When many people begin to excel at their careers, oftentimes, they want to celebrate their parents. This is exactly what Lance Gross did. When the actor received his first significant paycheck, he chose to spend it on them.
Thanks, Mom and Dad
During an interview with Afrotech at the recent Essence Fest, Gross revealed that he repaid his parents for their support by taking them on a trip to the Caribbean.
“I sent my mom and my pops to Turks and Caicos,” said Gross, who didn’t mention what project the paycheck was for or how much he earned.
The heartwarming gesture is even more sentimental in the aftermath of his father’s passing, who died in March 2020.
“Heroes don’t die, they live forever. … I can feel you around me. U were always my Hero Pop. Not just a Father, but someone I always wanted to be,” Gross, who is married to fashion stylist Rebecca Jefferson and is the father of two, posted on Instagram.
He noted how much the support of his family helped his career.
“I mean, it’s kind of like a village,” he explained. “It’s like my aunties and uncles that want to see me win, so I feel like they instilled the drive and a need to succeed.”
Who is Lance Gross?
Gross was born on July 8, 1981, in Oakland, California, to father Lorin, who is of Ghanaian origin, and mother Alice, who is African-American.
He attended and graduated from Bonanza High School in Las Vegas before receiving a full scholarship to Howard University, where he earned a bachelor of arts in drama. He subsequently went on to train at the Ivanna Chubbuck Studio and the Tasha Smith Acting Studio.
Gross’ career-defining roles in Hollywood began with his portrayal of Calvin Payne on the TBS sitcom “Tyler Perry’s House of Payne,” which also led to his appearances on the OWN sitcom “Tyler Perry’s The Paynes.”
These roles earned him numerous accolades, including four NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, the BET Award for Best Actor in a Comedy Series, and the Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Miniseries, or Dramatic Special.
With an estimated net worth of $1.5 million, Gross has also appeared in other productions aside from Tyler Perry’s, such as his role as Benard “Dutch” James in the crime thriller “Dutch” and his part in Queen Latifah’s Netflix original film “Deuces.”
In addition to his acting salary, Gross also earns money from modeling and endorsement deals. He has been featured in campaigns for Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, and Tommy Hilfiger. He has also endorsed products such as Axe body spray and McDonald’s.
