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Allen Payne

Allen Payne has built a screen career that moves comfortably between film and television, with several roles lasting well beyond a single appearance. Born Allen Roberts on July 7, 1968, in Harlem, New York City, he later attended Pennsauken High School in Pennsauken Township, New Jersey. Payne made his television debut in a 1990 episode of The Cosby Show. Rather than remaining a one-off guest, he played Lance Rodman, the boyfriend of Charmaine, across two seasons. He later appeared in episodes of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Malcolm & Eddie, continuing to establish himself as a familiar television presence. His film work includes some of the most recognizable titles of his career. Payne appeared in New Jack City as Gee Money and played Dead Mike in CB4, the hip-hop parody produced by Nelson George and written by Chris Rock. His other film appearances include Jason’s Lyric, Vampire in Brooklyn and The Perfect Storm, while Double Platinum added another television project to his credits. He also appeared in Stacy Lattisaw’s music video for “I’m Not the Same Girl.” Since 2006, Payne’s defining long-running television role has been C.J. Payne in Tyler Perry’s House of Payne. He carried the character into the 2018 spin-off The Paynes, then returned when the parent series was revived. It is the kind of extended run that has allowed Payne to become closely associated with a character while maintaining the direct, grounded presence seen throughout his earlier work. Payne also returned to one of his best-known film roles in a different format. In 2022, he reprised Gee Money in New Jack City: Live on Stage, produced by playwright Je’Caryous Johnson—a return that connected his film career with live performance.