Vanessa Bell Calloway
Vanessa Bell Calloway (born March 20, 1957) is an American actress and dancer. Beginning her career as a dancer, Bell Calloway is perhaps best known for her role as Princess Imani Izzi (Eddie Murphy's character's arranged wife) in the 1988 comedy Coming to America. In the following years, Bell Calloway appeared in What's Love Got to Do with It (1993), The Inkwell (1994), Crimson Tide (1995), and Daylight (1996). Bell Calloway had several starring roles on television series and movies, include first African American prime time soap opera, Under One Roof (1995). She later played recurring roles on Hawthorne and Shameless. In 2016, she appeared in comedy-drama film Southside with You, and began starring as Lady Ella Johnson in the Bounce TV prime time soap opera, Saints & Sinners. Bell Calloway is a nine-time NAACP Image Award nominee.
Vanessa Bell Calloway | |
|---|---|
 Bell Calloway in 2010 | |
| Born | Vanessa Bell March 20, 1957 Toledo, Ohio, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Ohio University |
| Occupation |
|
| Years active | 1985–present |
| Spouse(s) | Anthony Calloway (m. 1988) |
| Children | 2 |
| Website | vanessabellcalloway |
Early life
Bell was born in Toledo, Ohio.[1] She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Ohio University, where she became a member of the African-American Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.. Calloway also studied dance with Alvin Ailey, George Faison, and Otis Sallid. Calloway began her career as a dancer in Michael Bennett's original Broadway production of Dreamgirls.[2][3] It was during this time period that Calloway directed the music video "Angel Man" for soul singer Rhetta Hughes. She also was in the ensemble of the short-lived musical Bring Back Birdie.[4]
Career
Bell Calloway 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, Bell Calloway co-starred alongside Joe Morton in the ABC drama series, Equal Justice. During the 1990s, Bell Calloway had 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.[5] Bell Calloway also had number of leading and supporting roles in the 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 feature an African-American lead characters.[6] For her role on the series, Calloway was nominated for the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series. She also had the leading roles on the short-leved NBC sitcom Rhythm & Blues (1992–93), and starred alongside Larry Hagman as his girlfriend in the CBS drama Orleans (1997).
In the 2000s, Bell Calloway had the 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. Bell Calloway also guest starred on The Division, Strong Medicine, The Closer, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Dexter, Rizzoli & Isles, and Castle. 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, Bell Calloway was cast as lead character in the Bounce TV first prime time soap opera, Saints & Sinners.[7] She plays Lady Ella Johnson, the widow of pastor and manipulative "First Lady of the Church".[8] Also in 2016, Bell Calloway co-starred as president Obama's future mother-in-law, Marian Shields Robinson, opposite Tika Sumpter as Michelle Obama, in the comedy-drama film Southside with You, which premiered at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival.[9] She also guest starred on the ABC medical drama Grey's Anatomy playing Arizona's Lawyer.
In 2018, Bell Calloway 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.[10] She set to reprise her role as Imani Izzi in the upcoming sequel Coming 2 America.[11]
Personal life
Bell Calloway has been married to anesthesiologist Dr. Anthony Calloway since 1988. The couple have two daughters, Ashley and Alexandra.[1][12] Ashley was one of the stars of the BET series Baldwin Hills which originally ran from 2007 until 2009.[13]
In 2009, Bell Calloway was diagnosed with ductal carcinoma, an early stage of breast cancer. She underwent two lumpectomies, and then a mastectomy. She subsequently underwent reconstructive surgery, in which tissue from her stomach was used to reconstruct her breast. She recounted her experience in an October 2015 essay in Ebony magazine, by which point she had been cancer-free for six years.[12]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Number One with a Bullet | Woman | |
| 1988 | Coming to America | Imani Izzi | |
| 1989 | Death Spa | Marci Hewitt | |
| 1992 | Bébé's Kids | Jamika | Voice |
