Vanessa Bell Calloway

Vanessa Bell Calloway
Bell Calloway in 2010
Born	Vanessa Bell (1957-03-20) March 20, 1957 Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
Occupation	Actress, dancer
Years active	1985–present
Spouse(s)	Dr. Anthony Calloway (m. 1988)
Website	www.vanessabellcalloway.com

Vanessa Bell Calloway (born March 20, 1957) is an American actress. She made her film debut playing Eddie Murphy's arranged wife in the 1988 comedy Coming to America, and the following years 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). In recent years, she had the recurring roles on Hawthorne and Shameless. Bell Calloway is an eight-time NAACP Image Award nominee.

Early life

Bell was born in Cleveland, Ohio,^[1] she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Ohio University where she was 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.^[5] 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.^[5] In 1990, Bell Calloway co-starred alongside Joe Morton in the ABC drama series, Equal Justice.

During 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).

Bell Calloway in 2007

In 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 in the Bounce TV first prime time soap opera, Saints & Sinners.^[7]

Personal life

Bell Calloway has been married to anesthesiologist Dr. Anthony Calloway since 1988. The couple have two daughters, Ashley and Ally.^[1] Ashley is one of the stars of the BET series Baldwin Hills.^[8]

Filmography

Film

Television

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Vanessa Bell Calloway.

• Official website
• Vanessa Bell Calloway at the Internet Movie Database
• Vanessa Bell Calloway at AllMovie