Vanessa Bell Calloway
- Known For
- Acting
- Born
- March 20, 1957 in Cleveland, Ohio, USA
- Active Years
- 1954–2025 (72 Years)
- Total Credits
- 126 credits in database
Biography
Vanessa Bell Calloway is an American actress and dancer born on March 20, 1957, in Cleveland, Ohio. She is known for her film roles as Princess Imani Izzi in the 1988 comedy Coming to America, as well as appearances in What's Love Got to Do with It, The Inkwell, Crimson Tide, Daylight, and her film debut in Number One with a Bullet in 1987. She is a nine-time NAACP Image Award nominee. Her television career began in 1985 on the ABC daytime soap opera All My Children. After moving to Los Angeles in 1986, she appeared in prime time television shows including The Colbys, Falcon Crest, 227, China Beach, A Different World, and L.A. Law.
Career overview
Vanessa Bell Calloway is an American actress and dancer born on March 20, 1957, in Cleveland, Ohio. She is a nine-time NAACP Image Award nominee with 123 known acting credits listed on The Movie Database. She began her television acting career in 1985 on the ABC daytime soap opera All My Children. After moving to Los Angeles in 1986, she made guest and recurring appearances in prime time shows including The Colbys, Falcon Crest, 227, China Beach, A Different World, and L.A. Law.
In film, she made her debut in Number One with a Bullet in 1987. She gained further recognition for her role as Princess Imani Izzi, the arranged wife of Eddie Murphy's character, in the 1988 comedy Coming to America. Her additional film credits include What's Love Got to Do with It, The Inkwell, Crimson Tide, and Daylight.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
126 titles- One of Them Days (2025) as Mama Ruth
- The Vince Staples Show (2024) as Anita
- Queens of Christmas (2024) as Julia Mason
- Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch (2024) as Idella Landy
- Under the Boardwalk (2023) as Val (voice)
- Black Girl, Erupted (2023) as Dr. Rebecca Francis
- Black Girl, Erupted (2023) Director
- Sherri (2022) as Self - Guest
- Wicked City (2022) as Tabitha
- The Black Hamptons (2022) as Carolyn Britton
- Mosquito (2022) as Eve
- Starkeisha (2022) as The Voice
- The Devil You Know (2022) as Della Cowans
- Grand Crew (2021) as Brenda
- Coming 2 America (2021) as Imani Izzi
- Kenan (2021) as Bobbi
- Saints & Sinners: Judgment Day (2021) as Ella
- Baby (2021) as Jackie
- A Holiday Chance (2021) as Sheryl
- Someday At Christmas (2021) Director
- Black Monday (2019) as Ruth
- Unbelievable (2019) as Sarah
- A Black Lady Sketch Show (2019) as Kiley's Mother
- Harriet (2019) as Rit Ross
- Dragged Across Concrete (2019) as Jennifer Johns
- American Skin (2019) as Bernice
- The Conners (2018) as Carrie Langham
- Unbroken: Path to Redemption (2018) as Lila Burkholder
- Love, Once and Always (2018) as Isabel
- Thriller (2018) as Mrs. Jackson
- Her Only Choice (2018) as Dr. Bailey
- Throwback Holiday (2018) as Mildred Anderson
- Message From a Mistress (2017) as Heather
- The Preacher's Son (2017) as Elena
- This Is Us (2016) as Edie
- This Is Us (2016) as Edie (uncredited)
- Saints & Sinners (2016) as Lady Ella Johnson
- The Bounce Back (2016) as Ellen
- Southside with You (2016) as Marian Robinson
- Love Under New Management: The Miki Howard Story (2016) as Josephine
- Divas! (2015) as Wendy
- To Hell and Back (2014)
- The Divorce (2014) as Eva
- Holla 2 (2013) as Marion
- Between Sisters (2013) as Lillian
- Go On (2012) as Joyce
- The Undershepherd (2012) as Deaconess Carter
- The Obama Effect (2012) as Molly Thomas
- A Beautiful Soul (2012) as Guardian Angel
- The Last Fall (2012) as Marie Bishop
- Shameless (2011) as Carol Fisher
- Harry's Law (2011) as Jude Campbell
- Ringer (2011) as Royce Wiegler
- Let's Stay Together (2011)
- Rizzoli & Isles (2010) as Assistant District Attorney
- Castle (2009) as Beryl Wickfield
- Good Hair (2009) as Self
- Lakeview Terrace (2008) as Aunt Dorrie
- Stompin' (2007) as Mrs. Jackson
