Biography
Saved from the perils of the streets of NYC's Harlem by attending acting classes in his youth, Payne received his first wide exposure playing a recurring role during the last seasons (1990-92) of the NBC sitcom "The Cosby Show". He was one of the wisecracking friends of Pam Tucker (Erika Alexander), Claire Huxtable's young cousin from the inner-city. Though he passed on a regular gig on "A Different World", Payne shared Mr. Cosby's concern …
Latest Tv Credits
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Career Milestones
2001 | Appeared in the Sundance-screened ensemble comedy "30 Years to Life" | |
2000 | Had co-starring role in "The Perfect Storm" | |
1999 | Appeared in the ABC movie "Double Platinum", starring Diana Ross and Brandy | |
1995 | TV-movie acting debut, "The Tuskegee Airmen" (HBO) | |
1994 | First feature starring role, "Jason's Lyric" opposite Jada Pinkett, directed by McHenry | |
1991 | Gained attention with the supporting role of Gee Money opposite Wesley Snipes in "New Jack City"; began association with producer Doug McHenry | |
| Turned down a spot as a regular on the Cosby-produced spin-off "A Different World", opting to pursue a feature career | ||
| Acted in the Off-Broadway productions "The Arm Wrestle" and "The Harlem Cowboy" | ||
1990 | Played the recurring role of Lance Flodman on the last two seasons of "The Cosby Show" | |
| Had a recurring role on the ABC daytime soap "Ryan's Hope" | ||
1989 | Feature acting debut, "Rooftops", directed by Robert Wise | |
| Performed with the Tribe Theatre Company and the Circle Repertory Theatre | ||
| Acted in commercials | ||
| Instructed in the Method in drama classes taught by his cousin's friend Carlos, a graduate of the Actors Studio, in his Staten Island home | ||
| Urged by his cousin to study acting after a friend was killed | ||
| Moved back to Harlem and lived with relatives after high school | ||
| Moved with his family to the suburban community of Pennsauken, New Jersey | ||
| Born and raised in NYC's Harlem | ||