From The Mecca To The Spotlight: How Carl Anthony Payne II Journeyed From Howard To Hollywood

For decades, Carl Anthony Payne II has been a staple in entertainment, forever etched in pop culture as the lovable Cole Brown from Martin. But before the sitcom success and the laughs, Payne was shaped by something even more profound—his time at Howard University. The experience left an indelible mark on him, helping to shape not just his career but his identity, something he still cherishes today.

“My aunt was a professor there,” Payne told OffTheYard. “So I started going to Howard early in the summertime. Then they would have different summer programs that my sister and I would be involved in. Plus, my mother’s from D.C., and so I already had family here. And so when I got accepted to Juilliard, I think I made a choice to actually go to Howard because I wanted the HBCU experience.”

Payne describes his years at the Mecca as nothing short of transformative, a time that deepened his understanding of both himself and his roots.

“I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything in the world because it was actually the first time that I learned more about who I was, not only as a person, but who we are as a people,” he explained. “All throughout my childhood and the regular school systems, they don’t teach you about yourself, right? All you get is  Black History Month, but [at Howard] I was able to gain a sense of nationalism, a sense of self-pride, and a sense of empowerment. It just reinvigorated and reinforced what I was capable of as a Black man.”

Some of Payne’s most cherished memories from Howard revolve around the vibrant traditions and deep sense of camaraderie that define the HBCU experience.

“Man, the Quad,” he recalled to OffTheYard about Howard’s campus. “Walking across the lawn every day and watching young men and women pledge, and the different things that they had to go through during pledge season. And then, obviously, where everybody met to eat in the cafe, that was an experience in itself. [I also remember] the football team, the marching band, and school spirit. It was a sense of community.”

Post-Howard, Payne has continued evolving in the entertainment industry, now taking on the venture of directing Games Women Play, marking his first foray into theater direction with Vicarious Productions.

“It’s a comedy, which is something I think I know a little bit about,” he joked to OffTheYard. “It’s about something that’s universal to us all, which is relationships. So being able to look at all the different aspects of a relationship—from love to pain, to hurt, to figuring it out—through a comedic lens, but also being able to take you on a rollercoaster ride and give you the drama and the catharsis. I think all of that—that’s what drew me to it.”

Beyond directing, Payne is also starring in the play as Caleb, a successful attorney who finds his seemingly perfect life unraveling. “Caleb is successful in terms of his career, and he feels like he’s on top of the world. He’s got it all. He’s got a good woman, and he’s got a successful career. He is a junior partner at a law firm, and then all of a sudden, things take a left turn,” Payne told OffTheYard. “Sometimes we forget to prioritize correctly, and sometimes we live up to an image as opposed to just being ourselves. And that’s where the problems come in.”

Payne is also deeply invested in mentoring the next generation of actors, especially those studying at Howard University’s Chadwick Boseman School of Fine Arts. His advice for them is pragmatic and direct.

 “First and foremost, you have to know the business side of everything,” he told OffTheYard. “You could be the best singer, and you could be the best actor. You can be all of these things, but if you don’t know what comes along with it….” he adds. “The word is show business, and business is the bigger part of that word.”

As Payne continues to build on his already impressive career, he remains deeply committed to both his craft and his community. With new film projects in the works and a stand-up special on the horizon, he shows no signs of slowing down. “I’m not pulling my head up yet. I’m in the mud right now,” he told OffTheYard with a laugh. “I’ll peek my head out when it’s time.”

Cole may have kept us laughing, but Payne’s passion for storytelling goes far beyond comedic relief. This Howard Bison remains dedicated to bringing fresh perspectives to the stage, screen, and beyond.