'Coming to America' cast: Where are they now?

Arsenio Hall and Eddie Murphy in 'Coming to America' — Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall in 'Coming to America'. Photo:
Paramount/Courtesy Everett

Time is a funny thing. Movies that are instant classics, like Coming to America, can become a little blurry in the rearview mirror.

It's easy to forget as the years pass just how many stars there were in Coming to America beyond Eddie Murphy, the movie's heart and over-the-top wit. Sure, you might remember Arsenio Hall as Prince Akeem's assistant, but James Earl Jones? Samuel L. Jackson? How about Louie Anderson or Cuba Gooding Jr.? The movie was loaded with talent, both established stars and actors who would rise to acclaim in the years that followed its 1988 release. It's no wonder it worked so well.

Here's a look back at the stars of Coming to America, where they are now, and which of them returned for 2021's belated sequel, Coming 2 America.

01 of 13

Eddie Murphy (Prince Akeem)

Eddie Murphy has held the title of one of the kings of comedy in Hollywood, thanks in part to his role in Coming to America. When he appeared in the film, he was fresh off of Beverly Hills Cop II, and went on to launch several other multi-film franchises like The Nutty Professor and Dr. Dolittle.

Murphy received his only Oscar nomination (thus far!) for his work in 2006's Dreamgirls, and he was awarded the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in 2015. He won an Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Emmy in 2019 for hosting Saturday Night Live, where he had not appeared in a regular episode since leaving in 1984. He reprised his role as Prince Akeem (among other characters) in 2021's Coming 2 America.

02 of 13

Arsenio Hall (Semmi)

As Prince Akeem's well-meaning personal assistant, Semmi, comedian Arsenio Hall made such an impression on audiences that he ended up with his own nighttime variety show the next year, which lasted six seasons and won two Primetime Emmys.

In the years since, Hall has flirted with the spotlight as an actor, but has also seen success portraying various incarnations of himself — including in the 2017 Netflix movie Sandy Wexler, about a Hollywood agent in the '90s and all his clients. He also returned for Coming 2 America as various characters.

03 of 13

James Earl Jones (King Jaffe Joffer)

The inimitable James Earl Jones was already a screen legend when he appeared in Coming to America, lending his veritably royal presence as King Joffer. Oscar-nominated for his role in The Great White Hope back in 1971, the actor was honored with a lifetime achievement award by the Academy in 2012.

Jones had the distinct pleasure of returning to one of his most iconic voice roles — that of Darth Vader — in Rogue One, and on shows like Star Wars: Rebels and Obi-Wan Kenobi, as well as reprised Mufasa in the 2019 live-action rehash of The Lion King. He also returned for Coming 2 America.

04 of 13

Madge Sinclair (Queen Aoleon)

Who better to match the kingly James Earl Jones than Jamaican actress Madge Sinclair, who played the regal and elegant Queen Aoleon in Coming to America?

In a fun and trivia-worthy turn of events, Sinclair also voiced Sarabi in the original Lion King opposite Jones' Mufasa. Sinclair's acting career was cut short, as she died at the age of 57 in 1995 after battling leukemia.

05 of 13

Shari Headley (Lisa McDowell)

Shari Headley had briefly appeared on two TV series (The Cosby Show and Miami Vice) before landing the lead role of Lisa McDowell opposite Eddie Murphy in Coming to America.

Since, Headley has worked regularly in daytime television, including featured roles on Guiding Light, The Bold and the Beautiful, and All My Children, with prime-time roles on The Haves and Have Nots and On Becoming a God in Central Florida. She also reprised her role as Lisa in Coming 2 America.

06 of 13

Samuel L. Jackson (Hold-Up Man)

Where hasn't he been? Samuel L. Jackson has appeared in more projects than pretty much anyone else (his IMDb page lists triple-digit credits). Jackson's turn as the criminal who holds up the restaurant in Coming to America was one of his first standout roles, and he hasn't looked back since.

The actor earned an Oscar nomination for his iconic work in Pulp Fiction (1994) and has gone on to play Nick Fury in multiple MCU films. For his prolific film work, Jackson received an Honorary Academy Award in 2022.

07 of 13

Eriq La Salle (Darryl Jenks)

Like many of his costars, Eriq La Salle stood out in Coming to America, playing the stuck-up pretty boy who acts more prince-like than Eddie Murphy's actual prince.

La Salle has continued to work regularly, mainly on the small screen as Peter Benton for eight years on ER (for which he received three Emmy nominations), and also appeared on popular series such as Under the Dome. He also has a small part in the critically-acclaimed X-Men drama Logan and has worked extensively as a TV director.

08 of 13

Louie Anderson (Maurice)

Louie Anderson's career was just taking off when he appeared in Coming to America as a blasé fast-food employee, and some may have written him off after both his mid-'90s series, Life with Louie and The Louie Show, were canceled.

However, Anderson had the last laugh in 2017, when he won an Emmy for his role as the mother on Baskets. Anderson died in 2022 at the age of 68 — his final film was Coming 2 America.

09 of 13

Cuba Gooding Jr. (Boy Getting Haircut)

Cuba Gooding Jr.'s role in Coming to America, credited as "Boy Getting Haircut," was one of the Oscar winner's first: He provided the pivotal foil against which comedians Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall — both in wacky disguises — soared.

Gooding went on to wow audiences and critics alike with his Oscar-winning turn in 1996's Jerry Maguire, and has since appeared in several high-profile films (as well as Norbit, also with Eddie Murphy), and earned an Emmy nomination for his portrayal of O.J. Simpson on The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story.

10 of 13

Vanessa Bell Calloway (Imani Izzi)

As Imani Izzi, Vanessa Bell Calloway will forever be immortalized as the princess who once barked like a dog. The actress, who made her screen debut at only 8 years old on Days of Our Lives, has a wealth of credits (more than 100) that almost rival Samuel L. Jackson's.

Some standout appearances include: A Different World, Cheaper by the Dozen, Dexter, Grey's Anatomy, Shameless, This Is Us, and the 2016 film Southside With You, in which she played Michelle Obama's mother, Marian Robinson. She also returned to reprise Imani in Coming 2 America.

11 of 13

Allison Dean (Patrice)

Allison Dean made her feature film debut in Coming to America, as the sweet Patrice who ends up canoodling with Arsenio Hall's character.

After a few other appearances, most notably in Speed 2: Cruise Control (1997) and Tears of the Sun (2003), Dean largely stopped acting, aside from appearing in a few episodes of Girlfriends and the 2022 TV movie Zodiac.

12 of 13

John Amos (Cleo McDowell)

As the protective father to Lisa in Coming to America, veteran actor John Amos had already enjoyed an illustrious career as a television actor, appearing throughout the '70s on shows like Maude, Roots, Good Times, and The Mary Tyler Moore Show.

Amos has continued acting regularly, most notably appearing on The West Wing and in the 2012 film Madea's Witness Protection. He also reprised his role as Cleo for Coming 2 America and returned to the world of Good Times with the 2019 ABC special Live in Front of a Studio Audience: "All in the Family" and "Good Times."

13 of 13

Paul Bates (Oha)

Paul Bates provided some of the best laughs in Coming to America as Oha, Prince Akeem's stiff-upper-lipped manservant and bodyguard.

Bates' résumé of credits since is an eclectic roundup of notable turns, from appearances in films like True Romance (1993) and Showgirls (1995) to TV gigs on Ellen, NYPD Blue, The Grinder, Lethal Weapon, and Son of Zorn. He played Oha again in Coming 2 America.