- Dexter (2006) as Crisis Counselor
- Grey's Anatomy (2005) as Lucinda Gamble
- The Closer (2005) as Lynn Talmadge
- Black in the 80s (2005) as Self
- NCIS (2003) as Sally Hammond
- Cold Case (2003) as Geraldine Watkins (1970)
- Joan of Arcadia (2003) as Corey Phillips
- Love Don't Co$t a Thing (2003) as Vivian Johnson
- 10-8: Officers on Duty (2003) as Gina Barnes
- Cheaper by the Dozen (2003) as Diana Philips
- Biker Boyz (2003) as Anita
- CSI: Miami (2002) as Tonya Washington
- The Red Sneakers (2002) as Berniece
- Dawg (2002) as Christine Hodges
- The Division (2001) as Dana
- One on One (2001) as Michelle McCall
- The Brothers (2001) as Dr. Thelma Woolridge
- All About You (2001) as Donna Taylor
- CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000) as Judge Himmel
- Strong Medicine (2000) as Melanie Rhodes
- Boston Public (2000) as Mrs. Michelle Ronning
- The District (2000) as Gwen Hendrix
- A Private Affair (2000) as Nikka
- Love Song (2000) as Evie Livingston
- The Parkers (1999)
- The Temptations (1998) as Johnnie Mae Matthews
- Prey (1998)
- Archibald the Rainbow Painter (1998) as Diana
- The View (1997) as Self
- Orleans (1997) as Rosalee Clark
- Moesha (1996) as Dr. Woods
- Malcolm & Eddie (1996)
- Daylight (1996) as Grace Calloway
- The Cherokee Kid (1996) as Abby Holsopple
- America's Dream (1996) as Miss Williams (segment "The Boy Who Painted Christ Black")
- Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child (1995) as Princess Katusha (voice)
- Crimson Tide (1995) as Julia Hunter
- Under One Roof (1995) as Maggie Langston
- Touched by an Angel (1994) as Debra Willis
- The Inkwell (1994) as Francis Phillips
- Diagnosis: Murder (1993) as Mrs. Calender
- The Sinbad Show (1993)
- What's Love Got to Do with It (1993) as Jackie
- Where I Live (1993)
- Rhythm & Blues (1992)
- Stompin' at the Savoy (1992) as Dorothy
- Bebe's Kids (1992) as Jamika (voice)
- Memphis (1992) as Martha Kinship
- Why Colors? (1992)
- The 100 Lives of Black Jack Savage (1991)
- Dream On (1990) as Jeanette
- Max Monroe: Loose Cannon (1990) as Velma Jones
- Polly: Comin' Home! (1990) as Nancy Dodds
- Polly (1989) as Nancy
- China Beach (1988)
- Coming to America (1988) as Imani Izzi
- Death Spa (1988) as Marci Hewitt
- The Return of Desperado (1988) as Molly Pickett
- A Different World (1987) as Lily Connors
- A Different World (1987) as Danielle Vinson
- Number One with a Bullet (1987) as Woman
- L.A. Law (1986) as Robyn Edwards
- 227 (1985)
- The Colbys (1985)
- Falcon Crest (1981) as Nurse
- Simon & Simon (1981)
- The Wonderful World of Disney (1954) as Nancy
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Vanessa Bell Calloway best known for?
Vanessa Bell Calloway is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including One of Them Days (2025), Under the Boardwalk (2023), Sherri (2022), Los verduleros 2 (1987).
When and where was Vanessa Bell Calloway born?
Vanessa Bell Calloway was born on March 20, 1957 in Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
How many credits does Vanessa Bell Calloway have?
Vanessa Bell Calloway has accumulated over 126 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1954 to 2025.
What is Vanessa Bell Calloway's background in cinema and television?
Vanessa Bell Calloway is an American actress and dancer born on March 20, 1957, in Cleveland, Ohio. She is known for her film roles as Princess Imani Izzi in the 1988 comedy Coming to America, as well as appearances in What's Love Got to Do with It, The Inkwell, Crimson Tide, Daylight, and her film debut in Number One ...
Vanessa Bell Calloway by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- This Is Us (2016) as Edie — aged about 59
- This Is Us (2016) as Edie (uncredited) — aged about 59
- Shameless (2011) as Carol Fisher — aged about 54
- Dexter (2006) as Crisis Counselor — aged about 49
- Grey's Anatomy (2005) as Lucinda Gamble — aged about 48
- Castle (2009) as Beryl Wickfield — aged about 52
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