Crime Scene Investigation
2000
as Judge Himmel
MovieA Private Affair
2000
as Nikka
TVStrong Medicine
2000
as Melanie Rhodes
TVThe Parkers
1999
TVThe Temptations
1998
as Johnnie Mae Matthews
MovieArchibald the Rainbow Painter
1998
as Diana
TVPrey
1998
TVThe View
1997
as Self
TVOrleans
1997
as Rosalee Clark
MovieThe Cherokee Kid
1996
as Abby Holsopple
MovieDaylight
1996
as Grace Calloway
TVMalcolm & Eddie
1996
MovieAmerica's Dream
1996
as Miss Williams (segment "The Boy Who Painted Christ Black")
TVMoesha
1996
as Dr. Woods
MovieCrimson Tide
1995
as Julia Hunter
Under One Roof
1995
as Maggie Langston
TVHappily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child
1995
as Princess Katusha (voice)
TVTouched by an Angel
1994
as Debra Willis
MovieThe Inkwell
1994
as Francis Phillips
TVDiagnosis: Murder
1993
as Mrs. Calender
The Sinbad Show
1993
MovieWhat's Love Got to Do with It
1993
as Jackie
TVWhere I Live
1993
TVRhythm & Blues
1992
MovieBebe's Kids
1992
as Jamika (voice)
MovieStompin' at the Savoy
1992
as Dorothy
MovieMemphis
1992
as Martha Kinship
Why Colors?
1992
TVThe 100 Lives of Black Jack Savage
1991
MoviePolly: Comin' Home!
1990
as Nancy Dodds
TVDream On
1990
as Jeanette
Max Monroe: Loose Cannon
1990
as Velma Jones
MoviePolly
1989
as Nancy
MovieDeath Spa
1988
as Marci Hewitt
MovieComing to America
1988
as Imani Izzi
TVChina Beach
1988
MovieThe Return of Desperado
1988
as Molly Pickett
TVA Different World
1987
as Lily Connors
MovieNumber One with a Bullet
1987
as Woman
TVL.A. Law
1986
as Robyn Edwards
TVThe Colbys
1985
TV227
1985
TVFalcon Crest
1981
as Nurse
TVSimon & Simon
1981
TVThe Wonderful World of Disney
1954
as Nancy
