Vanessa Bell Calloway

Known For: Acting
Born: March 20, 1957
Place of Birth: Cleveland, Ohio, USA

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. 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 …

Filmography

One of Them Days

2025 · Mama Ruth

Queens of Christmas

2024 · Julia Mason

Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch

2024 · Idella Landy

The Vince Staples Show

2024 · Anita

Under the Boardwalk

2023 · Val (voice)

Black Girl, Erupted

2023 · Dr. Rebecca Francis, Director

Wicked City

2022 · Tabitha

Sherri

2022 · Self - Guest

The Black Hamptons

2022 · Carolyn Britton

Mosquito

2022 · Eve

The Devil You Know

2022 · Della Cowans

Starkeisha

2022 · The Voice

Baby

2021 · Jackie

Grand Crew

2021 · Brenda

Someday At Christmas

2021 · Director

A Holiday Chance

2021 · Sheryl

Coming 2 America

2021 · Imani Izzi

Kenan

2021 · Bobbi

Saints & Sinners: Judgment Day

2021 · Ella

Harriet

2019 · Rit Ross

Unbelievable

2019 · Sarah

American Skin

2019 · Bernice

A Black Lady Sketch Show

2019 · Kiley's Mother

Dragged Across Concrete

2019 · Jennifer Johns

Black Monday

2019 · Ruth

Throwback Holiday

2018 · Mildred Anderson

The Conners

2018 · Carrie Langham

Her Only Choice

2018 · Dr. Bailey

Thriller

2018 · Mrs. Jackson

Unbroken: Path to Redemption

2018 · Lila Burkholder

Love, Once and Always

2018 · Isabel

Message From a Mistress

2017 · Heather

The Preacher's Son

2017 · Elena

This Is Us

2016 · Edie, Edie (uncredited)

Southside with You

2016 · Marian Robinson

Love Under New Management: The Miki Howard Story

2016 · Josephine

Saints & Sinners

2016 · Lady Ella Johnson

The Bounce Back

2016 · Ellen

Divas!

2015 · Wendy

To Hell and Back

2014

The Divorce

2014 · Eva

Holla 2

2013 · Marion

Between Sisters

2013 · Lillian

Go On

2012 · Joyce

The Obama Effect

2012 · Molly Thomas

A Beautiful Soul

2012 · Guardian Angel

The Last Fall

2012 · Marie Bishop

The Undershepherd

2012 · Deaconess Carter

Ringer

2011 · Royce Wiegler

Harry's Law

2011 · Jude Campbell

Let's Stay Together

2011

Shameless

2011 · Carol Fisher

Rizzoli & Isles

2010 · Assistant District Attorney

Good Hair

2009 · Self

Castle

2009 · Beryl Wickfield

Lakeview Terrace

2008 · Aunt Dorrie

Stompin'

2007 · Mrs. Jackson

Dexter

2006 · Crisis Counselor

The Closer

2005 · Lynn Talmadge

Grey's Anatomy

2005 · Lucinda Gamble

Black in the 80s

2005 · Self

Cheaper by the Dozen

2003 · Diana Philips

Love Don't Co$t a Thing

2003 · Vivian Johnson

Cold Case

2003 · Geraldine Watkins (1970)

10-8: Officers on Duty

2003 · Gina Barnes

Joan of Arcadia

2003 · Corey Phillips

NCIS

2003 · Sally Hammond

Biker Boyz

2003 · Anita

CSI: Miami

2002 · Tonya Washington

Dawg

2002 · Christine Hodges

The Red Sneakers

2002 · Berniece

One on One

2001 · Michelle McCall

All About You

2001 · Donna Taylor

The Brothers

2001 · Dr. Thelma Woolridge

The Division

2001 · Dana

Love Song

2000 · Evie Livingston

Boston Public

2000 · Mrs. Michelle Ronning

The District

2000 · Gwen Hendrix

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

2000 · Judge Himmel

A Private Affair

2000 · Nikka

Strong Medicine

2000 · Melanie Rhodes

The Parkers

1999

The Temptations

1998 · Johnnie Mae Matthews

Archibald the Rainbow Painter

1998 · Diana

Prey

1998

The View

1997 · Self

Orleans

1997 · Rosalee Clark

The Cherokee Kid

1996 · Abby Holsopple

Daylight

1996 · Grace Calloway

Malcolm & Eddie

1996

America's Dream

1996 · Miss Williams (segment "The Boy Who Painted Christ Black")

Moesha

1996 · Dr. Woods

Crimson Tide

1995 · Julia Hunter

Under One Roof

1995 · Maggie Langston

Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child

1995 · Princess Katusha (voice)

Touched by an Angel

1994 · Debra Willis

The Inkwell

1994 · Francis Phillips

Diagnosis: Murder

1993 · Mrs. Calender

The Sinbad Show

The Sinbad Show

1993

What's Love Got to Do with It

1993 · Jackie

Where I Live

1993

Rhythm & Blues

1992

Bebe's Kids

1992 · Jamika (voice)

Stompin' at the Savoy

1992 · Dorothy

Memphis

1992 · Martha Kinship

Why Colors?

1992

The 100 Lives of Black Jack Savage

1991

Polly: Comin' Home!

1990 · Nancy Dodds

Dream On

1990 · Jeanette

Max Monroe: Loose Cannon

Max Monroe: Loose Cannon

1990 · Velma Jones

Polly

1989 · Nancy

Death Spa

1988 · Marci Hewitt

Coming to America

1988 · Imani Izzi

China Beach

1988

The Return of Desperado

1988 · Molly Pickett

A Different World

1987 · Lily Connors, Danielle Vinson

Number One with a Bullet

1987 · Woman

L.A. Law

1986 · Robyn Edwards

The Colbys

1985

227

1985

Falcon Crest

1981 · Nurse

Simon & Simon

1981

The Wonderful World of Disney

1954 · Nancy

Vanessa Bell Calloway · Virelixia