
Vanessa Bell Calloway
Known for Acting · 121 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 (58)

Grey's Anatomy
2005
as Lucinda Gamble

NCIS
2003
as Sally Hammond

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
2000
as Judge Himmel

Shameless
2011
as Carol Fisher

Dexter
2006
as Crisis Counselor

CSI: Miami
2002
as Tonya Washington

Castle
2009
as Beryl Wickfield

Sherri
2022
as Self - Guest

The Closer
2005
as Lynn Talmadge

Falcon Crest
1981
as Nurse

The View
1997
as Self

Diagnosis: Murder
1993
as Mrs. Calender

Rizzoli & Isles
2010
as Assistant District Attorney

This Is Us
2016
as Edie / Edie (uncredited)

Cold Case
2003
as Geraldine Watkins (1970)

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

Boston Public
2000
as Mrs. Michelle Ronning

A Different World
1987
as Lily Connors / Danielle Vinson

The District
2000
as Gwen Hendrix

Moesha
1996
as Dr. Woods

The Conners
2018
as Carrie Langham

One on One
2001
as Michelle McCall

Joan of Arcadia
2003
as Corey Phillips

China Beach
1988

Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child
1995
as Princess Katusha (voice)

Black Monday
2019
as Ruth

The Parkers
1999

227
1985

Dream On
1990
as Jeanette

Harry's Law
2011
as Jude Campbell

Malcolm & Eddie
1996

The Colbys
1985

Unbelievable
2019
as Sarah

A Black Lady Sketch Show
2019
as Kiley's Mother

Go On
2012
as Joyce

The Wonderful World of Disney
1954
as Nancy

Ringer
2011
as Royce Wiegler

Saints & Sinners
2016
as Lady Ella Johnson

10-8: Officers on Duty
2003
as Gina Barnes

Let's Stay Together
2011

Kenan
2021
as Bobbi
The Sinbad Show
1993

The Black Hamptons
2022
as Carolyn Britton

Prey
1998

The Vince Staples Show
2024
Max Monroe: Loose Cannon
1990
as Velma Jones

The Temptations
1998
as Johnnie Mae Matthews

Orleans
1997
as Rosalee Clark

Black in the 80s
2005
as Self

The 100 Lives of Black Jack Savage
1991

Wicked City
2022
as Tabitha

Where I Live
1993
Under One Roof
1995
as Maggie Langston

Rhythm & Blues
1992
Movies (63)

Coming to America
1988
as Imani Izzi

Crimson Tide
1995
as Julia Hunter

Love Don't Co$t a Thing
2003
as Vivian Johnson

Daylight
1996
as Grace Calloway

Coming 2 America
2021
as Imani Izzi

Dragged Across Concrete
2019
as Jennifer Johns

Cheaper by the Dozen
2003
as Diana Philips

One of Them Days
2025
as Mama Ruth

Under the Boardwalk
2023
as Val (voice)

Harriet
2019
as Rit Ross

Lakeview Terrace
2008
as Aunt Dorrie

Biker Boyz
2003
as Anita

Mosquito
2022
as Eve

Bebe's Kids
1992
as Jamika (voice)

What's Love Got to Do with It
1993
as Jackie

American Skin
2019
as Bernice

Unbroken: Path to Redemption
2018
as Lila Burkholder

Between Sisters
2013
as Lillian

Good Hair
2009
as Self

Thriller
2018
as Mrs. Jackson

Death Spa
1988
as Marci Hewitt
Why Colors?
1992

The Cherokee Kid
1996
as Abby Holsopple

The Red Sneakers
2002
as Berniece

Number One with a Bullet
1987
as Woman

Love Song
2000
as Evie Livingston

The Inkwell
1994
as Francis Phillips

The Brothers
2001
as Dr. Thelma Woolridge

The Devil You Know
2022
as Della Cowans

Dawg
2002
as Christine Hodges

The Bounce Back
2016
as Ellen

Southside with You
2016
as Marian Robinson

Throwback Holiday
2018
as Mildred Anderson

The Preacher's Son
2017
as Elena

Polly
1989
as Nancy

Archibald the Rainbow Painter
1998
as Diana

Baby
2021
as Jackie

Memphis
1992
as Martha Kinship

Stompin'
2007
as Mrs. Jackson

Black Girl, Erupted
2023
as Dr. Rebecca Francis

Love, Once and Always
2018
as Isabel

Starkeisha
2022
as The Voice

A Holiday Chance
2021
as Sheryl

Polly: Comin' Home!
1990
as Nancy Dodds

All About You
2001
as Donna Taylor

Message From a Mistress
2017
as Heather

America's Dream
1996
as Miss Williams (segment "The Boy Who Painted Christ Black")

A Beautiful Soul
2012
as Guardian Angel

Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch
2024
as Idella Landy

The Last Fall
2012
as Marie Bishop

The Undershepherd
2012
as Deaconess Carter

The Obama Effect
2012
as Molly Thomas

Love Under New Management: The Miki Howard Story
2016
as Josephine

Her Only Choice
2018
as Dr. Bailey

Saints & Sinners: Judgment Day
2021
as Ella

Stompin' at the Savoy
1992
as Dorothy

Holla 2
2013
as Marion

Divas!
2015
as Wendy

A Private Affair
2000
as Nikka

To Hell and Back
2014

The Return of Desperado
1988
as Molly Pickett

The Divorce
2014
as Eva

Queens of Christmas
2024
as Julia Mason
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 121 credits spanning from 1954 to 2025, Vanessa Bell Calloway has appeared in 63 films and 58 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 CineFlixo, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Vanessa Bell Calloway Movies
- Coming to America (1988) — as Imani Izzi
- Crimson Tide (1995) — as Julia Hunter
- Love Don't Co$t a Thing (2003) — as Vivian Johnson
- Daylight (1996) — as Grace Calloway
- Coming 2 America (2021) — as Imani Izzi
Where to Watch Vanessa Bell Calloway Films
Most Vanessa Bell Calloway movies and series are available to stream on CineFlixo 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.