Carl Anthony Payne | Celebrity Net Worth 2026

Biography & Early Wealth Journey

Carl Anthony Payne is best known for two enduring sitcom roles: Walter "Cockroach" Bradley, Theo Huxtable's friend on "The Cosby Show," and Cole Brown, Martin Payne's lovable but frequently clueless friend on "Martin." The latter role made Payne a fixture of one of the most successful Black sitcoms of the 1990s, and he appeared throughout "Martin's" five-season run.

Unlike many actors associated so strongly with a single classic sitcom, Payne continued working across television, film, stage, comedy, directing, and production. His later credits have included "The Game," "George Lopez," "The Rickey Smiley Show," and the television movie "CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story," in which he portrayed music executive L.A. Reid. Beginning in 2020, Payne found another long-running television role as Myles Wilson on Nickelodeon's "Tyler Perry's Young Dylan." He also moved behind the camera, directing episodes of the series and developing other projects through Carl Anthony Payne Entertainment.

Early Life and Education

Carl Anthony Payne II was born on May 24, 1969, in Clinton, South Carolina, and grew up in New York City. He became involved in acting while young and worked in professional children's theater.

Primary Income Streams & Multi-Million Contracts

Payne attended the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts in New York. He later attended Howard University in Washington, D.C.

His early professional career included extensive commercial work in addition to theater, film, and television.

Early Career and "The Cosby Show"

One of Payne's first film appearances came in the 1985 cult martial-arts musical "The Last Dragon."

Real Estate, Luxury Assets & Personal Investments

His first widely recognized television role was Walter "Cockroach" Bradley on "The Cosby Show." Cockroach was one of Theo Huxtable's closest friends and appeared repeatedly during the show's early seasons. The part introduced Payne to a national audience while he was still a young actor.

Payne continued working in television after leaving "The Cosby Show." He was part of the cast of the short-lived NBC musical comedy "Hull High" and appeared in television movies and guest roles.

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"Martin"

Payne landed his career-defining role in 1992 when he was cast as Cole Brown on Fox's "Martin."

The sitcom starred Martin Lawrence as radio personality Martin Payne and Tisha Campbell as his girlfriend and later wife, Gina Waters. Payne's Cole was part of Martin's inner circle along with Tommy Strawn, played by Thomas Mikal Ford, and Pamela James, played by Tichina Arnold.

Cole's eccentric personality, questionable employment history, romantic misadventures, and devotion to his mother became recurring jokes on the series. The character evolved from a comparatively minor friend into an essential member of the ensemble.

"Martin" ran for five seasons from 1992 to 1997 and became one of the signature sitcoms of the decade. Its continuing popularity through reruns and streaming has kept Payne closely identified with Cole decades after the original finale.

Later Acting Career

After "Martin," Payne continued appearing in both comedy and drama. His film credits included the Tim Allen and Kirstie Alley comedy "For Richer or Poorer," while his television work encompassed guest and recurring appearances across numerous series.

He played Reynoldo St. James on BET's "The Game" and appeared on "George Lopez" and "The Rickey Smiley Show." In VH1's 2013 biographical film "CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story," Payne portrayed record executive L.A. Reid.

Payne has also worked extensively in stage productions and independent films, allowing him to maintain a performing career outside mainstream television.

"Tyler Perry's Young Dylan"

In 2020, Payne joined Nickelodeon's "Tyler Perry's Young Dylan" as Myles Wilson. The premise follows a young aspiring hip-hop star who moves in with his affluent uncle Myles, Myles' wife, and their children.

The role gave Payne his most substantial regular television job since "Martin." "Young Dylan" ultimately ran for five seasons, introducing him to a generation of viewers born long after Cole Brown first appeared on television.

Payne also expanded his responsibilities behind the scenes by directing episodes of the show.

Directing, Producing, and Comedy

In addition to acting, Payne has directed and produced music videos, short films, digital series, and television projects. He has also performed stand-up comedy and worked as an acting instructor and coach.

Through Carl Anthony Payne Entertainment, he has pursued development and production work while mentoring younger performers. His ability to move among acting, directing, producing, teaching, and live comedy has helped sustain a career that began when he was still a teenager.

Anthony Payne

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