Born on July 8, 1981, in Oakland, California, Lance Darnell Gross spent most of his childhood in the Golden State. He attended Bonanza High School, where he was a standout student and athlete. In his final year, he was crowned Prom King, a testament to his popularity and charisma. Gross excelled in athletics, particularly football and track and field, earning him a full athletic scholarship to Howard University.
At Howard, he pursued a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theater while continuing to develop his athletic talents. Despite an opportunity to pursue a professional career in track and field, Gross chose to follow his passion for acting. Following his graduation, he refined his acting skills through professional training at the Ivanna Chubbuck Studio and the Tasha Smith Acting Studio.
Gross is of mixed ethnicity, with a Ghanaian father and an African American mother, a heritage he proudly embraces.
Lance Gross's entertainment career gained early momentum when he was discovered by fashion designer Karl Kani at a BET event. This encounter led to numerous modeling opportunities. He also appeared in music videos alongside major artists such as Mariah Carey and Rihanna, gaining further exposure in the entertainment industry.
Gross's acting breakthrough came in 2007 when he was cast as Calvin Payne in Tyler Perry’s hit television series, House of Payne. The role earned him widespread recognition and became a cornerstone of his acting career. His performance positioned him as one of the leading African American actors in television at the time.
Following his success in House of Payne, Gross expanded his television career with a variety of roles. In 2012, he played Sammy Desoto in Steel Magnolias. He also starred as Derek in Dice City (2013) and appeared in the long-running series Grey’s Anatomy in 2015 as Ethan. In 2014, he took on the lead role of Agent Marcus Finley in Crisis, and the following year portrayed Daniel Reynolds in Sleepy Hollow.
His guest appearances include roles in series such as Choir Member (2006) as Eve, The Bernie Mac Show (2006) as Krumper, The Finder (2012) as Frank Hoywood, and Royal Pains (2012) as Dr. London.
| Birth Date: | 8 Jul, 1981 |
| Age: | 38 yrs |
| Occupations: | Actor Model Television actor Film producer |
| Citizenship: | United States of America |
| Birth Place: | Oakland |
| Education: | Howard University |
| Gender: | Male |
| Description: | American actor |
| Net Worth 2021: | 1.5 million |
