Lance Gross Biography: Age, Wife, Kids, Net Worth, Height, Parents, House of Payne, Movies & TV Shows

Lance Darnell Gross, professionally known as Lance Gross, is an American actor, model, and photographer known for his work in television and film. He first gained attention as a fashion model before transitioning into acting, where his charismatic screen presence helped him secure consistent roles.

He is best recognized for portraying Calvin Payne on the popular sitcom Tyler Perry’s House of Payne, a role that earned him multiple awards, along with appearances in several romantic comedies, dramas, and action series.

Early Life and Education

Lance Darnell Gross was born on July 8, 1981, in Oakland, California. He was raised by his parents, Alice and Lorin Gross, alongside his sisters, Staci and Traci Gross. He later grew up in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he attended Bonanza High School and excelled in football and track and field. He pursued higher education at Howard University, where he competed in track and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theater, preparing him for a professional acting career. He is of Ghanaian and African-American heritage and practices the Christian faith.

Career

Lance Gross initiated his professional journey as a model, working with notable fashion brands and appearing in popular music videos for artists like Rihanna, Mariah Carey, and Tyra Banks. He faced the usual struggles of an aspiring actor trying to break into Hollywood until he caught the eye of mogul Tyler Perry while studying acting in Los Angeles.

This major breakthrough moment arrived in 2007 when he was cast as Calvin Payne on the sitcom Tyler Perry’s House of Payne, a popular role that brought him immediate mainstream recognition and earned him four NAACP Image Awards for his supporting work.

Lance Gross built on his television success by making a smooth move into feature films, starring alongside America Ferrera and Forest Whitaker in the 2010 romantic comedy Our Family Wedding. He continued to take on diverse and challenging projects, playing a leading role in the independent sports drama The Last Fall and starring in Tyler Perry’s Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor.

Over the years, his industry influence grew as he landed main and recurring roles in network dramas like Sleepy Hollow, MacGyver, and Our Kind of People, while also building a respected secondary career as a professional celebrity photographer. Through his steady presence on screen and his talent behind the camera, he has secured a lasting reputation as a versatile and reliable figure in Black Hollywood entertainment.

Awards and Nominations

• NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series (Winner – 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013)
• ALMA Award for Favorite Movie Actor – Comedy or Romance (Nominee – 2011)

Social Media

• Instagram Handle: @lancegross
• Facebook Handle: @LanceGross
• Twitter Handle: @LanceGross

Personal Life

Lance Gross is 44 years old and stands at a height of 1.83 m. He is happily married to fashion stylist Rebecca Jefferson, whom he wed in May 2015 after a few years of dating, and the couple shares two children named Berkeley Brynn and Lennon Lorin. Prior to his current marriage, he was in a highly publicized relationship with model and actress Eva Marcille from 2006 until 2010, which included a Christmas Eve engagement before they amicably chose to split up.

Net Worth

Lance Gross has an estimated net worth of $1.5 million. He accumulated this fortune primarily through his long career as a television actor, drawing a steady income from over 300 episodes of House of Payne and his major roles on multiple network series. His financial portfolio is also supported by his professional photography business, fashion modeling contracts, and various independent film investments.

Filmography

• Tyler Perry’s House of Payne (TV Series)
• Meet the Browns (Film)
• Our Family Wedding (Film)
• The Last Fall (Film)
• Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor (Film)
• Crisis (TV Series)
• Grey’s Anatomy (TV Series)
• Sleepy Hollow (TV Series)
• The Phenom (Film)
• Deuces (Film)
• When Love Kills: The Falicia Blakely Story (Film)
• MacGyver (TV Series)
• Our Kind of People (TV Series)
• Dutch (Film)