Gross was born in Oakland, California, the child of an African American mother and Ghanaian immigrant father, and later moved to Las Vegas, Nevada, to attend and graduate from Bonanza High School.[2] He went on to attend Howard University, where he received a Bachelor of Arts in theater.[3] He then trained at The Ivanna Chubbuck Studio as well as the Tasha Smith Acting Studio.[4]
Career
Gross began his career by modeling for Karl Kani and appearing in music videos for artists such as Mary J. Blige, Rihanna and Mariah Carey.[5] In 2006, he had minor roles in Eve and The Bernie Mac Show.[6] He was consequently cast as Calvin Payne on Perry's new sitcom House of Payne in 2006. In the show Gross plays Calvin, a young professional who has attended college for seven years. He has been awarded four NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for this role.[7]
2008 saw Gross make his big screen debut in the romantic comedy-drama film Meet the Browns opposite Angela Bassett.[8] His next big screen appearance was in the 2010 romantic comedy-drama Our Family Wedding alongside America Ferrera, in which they portrayed a recently engaged young couple whose wedding preparations are disrupted by their families.[9] In 2012, he starred in the independent film The Last Fall, the story of a retired NFL player dealing with financial and family difficulties.[10] Also in 2012, Gross starred as Sammy Desoto in the Lifetime remake of Steel Magnolias.[11]
In 2021, Gross played the leading role in the crime drama film, Dutch.[19] He later starred in the Fox prime time soap opera, Our Kind of People opposite Yaya DaCosta.[20] The series was cancelled after one season. In 2022 he co-starred opposite Karen Pittman in the romantic comedy film Unthinkably Good Things and in 2023 starred alongside Naturi Naughton in the action thriller film Call Her King.[21]
Personal life
In July 2006, Gross began dating actress Eva Marcille. The couple became engaged on December 24, 2008, and split up in March 2010. Later on May 23, 2015, Gross married fashion stylist Rebecca Jefferson [22] The couple are parents to two kids, one daughter, Berkeley Brynn Gross (born November 20, 2014),[23] and one son, Lennon Lorin Gross (born July 10, 2018).
In November 2021, Gross became initiated as an official member of Kappa Alpha Psi.
