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Lance Gross

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American actor
Lance Gross
Gross in 2017
BornLance Darnell Gross
(1981-07-08) July 8, 1981 (age 43)
Oakland, California, U.S.
Alma materHoward University
Occupations
  • Actor
  • model
  • photographer
Years active2006–present
Spouse Rebecca Jefferson ​(m. 2015)
Children2

Lance Darnell Gross (born July 8, 1981) is an American actor and model. He is known for his role as Calvin Payne on the TBS/BET sitcom Tyler Perry's House of Payne (2007–2012; 2020–present), for which he won four NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.

Gross made his big screen debut starring in the 2008 romantic comedy-drama film, Meet the Browns. He later starred in films Our Family Wedding (2010), The Last Fall (2012) and Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor (2013). On television, Gross starred as Secret Service Agent Marcus Finley in the short-lived NBC political drama series, Crisis (2014) and later was regular cast member in Sleepy Hollow (2015–2016), Star (2017–2019) and Our Kind of People (2021–2022).

Early life

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. 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.

Career

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. In 2006, he had minor roles in Eve and The Bernie Mac Show. He was consequently cast as Calvin Payne on Perry's new sitcom House of Payne in 2006. 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.

2008 saw Gross make his big screen debut in the romantic comedy-drama film Meet the Browns opposite Angela Bassett. His next big screen appearance was in the 2010 romantic comedy-drama Our Family Wedding alongside America Ferrera, in which they portrayed a recently engaged young couple whose wedding preparations are disrupted by their families. In 2012, he starred in the independent film The Last Fall, the story of a retired NFL player dealing with financial and family difficulties. Also in 2012, Gross starred as Sammy Desoto in the Lifetime remake of Steel Magnolias.

In 2013, Gross starred opposite Jurnee Smollett-Bell in the romantic drama film Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor directed by Tyler Perry. It received predominantly negative reviews from critics. The following year he went to star in the short-lived NBC political drama series, Crisis. In 2015 he guest-starred in two episodes of ABC medical drama Grey's Anatomy playing Dr. Ethan Boyd. Later in 2015 he joined the cast of Fox series Sleepy Hollow. In 2016, Gross returned to film starring alongside Larenz Tate and Meagan Good in the crime drama Deuces for Netflix. In 2017 he starred in the crime drama film When Love Kills: The Falicia Blakely Story directed by Tasha Smith. From 2017 to 2019 he played Maurice Jetter in the Fox musical drama series, 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. In 2018 he co-starred in the BET miniseries The Bobby Brown Story. Gross also had recurring roles on CBS series MacGyver and Hawaii Five-0.

In 2021, Gross played the leading role in the crime drama film, Dutch. He later starred in the Fox prime time soap opera, Our Kind of People opposite Yaya DaCosta. The series was cancelled after one season. In 2022 he co-starred opposite Karen Pittman in the romantic comedy film Unthinkably Good Things and in 2023 starred alongside Naturi Naughton in the action thriller film Call Her King.

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 The couple are parents to two kids, one daughter, Berkeley Brynn Gross (born November 20, 2014), 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
2008 Meet the Browns Michael Brown
2010 Our Family Wedding Marcus Boyd
2012 The Last Fall Kyle Bishop
2013 Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor Brice
2016 The Phenom Lee Brooks
2017 Deuces Jason Foster
2017 When Love Kills: The Falicia Blakely Story Dino
2021 Dutch Benard "Dutch" James
2022 Erax Cliff Short film
2022 Unthinkably Good Things Andre
2023 Call Her King Gabriel aka. Black Caesar
2024 Dutch II: Angel's Revenge Benard "Dutch" James
2025 Dutch III: International Gangster Benard "Dutch" James Post—production
TBA Free Mr. White Post—production

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2006 Eve Choir Member 1 episode
The Bernie Mac Show Krumper #1 1 episode
2007–2012; 2020–present Tyler Perry's House of Payne Calvin Payne Main role; 188 episodes
2012 Steel Magnolias Sammy Desoto TV movie
The Finder Frank Haywood 1 episode
Royal Pains Dr. London 1 episode
2013 Dice City Derek Main role
2014 Crisis U.S. Secret Service Agent Marcus Finley Main role
2015 Grey's Anatomy Ethan Supporting role
2015–16 Sleepy Hollow Daniel Reynolds Main role
2017–2019 Tales Reggie Episodes: "Trap Queen" and "Ex-Factor" (co-writer)
Star Maurice Jetter, (A&R) Recurring/Main role
MacGyver Billy Colton Recurring role
2018 The Paynes Calvin Payne 3 episodes
The Bobby Brown Story Steven Sealy Main role
2020 Hawaii Five-0 Lincoln Cole 2 episodes
2021—2022 Our Kind of People Tyrique Freeman Main 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". TVGuide.com.
  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". IMDb.
  7. "Meet The Brown's Man Of The House-Lance Gross". Archived from the original on 2015-06-26. Retrieved 2019-04-30.
  8. "December 2007 | blackfilm.com | Tyler Perry's MEET THE BROWNS". www.blackfilm.com.
  9. "Lance Gross Preps For Wedlock In 'Our Family Wedding'". Essence. October 29, 2020.
  10. "Lance Gross Talks 'The Last Fall' and His Most Vulnerable Role". Archived from the original on 2013-11-15.
  11. "The Community for Black Creativity and News - Blavity News". Blavity News & Entertainment.
  12. "Temptation | Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com.
  13. Times, The Contra Costa Times | The Contra Costa (March 13, 2014). "NBC's 'Crisis' gives California native Lance Goss a chance to be action star".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  14. Goldberg, Lesley (July 24, 2015). "'Sleepy Hollow' Casts Abbie's New Boss (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter.
  15. "Larenz Tate, Lance Gross Test Loyalty in Netflix Film, 'Deuces'". April 3, 2017.
  16. Manns, Keydra (August 28, 2017). "TV Review: 'When Love Kills'". The Knockturnal.
  17. Barrie, Fatima (March 7, 2018). "Mekhi Phifer, Milton "Lil Rel" Howery, and Lance Gross Join the Cast of 'The Bobby Brown Story' - The Source".
  18. Petski, Denise (February 14, 2020). "'Hawaii Five-O': Lance Gross Joins Cast As Potential Series Regular".
  19. N'Duka, Amanda (February 28, 2020). "Jacqueline Bisset Joins Amazon Film 'Birds of Paradise'; Lance Gross To Star In 'Dutch'; Vernon Davis In 'Red Winter'- Film Briefs".
  20. Rosario, Alexandra Del (June 24, 2021). "'Our Kind Of People': Lance Gross Joins Fox Drama As Series Regular".
  21. Grobar, Matt (May 24, 2023). "'Call Her King': BET+ Sets Premiere Date For Action Thriller Starring Naturi Naughton & Lance Gross".
  22. Vulpo, Mike; Cooper, Jennifer (May 23, 2015). "Lance Gross Says I Do To Rebecca Jefferson". Eonline.com. Retrieved December 18, 2015.
  23. Penn, Charlie (January 11, 2015). "Lance Gross Reveals Newborn Daughter". Essence.com. Retrieved December 18, 2015.

External links

NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
1990s
2000s
2010s
2020s
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