You've probably first seen actor Allen Payne over 30 years ago on the "The Cosby Show" playing Lance, an energetic teenager with an incredible smile. Fast forward to now and the smile is still there, as well as the teenage looks. Allen has been in movies such as New Jack City, Jason's Lyric, CB4 and has a recurring role on Tyler Perry's "House of Payne". Payne has managed to age gracefully in Hollywood despite all the horror stories you hear about young actors. Payne continues to work out regularly and keeps his diet disciplined by incorporating a healthy amount of fresh fruits and vegetables into each meal.
Now at age 53, he remembers his diet is his secret to aging gracefully, it's his outlook on life.
"My family began to develop these chronic diseases," explains Payne. "We'll actually love them through the process and then they would die. Then another family member would go through the same thing. Interestingly enough, when I moved to California for movies, and that opened up my world to the health and raw vegan, vegetarian movement."
"First I was a pescatarian then a vegetarian. And then I even was a raw vegan for awhile. Then I developed healing habits."
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"One of the things people in our community need to understand is that you can't rely on institutions for your health and your life. We can go to them in emergencies, but life becomes so much more fulfilling when God put the power in your hands. Once you gain the knowledge and awareness of what it is, then you take on the responsibility. And not only will your body blossom, but your mind does as well."
"It’s so rare for someone to have a career and expand over 20 years," continues Payne. "I don’t know too many Black actors in particular. It’s actually very few. In order to do it you not only have to be very talented. You gotta be really lucky and you have to be diligent and just really blessed and feel like every opportunity to work is a new opportunity. You’re not owed anything in this life and as long as you are connected to The Creator, all things are possible. You have to stay there. If you don’t stay there then it’s almost impossible."
Don't think that Allen Payne hasn't had his fair share of setbacks. There was a point in his life where Allen seemed to drop off the face of the earth, and for good reason. "After my mother died, I stepped away from acting. I chose to...
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... look inward and find myself, and I think that's important when you're an actor," the 52-year-old Allen confessed.
"You spend so much time trying to work and being interpreted by fans, executives and people in Hollywood, that you can lose a sense of yourself. You've got to get back to that."
So what's next for the handsome actor? When asked about what he wants to be known for, Allen simply states: "I'm going to do my part and just try to leave a legacy of a brother who worked hard, who understood who he was and spend a lot of time trying to help others reach that same point in their lives."