| 1992 | Why Colors? | Short film | |
| 1993 | What's Love Got to Do with It | Jackie | Nominated — NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture |
| 1994 | The Inkwell | Francis Phillips | |
| 1995 | Crimson Tide | Julia Hunter | |
| 1996 | Daylight | Grace Calloway | |
| 1996 | The Cherokee Kid | Abby Holsopple | |
| 1998 | Archibald the Rainbow Painter | Diana | |
| 1998 | When It Clicks | Catherine Douglass | Short film |
| 2001 | The Brothers | Dr. Thelma Woolridge | |
| 2001 | All About You | Donna | |
| 2002 | Dawg | Christine Hodges | |
| 2003 | Biker Boyz | Anita | |
| 2003 | Love Don't Cost a Thing | Vivian Johnson | |
| 2003 | Cheaper by the Dozen | Diana Philips | |
| 2007 | Stompin' | Mrs. Jackson | |
| 2008 | Lakeview Terrace | Aunt Dorrie | |
| 2009 | Truly Blessed | Lynda | |
| 2009 | Aussie and Ted's Great Adventure | Mrs. Jones | |
| 2009 | The Killing of Wendy | Wendy | |
| 2012 | The Undershepherd | Deaconess Carter | |
| 2012 | The Last Fall | Marie Bishop | |
| 2012 | The Obama Effect | Molly Thomas | |
| 2012 | A Beautiful Soul | Guardian Angel | |
| 2013 | Holla II | Marion | |
| 2015 | Message from a Mistress | Heather | |
| 2015 | The Preacher's Son | Elena | |
| 2015 | The Bounce Back | Ellen | |
| 2015 | Medicine Men | Eve | |
| 2015 | LAPD African Cops | ||
| 2015 | Hustle vs. Heartache | Hustle's Mother | |
| 2016 | Southside with You | Marian Shields Robinson | |
| 2018 | Dragged Across Concrete | Jennifer Johns | |
| 2018 | Unbroken: Path to Redemption | Lila Burkholder | |
| 2018 | Her Only Choice | Dr. Bailey | |
| 2018 | Throwback Holiday | Mildred Anderson | |
| 2019 | Thriller | Mrs. Jackson | |
| 2019 | Harriet | Rit Ross | Nominated — NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture |
| 2021 | Coming 2 America | Imani Izzi | Post-production |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | All My Children | Yvonne Caldwell | |
| 1985 | Days of Our Lives | Denise Preston | |
| 1986 | The Colbys | Lowell Sherman | Episode: "The Trial" |
| 1986 | Simon & Simon | Julie | Episode: "Act Five" |
| 1987 | 227 | Sherry | Episode: "The Honeymoon's Over" |
| 1989 | Webster | Denice | Episode: "A-Camping We Will Go" |
| 1989 | In the Heat of the Night | Audrey Moore | Episode: "Accused" |
| 1989 | Polly | Nancy | Television movie |
| 1990 | A Different World | Lily Connors | Episode: "A Campfire Story" |
| 1990 | China Beach | Sweet Hula | Episode: "One Giant Leap" |
| 1990 | Equal Justice | Delia Wayne | 4 episodes |
| 1990 | Polly: Comin' Home | Nancy Dodds | Television movie |
| 1991 | Father Dowling Mysteries | Emily | Episode: "The Monkey Business Mystery" |
| 1991 | A Different World | Danielle Vinson | Episode: "The Cash Isn't Always Greener" |
| 1992 | Stompin' at the Savoy | Dorothy | Television movie |
| 1992–1993 | Rhythm & Blues | Colette Hawkins | Series regular, 13 episodes |
| 1993 | The Sinbad Show | Michelle Michaels | Episode: "The Par-tay" |
| 1995 | Under One Roof | Maggie Langston | Series regular, 6 episodes Nominated — NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series |
| 1995 | Touched by an Angel | Debra Willis | Episode: "The Driver" |
| 1996 | America's Dream | Miss Williams | Television movie Nominated — NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special |
| 1996 | The Cherokee Kid | Abby Holsopple | Television movie |
| 1997 | Orleans | Rosalee Clark | Nominated — NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series |
| 1997 | Sparks | Monique | Episode: "Too Hot Not to Cool Down" |
| 1997 | Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child | Princess Katusha | Episode: "The Golden Goose" |
| 1998 | Prey | Grace | 2 episodes |
| 1998 | The Gregory Hines Show | Kyra Lewis | Episode: "Wahunthra" |
| 1998 | Moesha | Dr. Woods | Episode: "Psyche Your Mind" |
| 1998 | The Temptations | Johnnie Mae Matthews | Miniseries Nominated — NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special |
| 1999 | Malcolm & Eddie | Vina Jensen | Episode: "Daddio" |
| 2000 | A Private Affair | Nikita Harrell | Television movie |
| 2000 | Love Song | Evie Livingston | Television movie |
| 2001 | Boston Public | Mrs. Michelle Ronning | 3 episodes Nominated — NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series |
| 2001 | The Division | Dana | Episode: "The First Hit's Free, Baby" |
| 2002 | One on One | Michelle McCall | Episode: "The Way You Make Me Feel" |
