The Original Coming to America Cast Produced Some of Hollywood’s Biggest Stars
The film’s release was a pivotal and defining moment for the future of representation in Hollywood blockbusters.
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The year is 1988, and Coming to America has just hit theaters. A young Eddie Murphy is fresh off his starring roles in box-office hits like Beverly Hills Cop, a young Arsenio Hall is gearing up to make his talk show debut as host of The Arsenio Hall Show, and newcomer Shari Headley had just wrapped her first big-screen leading role as Lisa McDowell.
Fast-forward 33 years, and all three actors, plus the rest of the film’s ensemble, paved the way to becoming iconic Hollywood figures. With the legendary cast reuniting for the 2021 release of Coming 2 America, join us as we explore the epic journeys of the film’s original cast.
Eddie Murphy
A household name and a pillar in the world of comedy, Eddie Murphy has been able to do the near-impossible: create a career catalogue that transcends generations and demographics. Throughout the years, the multitalented actor, comedian, writer, and singer has always been able to successfully reinvent himself and showcase versatility with each new release—from his classic late ’80s-early ’90s work that ranges from his standup days in Eddie Murphy Raw and Boomerang to his more recent work in children’s films like Dr. Dolittle and Shrek. Although his filmography spans the length of a football field—including his 2019 comeback, Dolemite Is My Name—today’s audiences are likely most excited to see Murphy reprise his most nostalgic role, Prince Akeem, in the now-streaming Coming 2 America.
Arsenio Hall
Arsenio Hall’s post-Coming to America career was filled with boundary-breaking achievements. After opening for iconic acts like Tina Turner and Wayne Newton, he went on to become the first African-American man to produce and host his own late-night show. The Arsenio Hall Show (1989) revolutionized talk shows everywhere, as Hall made sure his lineup always included culturally impactful guests like Tupac Shakur and Public Enemy, and juggled heavy societal topics like the AIDS crisis and politics. After leaving the critically acclaimed talk show, Hall went on to have an amazing acting career, including reprising his role as Semmi in Coming 2 America.
James Earl Jones
James Earl Jones needs no introduction. Before Coming to America was even conceived, Jones was an established, iconic voice within the industry. He had won the Golden Globe for New Star of the Year and was nominated for the Globe’s best actor award for his role in the 1970 film The Great White Hope. Plus, at the time, he was most widely known for voicing Darth Vader in the Star Wars films.
After Coming to America’s release, Jones went on to star in The Lion King, Field of Dreams, The Hunt for Red October, Patriot Games,and Roots: The Next Generations, as well as a series of celebrated Broadway plays, further cementing his legendary status.
Shari Headley
Prior to Coming to America, a young Shari Headley was a successful model, appearing in top magazines such as Glamour and Mademoiselle, but had been cast in just a couple sitcoms, including one episode of NBC’s hit The Cosby Show. After the movie’s release, she went on to dominate daytime TV, joining the casts of All My Children, The Bold and the Beautiful, and Oprah Winfrey’s prime-time soap opera The Haves and the Have Nots. For her stellar work, Headley was nominated for an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series. Now, she’s come full circle, returning to the big screen for her cult-classic role of Lisa McDowell in Coming 2 America.
Madge Sinclair
Emmy nominated and long revered for her work ethic across all her films, Madge Sinclair always had a stately and powerful presence on-screen. From her role as Queen Aoleon in Coming to America all the way to her final film role as the voice of Sarabi in Disney’s The Lion King, Sinclair broke down barriers in the film industry for Black women up until her passing.
Samuel L. Jackson
When Samuel L. Jackson was first cast in Coming to America, he was just getting his footing in the film world, making a brief cameo as the hilarious “Hold-Up Man” who attempted to rob the McDowell’s restaurant. Only a few years later, he was making waves in cult classics like Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing and Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction. He became the face of blockbuster hits like Deep Blue Sea, A Time to Kill, and Marvel’s cinematic universe, establishing him as one of our generation’s greatest actors.
Although he did not return to the Coming to America franchise, you can catch him in (virtual) theaters later this year with the release of The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard and Spiral.
Vanessa Bell Calloway
After playing Imani Izzi in Coming to America, Vanessa Calloway went on to star in hit shows and movies such as What’s Love Got to Do with It opposite costar Angela Bassett and Crimson Tide as the wife of Denzel Washington’s character. After flourishing on the small screen—her long roster of shows including Under One Roof, Hawthorne, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Dexter, Castle, Boston Public, The District, The Brothers, and All About You—she has returned to the big screen with Coming 2 America as Princess Imani, a role that inspired a generation of fashion looks.
John Amos
John Amos played Cleo McDowell, Akeem’s employer and Lisa’s father, in the original 1988 film and since then, has continued to light up screens across American households. Prior to starring in Roots and The Players Club, he was solidified a television mainstay for his role as James Evans Sr. in the classic ’70s hit Good Times. Now after an expansive 50-year career, he is back in his beloved McDowell’s restaurant playing Prince Akeem’s guiding voice and father-in-law.
Sheila Johnson
Prior to joining the cast of the original Coming to America, Sheila Johnson was an accomplished fashion runway and print model for top publications and advertisements; she also had a sitcom career, starring as an extra in Sister, Sister and hit shows like Space Ranger and Criminal Passion. The same year that she played the “Lady-in-Waiting” in the original Coming to America film, she went on to star in Shakedown and Bright Lights, Big City.
Paul Bates
Paul Bates has a knack for classic film. After his role as Oha, Prince Akeem’s royal servant who has the voice of an angel, he continued his winning streak, working alongside Denzel Washington in The Preacher’s Wife and Eminem in 8 Mile. Thankfully, Bates is back and bringing more laughs in Coming 2 America.
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