Lance Gross

He gave up a promising career in track and field to pursue a far more uncertain future in show business, but it seems that Lance Gross rolled the dice and won when he decided to pursue acting over athletics. Modeling launched his career, but following a few bit parts and appearances in videos, his big break came when he landed a recurring role on the Tyler Perry series "House of Payne" (Syndication, TBS, 2006-2012). His television work led to a part in Perry's "Meet the Browns" (2008) and subsequent film roles including "Our Family Wedding" (2010), "The Last Fall" (2012) and "Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor" (2013), as well as multiple NAACP Image Awards.

Born and raised in Oakland, California, Gross originally appeared to be headed for a successful career as a professional track and field athlete before the prospect of acting lured him to study acting at Howard University. A pair of fortuitous events launched his career. The first was his meeting with clothing designer Karl Kani in an elevator at the BET Awards; Kani took an interest in the aspiring actor and invited him to a photo shoot. The second was an introduction to director Tyler Perry who happened to be in attendance one night when Gross was performing in a class taught by Perry's friend Tasha Smith. Perry liked what he saw and kept in touch with Gross, offering him a role on his series "House of Payne" a few months later as Calvin Payne, the spoiled twenty-something son of Curtis and Ella Payne. Beginning in 2008, Gross was nominated for five NAACP Image Awards as Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series for the role. Gross also appeared in a number of music videos featuring such performers as Mary J. Blige and Rihanna. He went on to star in his first feature film, "Meet the Browns," also directed by Perry. Firmly established in Perry's stable of actors and engaged to actress Eva Marcille, Gross seemed to be living a charmed Hollywood life until he and Marcille announced their split in 2010. Gross' acting career continued to flourish, however, with regular television work as well an appearance alongside Forest Whitaker in "Our Family Wedding." Gross then landed a starring role as an NFL player forced to choose between his career and true love in "The Last Fall," which he also produced, and returned to work with Tyler Perry in "Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor," playing a pharmacist whose wife is having an affair.