Lance Gross

Lance Darnell Gross (born July 8, 1981)[1] is a Ghanaian American actor, model and photographer. 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.,[2] 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.

Lance Gross
Gross in 2017
Born
Lance Darnell Gross

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

Early life and career

Gross was born in Oakland, California, the child of a Ghanaian father and African American mother, and later moved to Las Vegas, Nevada, to attend and graduate from Bonanza High School.[3] 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.[4]

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.[5] In 2006, he had minor roles in Eve and The Bernie Mac Show.[6] 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.[7]

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.[8] In 2012 he starred in the independent film The Last Fall, the story of a retired NFL player dealing with financial and family difficulties.[9] Currently Gross plays a major role on the Fox musical drama Star.

In 2018, on OWN's The Paynes, he makes an appearance 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

Gross was previously engaged to Eva Marcille. Their engagement ended in March 2010.[10] Gross married fashion stylist Rebecca Jefferson on May 23, 2015.[11] The couple are parents to two kids, one daughter, Berkeley Brynn Gross (born November 20, 2014),[12] and one son, Lennon Lorin Gross (born July 10, 2018).

Filmography
Film
Year Title Role Notes
2008Tyler Perry's Meet the BrownsMichael BrownLead role
2010Our Family WeddingMarcus BoydLead role
2012The Last FallKyle BishopLead role
2013Tyler Perry's Temptations: Confessions of a Marriage CounselorBriceLead role
TBAThe PhenomLee Brooks
2017DeucesJason Foster
2017When Love Kills: The Falicia Blakely StoryDino
Pre-ProductionDutchBenard "Dutch" JamesLead role
Television
Year Title Role Notes
2007–2012; 2020-presentTyler Perry's House of PayneCalvin PayneMain role; 188 episodes
2012Steel MagnoliasSammy DesotoTV film; Supporting role
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)
2017–2019StarMaurice Jetter, (A&R)Recurring/Main role
2017–2019MacGyverBilly ColtonRecurring role
2018Tyler Perry’s The PaynesCalvin PayneRecurring role; (Episodes 1-3): 3 episodes.
2018The Bobby Brown StorySteven SealyMain role
Television guest appearances
Year Title Role Notes
2006EveChoir Member1 episode
The Bernie Mac ShowKrumper #11 episode
2012The FinderFrank Haywood1 episode
Royal PainsDr. London1 episode
2020Hawaii Five-0Lincoln Cole2 episodes

References
  1. "Lance Darnell Gross was born on July 8, 1981 in Alameda County, California". California Birth Index. California Office of Health Information and Research. Retrieved November 4, 2018.
  2. "California Birth Index, 1905-1995". Family Tree Legends. Center for Health Statistics, California Department of Health Services, Sacramento, California, USA. Archived from the original on April 21, 2014. Retrieved April 19, 2014.
  3. https://www.reviewjournal.com/entertainment/ex-bonanza-high-track-star-gross-stays-on-the-run-with-role-in-hostage-thriller/
  4. "Lance Gross: The Last Fall & Tyler Perry". Archived from the original on September 3, 2013. Retrieved August 12, 2013.
  5. "Tyler Perry's House of Payne - Lance Gross As Calvin Payne". Archived from the original on July 5, 2013. Retrieved August 12, 2013.
  6. "Biography for Lance Gross".
  7. "Meet The Brown's Man Of The House-Lance Gross". Archived from the original on 2015-06-26. Retrieved 2019-04-30.
  8. "Lance Gross Preps For Wedlock In 'Our Family Wedding".
  9. "Lance Gross Talks 'The Last Fall' and His Most Vulnerable Role". Archived from the original on 2013-11-15.
  10. "Eva Marcille and Lance Gross Break Up Exclusive". Essence.com. March 24, 2010. Retrieved December 18, 2015.
  11. Vulpo, Mike; Cooper, Jennifer (May 23, 2015). "Lance Gross Says I Do To Rebecca Jefferson". Eonline.com. Retrieved December 18, 2015.
  12. Penn, Charlie (January 11, 2015). "Lance Gross Reveals Newborn Daughter". Essence.com. Retrieved December 18, 2015.
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