Lance Gross
Gross in 2017
Born
Lance Darnell Gross

(1981-07-08) July 8, 1981
Oakland, California, U.S.
Alma materHoward University
Occupations
  • Actor
  • model
Years active2006–present
Spouse
Rebecca Jefferson
​
(m. 2015)​
Children2

Lance Darnell Gross (born July 8, 1981)[1] is an American actor. He is best known for his role as Calvin Payne on the TBS sitcom Tyler Perry's House of Payne and OWN sitcom Tyler Perry's The Paynes, as well as appearing in other Tyler Perry productions such as the Meet the Browns (2008) film and Tyler Perry's Temptations: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor (2013). He also co-starred in 2010's Our Family Wedding alongside Forest Whitaker, Carlos Mencia, America Ferrera, and Regina King. He also starred as Secret Service Agent Marcus Finley in NBC's political drama Crisis.

Early life and career

Gross was born in Oakland, California, the child of an African American mother and Ghanaian immigrant father, and later moved to Las Vegas, Nevada, to attend and graduate from Bonanza High School.[2] He went on to attend Howard University, where he received a Bachelor of Arts in theater. He then trained at The Ivanna Chubbuck Studio as well as the Tasha Smith Acting Studio.[3]

Gross began his career by modeling for Karl Kani and appearing in music videos for artists such as Mary J. Blige, Rihanna and Mariah Carey.[4] In 2006, he had minor roles in Eve and The Bernie Mac Show.[5] It was while he was performing in the Tasha Smith Acting Studio that he was discovered by Tyler Perry. He was consequently cast as Calvin Payne on Perry's new sitcom House of Payne. In the show Gross plays Calvin, a young professional who has attended college for seven years. He has been awarded four NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for this role.[6]

2008 saw Gross make his film debut in the romantic comedy Meet the Browns. His next big screen appearance was in Our Family Wedding in 2010 alongside America Ferrera, in which they portrayed a recently engaged young couple whose wedding preparations are disrupted by their families.[7] In 2012, he starred in the independent film The Last Fall, the story of a retired NFL player dealing with financial and family difficulties.[8] Formerly, Gross played a major role on the Fox musical drama Star.

In 2018, on OWN's The Paynes, he made appearances as a recurring character in the episodes "A Surprise for the Paynes", "Revelations of Payne" and "A Confrontation of Payne", along with Allen Payne, Demetria McKinney, Larramie "Doc" Shaw and China Anne McClain.

Personal life

In July 2006, Gross began dating actress Eva Marcille. The couple became engaged on December 24, 2008, and split up in March 2010. Later on May 23, 2015, Gross married fashion stylist Rebecca Jefferson [9] The couple are parents to two kids, one daughter, Berkeley Brynn Gross (born November 20, 2014),[10] and one son, Lennon Lorin Gross (born July 10, 2018).

In November 2021, Gross became initiated as an official member of Kappa Alpha Psi.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2008Meet the BrownsMichael BrownLead role
2010Our Family WeddingMarcus BoydLead role
2012The Last FallKyle BishopLead role
2013Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage CounselorBriceLead role
2016The PhenomLee Brooks
2017DeucesJason Foster
2017When Love Kills: The Falicia Blakely StoryDino
2021DutchBenard "Dutch" JamesLead role
2022EraxCliffShort
2022Unthinkably Good ThingsAndre
2023Call Her KingGabriel aka. Black CaesarLead role
2023 or Early 2024Dutch II: Angel's RevengeBenard "Dutch" JamesLead role
2024 or Early 2025Dutch III: International Gangster & The Final Chapter of Nina & Dutch's StoryBenard "Dutch" JamesLead role
2024FreeMr. WhitePost—production

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2006EveChoir Member1 episode
The Bernie Mac ShowKrumper #11 episode
2007–2012; 2020–presentTyler Perry's House of PayneCalvin PayneMain role; 188 episodes
2012Steel MagnoliasSammy DesotoTV movie
The FinderFrank Haywood1 episode
Royal PainsDr. London1 episode
2013Dice CityDerekMain role
2014CrisisU.S. Secret Service Agent Marcus FinleyMain role
2015Grey's AnatomyEthanSupporting role
2015–16Sleepy HollowDaniel ReynoldsMain role
2017–2019TalesReggieEpisodes: "Trap Queen" and "Ex-Factor" (co-writer)
StarMaurice Jetter, (A&R)Recurring/Main role
MacGyverBilly ColtonRecurring role
2018The PaynesCalvin Payne3 episodes
The Bobby Brown StorySteven SealyMain role
2020Hawaii Five-0Lincoln Cole2 episodes
2021—2022Our Kind of PeopleTyrique FreemanMain role

References

  1. ↑ "Lance Gross: Movies, Photos, Videos, News, Biography & Birthday". Times of India. The Times Group. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  2. ↑ Roberts, Randall (2014-03-16). "Ex-Bonanza High track star Gross stays on the run with role in hostage thriller | Las Vegas Review-Journal". Reviewjournal.com. Retrieved 2022-05-28.
  3. ↑ "Lance Gross: The Last Fall & Tyler Perry". Archived from the original on September 3, 2013. Retrieved August 12, 2013.
  4. ↑ "Tyler Perry's House of Payne - Lance Gross As Calvin Payne". Archived from the original on July 5, 2013. Retrieved August 12, 2013.
  5. ↑ "Biography for Lance Gross". IMDb.
  6. ↑ "Meet The Brown's Man Of The House-Lance Gross". Archived from the original on 2015-06-26. Retrieved 2019-04-30.
  7. ↑ "Lance Gross Preps For Wedlock In 'Our Family Wedding".
  8. ↑ "Lance Gross Talks 'The Last Fall' and His Most Vulnerable Role". Archived from the original on 2013-11-15.
  9. ↑ Vulpo, Mike; Cooper, Jennifer (May 23, 2015). "Lance Gross Says I Do To Rebecca Jefferson". Eonline.com. Retrieved December 18, 2015.
  10. ↑ Penn, Charlie (January 11, 2015). "Lance Gross Reveals Newborn Daughter". Essence.com. Retrieved December 18, 2015.
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