Daniel Boyd Payne was born in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, and his family's frequent relocations during his childhood allowed him to develop a sense of resourcefulness and independence. He credits these experiences with teaching him the importance of humor in adapting to new surroundings and forming close bonds with his siblings, Josh and Cathy.
Standing at 6'4" and weighing nearly 230 pounds, Dan's athletic build belied his academic prowess, as he was an excellent student and earned Honor Roll in Matriculation throughout high school. His academic achievements earned him scholarships to universities across Canada, ultimately leading him to settle at the University of Calgary, where he played volleyball for the U of C Dinosaurs.
Dan's successful volleyball career took him across Canada and abroad, eventually landing him a professional stint in Holland. During his time at university, he discovered a passion for coaching volleyball camps for special needs children, which brought him great satisfaction.
After leaving Holland, Dan relocated to Australia for four years, where he became a professional photographer and rekindled his love for the creative arts. He also pursued his childhood dream of acting, initially through stand-up comedy and co-written/co-directed shows with his brother Josh.
Inspired by his entrepreneurial brother and growing love of creative pursuits, Dan chose to take the next step, venturing to London, England. The UK marked the beginning of his traditional agent and audition trail, as well as a period of intense learning in the entertainment industry.
While in London, Dan continued to study acting, perform on stage and in film, and discovered that his unique size and accent were assets. Towards the end of his five-year stint, he found success, which gave him the confidence to return home to Canada.
Armed with a greater sense of self and foreign film credits, Dan returned to Vancouver, Canada, where he has continued to expand his experience in both comedy and drama. He has enjoyed a variety of roles, from lawyers to aliens to working with the Muppets, and his career has continually grown in success.
Dan is married to Daylon and has two sons, Elijah and Grayson, born in 2008 and 2011, respectively. He continues to pursue his passion for acting, with a promising future ahead, driven by his leading man good looks and sense of humor.
