Lance Gross
| Lance Gross | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Lance Darnell Gross July 8, 1981 Oakland, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor, Model |
| Years active | 2006–present |
Lance Darnell Gross (born July 8, 1981) is an American actor, best known for his role as Calvin Payne on the TBS sitcom Tyler Perry's House of Payne,[1] 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.
Early life and career
Gross was born and raised in Oakland, California and graduated from Bonanza High School. He went on to attend Howard University, where he passed up the opportunity of becoming a Pro Track & Field athlete in order to pursue his dream of acting. He received a Bachelor of Arts in theater and then trained at The Ivanna Chubbuck Studio as well as the Tasha Smith Acting Studio.[2]
Gross began his career by modelling for Karl Kani and appearing in music videos for artists such as Mary J. Blige, Rihanna, and Mariah Carey.[3] In 2006, he had minor roles in Eve and The Bernie Mac Show.[4] It was while he was performing in the Tasha Smith Acting Studio that he was discovered by Tyler Perry, who happened to be watching a night class. He was consequently cast as Calvin Payne on Perry's new sitcom House of Payne, a role for which he has been awarded four NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.[5] 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 who's wedding preparations are disrupted by their families.[6] In 2012 he starred in the independent film The Last Fall, the story of a retired NFL player dealing with financial and family difficulties.[7]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns | Michael Brown | Lead role |
| 2010 | Our Family Wedding | Marcus Boyd | Lead role |
| 2012 | The Last Fall | Kyle Bishop | Lead role |
| 2013 | Tyler Perry's Temptations: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor | Brice | Lead role |
| TBA | Phenom | Lee Brooks | |
| Television | |||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2007–2012 | Tyler Perry's House of Payne | Calvin Payne | Main role |
| 2012 | Steel Magnolias | Sammy Desoto | TV film; Supporting role |
| 2013 | Dice City | Derek | Main role |
| 2014 | Crisis | Marcus Finley | Main role |
| Television guest appearances | |||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2006 | Eve | Choir Member | 1 episode |
| The Bernie Mac Show | Krumper #1 | 1 episode | |
| 2012 | The Finder | Frank Haywood | 1 episode |
| Royal Pains | Dr. London | 1 episode | |
References
- ↑ According to the State of California. California Birth Index, 1905-1995. Center for Health Statistics, California Department of Health Services, Sacramento, California. Searchable at http://www.familytreelegends.com/records/39461
- ↑ "Lance Gross: The Last Fall & Tyler Perry". Retrieved August 12, 2013.
- ↑ "Tyler Perry's House of Payne - Lance Gross As Calvin Payne". Retrieved August 12, 2013.
- ↑ "Biography for Lance Gross".
- ↑ "Meet The Brown's Man Of The House-Lance Gross".
- ↑ "Lance Gross Preps For Wedlock In 'Our Family Wedding".
- ↑ "Lance Gross Talks ‘The Last Fall’ and His Most Vulnerable Role".
External links
- Lance Gross at the Internet Movie Database
- Lance Gross on Myspace
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