House Of Payne is a hit TBS sitcom that ran for eight seasons and over 250 episodes, so it must have been doing something right - here's a guide to the main characters. Since making his movie debut with 2005's Diary Of A Mad Black Woman, Tyler Perry has been a prolific actor, director, and producer. In addition to making ten further Madea movies - where he plays the title grandmother - like Boo 2! A Madea Halloween, he's also directed movies like Why Did I Get Married? and Acrimony.
Tyler Perry occasionally takes time away to co-star in movies like Gone Girl and Vice. He's a busy producer too, having worked on projects like political drama Too Close To Home, The Haves and the Have Nots and Why Did I Get Married? spinoff For Better or Worse. One of his most successful shows was House Of Payne, which ran for eight seasons and spawned spinoff The Paynes. This series followed the comic misadventures of the title family, with Perry's Madea even appearing in a few episodes. While it was mostly a frothy comedy, it would occasionally explore darker topics like drug addiction and divorce.
House Of Payne came to an end in 2012 but for those thinking of diving in, here's a guide to the show's cast and main characters.
LaVan Davis - Curtis Payne
Curtis is the family patriarch who is fond of bad jokes and unhealthy foods. For much of the series he worked for the fire department and while he can be a tad immature, he's also a loving husband and father. LaVan Davis also appeared as Curtis during an episode of Meet The Browns.
Cassi Davis - Ella Payne
Ella is the Payne matriarch, who is deeply religious and usually the first person the family goes to when they need help. Ella decided to go back to college in later seasons to earn a degree. Cassi Davis has appeared in many other Tyler Perry projects, most notably as "Aunt Bam" in the Madea movies, including final entry A Madea Family Funeral.
Lance Gross - Calvin Payne
Curtis and Ella's son Calvin worked quite a few different jobs during the show and settles down after marrying Miranda (Keshia Knight Pulliam). Their marriage is far from perfect, however, and Calvin is later shot by a man who harassed his wife but makes a full recovery. The series also ends with a painful scene where Miranda decides to divorce Calvin. Lance Gross has appeared in MacGyver and Sleepy Hollow.
Allan Payne - C.J. Payne
C.J. and his family moved in with Curtis and Ella after their home burned down. It's later revealed his wife Janine is a drug addict and was responsible for the fire, which understandably put a strain on their marriage, though they eventually work through it. C.J. also works for the fire department and while he can be temperamental, like Curtis he's a good father and husband. Allan Payne has appeared in New Jack City and has made guest appearances on The Paynes.
Larramine Doc Shaw - Malik Payne
Malik is C.J.'s and Janine's son, although he has a strained relationship with his mother following her drug issues. He's also something of a would-be ladies man and later marries a girl just so they can have sex, which soon ends in divorce. Larramie Shaw also appeared in Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes and Disney XD's Pair of Kings.
China Anne McClain - Jazmine Payne
C.J.'s daughter Jazmine can be sarcastic and mean towards her sibling, despite appearing innocent to the grown-ups. China Anne McClain plays Jazmine on House Of Payne and has appeared in both Grown-Ups movies and Descendants 2 & 3.