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 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 an eight-time NAACP Image Award nominee.
== 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. 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.
== Personal life ==
Bell Calloway has been married to anesthesiologist Dr. Anthony Calloway since 1988. The couple have two daughters, Ashley and Alexandra.[1][10]Ashley was one of the stars of the BET series Baldwin Hills which originally ran from 2007 until 2009.[11]
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.[10]
== 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	Unbroken: Path to Redemption 	Lila Burkholder 	
TBA 	Harriet 	 	Filming
=== 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 	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"
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 	Dist. Atty. 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"
2011–2016 	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