Denyce Lawton

Denyce Lawton (born May 2, 1978) is an American actress and model of South Korean and African American descent. Lawton is best known for her recurring role as Dana Carter on the Tyler Perry's House of Payne (2008–2009) and her recurring role as Sheila Willis on The Hot Zone.

Career Before becoming an actress, Lawton was Assistant Vice President of Urban Promotions at Warner Brothers Records and part of artists and repertoire for Priority Records. She later worked for Def Jam Recordings and Murder Inc. Records as a personal assistant to producer Irv Gotti. After becoming a publicist for 20th Century Studios, Lawton was a background dancer for various Broadway performances. Around 2001, she moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting.

Lawton starred in Snoop Dogg's Malice N Wonderland as Love, a short film titled Interception, and the web series Almost Home.

Lawton has appeared on the covers of MAMI Magazine, Black Men, The Source, Today's Black Woman, BQE Magazine, Smooth, Edge Magazine, XXL, J’Adore, Smooth Girl, Daily News, Mass Appeal, and XXL Presents Eye Candy Magazine.

Personal life Lawton was born in Seoul, South Korea, and raised in New Jersey, United States, spending her childhood in Belmar and Neptune. Of African-American and Korean descent, Lawton is the middle child of three siblings. She graduated from Largo High School in Largo, Maryland, and studied pre-medical at University of Maryland before dropping out to work in theater.

Lawton married her childhood friend Eban Grasti in Washington, D.C. on June 1, 2024. Actress Kyla Pratt and singer Mya were bridesmaids at the ceremony.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 2002 State Property Bikini Girl #2 Go for Broke Venom 2003 Malibooty! Beautiful Girl on Beach 2004 Soul Plane Flight Attendant #3 2006 It Ain't Easy Kelly Video 2007 Redline Mianda Dead Tone Anna 2008 Vlog Jasmine 2010 Malice N Wonderland Love Short 2011 The Love You Save Shayla TV movie Interception Sandy Short 2012 The Helpers Brandy Switchin' the Script Lonnie Shepard The Coalition Skylar Hathaway Video 2013 Winnerz Carmen Between Sisters Serena TV movie Act Like You Love Me Susan Frat Brothers Professor Simone Breaux The Dempsey Sisters Deena Dempsey 2015 Justice Served Mia Orlando 2017 2016 Vivica Secrets Secret Jenkins 2018 All Between Us Clara Me, Myself, & Them Dr. Taylor Short When It Comes Around Jerry 2019 Fanatic Lexi TV movie 2021 Most Wanted Santa FBI Agent Harper Winslow TV movie 2023 Under the Influence Danae Ryan 2025 South Haven Fatimah Moore

Television

Year Title Role Notes 2002 The Parkers Tyrell's Girlfriend Episode: "The Crush" Half & Half Beautiful Girl Episode: "The Big Sistah Sans Soul Episode" Scratch & Burn Beautiful Woman Episode: "Grocery Store Romance" 2004 Entourage Party Girl Episode: "The Review" 2008 Vlog Jasmine Recurring Cast 2008–09 Tyler Perry's House of Payne Dana Carter Recurring Cast: Season 3–5 2012 Girlfriend Confidential: LA Herself Main Cast 2013–14 Almost Home Becca Guest: Season 1, Recurring Cast: Season 2 2014 Castle Lillian Hernandez Episode: "Dressed to Kill" 2016 Mann & Wife Jada Episode: "State of Mann" I Love You... But I Lied FBI Agent Kristen Ramirez Episode: "Greed" 2018 The 5th Quarter Jackie Nichols Episode: "Hotlanta" The Plug Deena Murphy Episode: "Bird Gets a Pass" 2019 Chicago P.D. Maya Williams Episode: "What Could Have Been" 2021 A Luv Tale: The Series Mercedes Recurring Cast The Hot Zone Sheila Willis Recurring Cast: Season 2 2024 Universal Basic Guys Tammy's Friend (voice) Episode: "Jaws of Life"

Music videos

Year Title Artist 2001 "Y.B.E." Prodigy featuring B.G. "Peaches & Cream" 112 "Dance with Me" 112 featuring Beanie Sigel "Family Affair" Mary J. Blige "Break Ya Neck" Busta Rhymes "The Learning (Burn)" Mobb Deep featuring Vita and Big Noyd "Fatty Girl" Ludacris featuring LL Cool J and Keith Murray "Part II" Method Man & Redman 2002 "Anything" Jaheim featuring Next "One Mic" Nas "Get Away" Mobb Deep "Rock Star" N.E.R.D. 2004 "The Way" Clay Aiken 2005 "Curious" Tony Yayo featuring Joe 2009 "Want It, Need It" Plies featuring Ashanti 2021 "Don't You Ever" Rotimi

Documentary Year Title Ref. 2011 Kiss and Tell: The History of Black Romance in Movie

Video game Year Title Role Ref. 2022 Saints Row MJ/Santo Ileso Pedestrians (voice)