ABOUT
DENYCE LAWTON
ACTRESS . WRITER . PRODUCER . AUTHOR
For more than two decades, Denyce Lawton has built a career across film, television and entertainment, bringing depth, heart and authenticity to every project she takes on. From comedy and drama to thrillers, voice performance, producing and writing, her journey has always been rooted in a love of storytelling and a commitment to creating characters that feel real.
Whether in front of the camera, behind the scenes or on the page, Denyce continues to evolve, take on new challenges and bringing fresh stories to life.
ROOTS
FROM THE jersey SHORE TO THE DMV
Born in Seoul, Korea and raised in the Jersey Shore communities of Belmar and Neptune, Denyce's early years were filled with family, culture and big dreams. She later moved to Maryland, graduating from Largo High School, where she was driven, creative and always found ways to lead - from student government to the arts. Those roots shaped her resilience, work ethic, and the belief that there's a bigger world out there.
BEFORE THE BIG SCREEN
MUSIC . MODELING . THE INDUSTRY
Denyce's journey in entertainment began in the music world, working behind the scenes at Warner Brothers Records and later at Priority Records in New York City. She went on to serve as a Personal Assistant to record executive Irv Gotti at Murder Inc. and various artists at Def Jam Records, gaining invaluable experience in an industry she would soon be part of on screen.
A successful modeling career followed, with campaigns for major brands and appearances in music videos and award shows for artists such as Nas, Kanye West, N'SYNC, Mya, Nelly, Ja Rule, 112, Jaheim, and many others. These experiences gave her a front-row seat to creativity, hard work, and what it takes to leave a lasting impression.
THE ROAD TO HOLLYWOOD
A BOLD MOVE . A BIGGER PURPOSE
Stepping closer to her dream of working in film, Denyce became a Junior Publicist at 20th Century Fox, where she gained firsthand experience working around major productions and talent, including Robert De Niro, Colin Farrell, and Halle Berry.
After 9/11, Denyce made the life-changing decision to leave the music industry, relocate to Los Angeles, and fully pursue acting. Her breakthrough came as Dana Carter on Tyler Perry’s House of Payne, introducing her to millions of viewers.
Since then, she’s built a career across film and television, moving between comedy, drama and thrillers with roles across network television, streaming and independent film. Denyce continues to take on characters that allow her to stretch, evolve and bring something distinctly her own to the screen.
HOT ZONE: ANTHRAX
SOUTH HAVEN
A LUV TALE
MOST WANTED SANTA
UNDER THE INFLUENCE
CHICAGO P.D.
ACTRESS . PRODUCER . WRITER
DIVERSE ROLES. MEANINGFUL WORK.
Denyce has starred in and guest appeared on acclaimed series including The Hot Zone: Anthrax, Chicago PD, BET+'s A Luv Tale, This Is Us writer Kay Oyegun, Secrets, The Coalition, The Dempsey Sisters, Most Wanted Santa, South Haven and BET's original thriller Fanatic opposite Hosea Chanchez. Her voice can also be heard as MJ in the popular video game Saints Row 5 and in the animated series Jericho Cutter.
As a producer and writer, Denyce is committed to developing stories that entertain, empower and reflect the real lives of complex, dynamic people.
FILM
TELEVISION
VOICEOVER
PRODUCING
WRITING
PRODUCER
and MORE …
STORYTELLING IN EVERY FORM
From the screen to the page, Denyce's love of storytelling continues to grow. Her work as an author is a natural extension of a career built on character, creativity, and connection.
EXPLORE MORE OF HER WORLD