| 2002 | The Parkers | Alaina | Episode: "And the Winner Is..." |
| 2003–2004 | The District | Gwen Hendrix | 5 episodes Nominated — NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series |
| 2003–2004 | 10-8: Officers on Duty | Gina Barnes | Episodes: "Blood Sugar Sex Magik" "Late for School" "Love Don't Love Nobody" |
| 2004 | CSI: Miami | Tonya Washington | Episode: "Speed Kills" |
| 2004 | Strong Medicine | Melanie Rhodes | Episode: "Foreign Bodies" |
| 2005 | Joan of Arcadia | Corey Phillips | Episode: "Shadows and Light" |
| 2006 | The Closer | Lynn Talmadge | Episode: "Slippin'" |
| 2006 | All of Us | Marvella James | 2 episodes |
| 2009 | CSI | Judge Himmel | Episode: "Miscarriage of Justice" |
| 2009 | Cold Case | Geraldine Watkins (1970) | Episode: "Soul" |
| 2010 | Dexter | Crisis Counselor | Episode: "Practically Perfect" |
| 2010–2011 | Hawthorne | Gail Strummer | 12 episodes Nominated — NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series |
| 2011 | Detroit 1-8-7 | Bonnie McCord | Episode: "Stone Cold" |
| 2011 | Let's Stay Together | Mimi | Episode: "Daddy's Home" |
| 2011–2019 | Shameless | Carol Fisher | 18 episodes |
| 2012 | Ringer | Royce Weigler | Episode "I'm the Good Twin" |
| 2012 | Go On | Joyce | 2 episodes |
| 2012–2013 | Rizzoli & Isles | Assistant District Attorney | 3 episodes |
| 2013 | Castle | Beryl Wickfield | Episode: "Time Will Tell" |
| 2014 | NCIS | Sally Hammond | Episode "Crescent City: Part 1" |
| 2014 | Reckless | Judge Kress | Episode "Parting Shots" |
| 2015 | Murder in the First | Veronza Ervin | 2 episodes |
| 2015 | Real Husbands of Hollywood | Trina's Mother | Episode: "When Kevin Met Salli" |
| 2015 | Hand of God | Eunetta Graham | 2 episodes |
| 2016 | The Miki Howard Story | Josephine Howard | Television movie |
| 2016 | Grey's Anatomy | Lucinda Gamble | Episodes: "It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)" and "Mama Tried" |
| 2016—present | Saints & Sinners | Lady Ella Johnson | Series regular |
| 2017 | Survivor's Remorse | Camille Jordan | 3 episodes |
| 2018 | Love Is | 'Wiser' Angela | Episode: "(Her) Questions" |
| 2019 | Rel | Nancy | Episode: "Mom" |
| 2019 | Black Monday | Ruth | Episodes: "339" and "Arthur Ponzarelli" |
| 2019 | A Black Lady Sketch Show | Kiley's Mother | Episode: "3rd & Bonaparte Is Always in the Shade" |
| 2019 | Unbelievable | Sarah | Episode: "#1.3" |
| 2019 | The Conners | Carrie Langham | Episode: "Smoking Penguins and Santa on Santa Action" |
| 2019 | Games People Play | Mrs. Johnson | Episode: "The Drink of Kings" |
References
- "Vanessa Bell Calloway Biography (1957–)". filmreference.com. Retrieved 2008-08-16.
- "Outstanding accomplishments: Ohio University's Greek community honors three alumni". ohiou.edu. Retrieved 2008-08-16.
- "Official biography". vanessabellcalloway.com. Archived from the original on 2011-04-12. Retrieved 2008-08-16.
- The Broadway League. "Vanessa Bell Callaway - IBDB: The official source for Broadway Information IBDB: The official source for Broadway Information". Retrieved 18 August 2015.
- "Vanessa Bell Calloway". The New York Times. Archived 2016-03-25 at the Wayback Machine
- "New Black Series Is Hanging On". The New York Times. 11 April 1995. Retrieved 12 March 2016.
- Tambay A. Obenson (12 January 2016). "Bounce TV Enters Original Hour-Long Drama Series Programm - Shadow and Act". Shadow and Act. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
- Stephanie Stephens. "Vanessa Bell Calloway: First Lady of New Saints & Sinners Drama". Parade. Retrieved 12 March 2016.
- Todd McCarthy (24 January 2016). "'Southside With You': Sundance Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 12 March 2016.
- "'Harriet' Biopic: Vanessa Bell Calloway, Zackary Momoh, Vondie Curtis-Hall And Deborah Ayorinde Added To Cast". shadowandact.com.
- Kroll, Justin (August 13, 2019). "'Coming 2 America': Vanessa Bell Calloway to Reprise Original Role (EXCLUSIVE)".
- Bell Calloway, Vanessa; Parker, Najja (October 16, 2015). "In Her Words: Vanessa Bell Calloway Shares Her Breast Cancer Survival Story". Ebony. Retrieved November 1, 2018.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
- "Bet's 'Baldwin Hills' Returns With Fresh Faces and New Drama". lasentinel.net. 2008-07-10. Archived from the original on September 16, 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-16.
