Melika Payne is best known as the wife of actor Carl Anthony Payne II and the mother of Landon Brown, whose father is singer Bobby Brown. She has been married to Carl since 1992 and is the mother of four sons.
Melika has mostly kept her life private. She has one reported acting credit and is sometimes described as an entrepreneur, but her current profession is not clearly known.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Melika Michem Williams |
| Known as | Melika Payne |
| Date of birth | April 10, 1969 |
| Age | 57 as of 2026 |
| Birthplace | Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Husband | Carl Anthony Payne II |
| Marriage year | 1992 |
| Former partner | Bobby Brown |
| Children | Four sons |
| Known sons | Landon Brown, Malek Payne, Carl Anthony Payne III |
| Acting credit | Swirl (2003) |
| Current residence | Reportedly Northridge, California |
| Net worth | Not reliably known |
Early Life
Melika Payne was born Melika Michem Williams on April 10, 1969, in Los Angeles, California.
Very little is publicly known about her childhood, parents, or siblings.
Some reports say she studied theatre arts. Another source describes her as a college dropout, but no school or college has been clearly confirmed.
Why Is Melika Payne Known?
Melika is mainly known because of her family connections.
She is the longtime wife of actor Carl Anthony Payne II.
She is also the mother of Landon Brown, whom she had with R&B singer Bobby Brown before marrying Carl.
Relationship With Bobby Brown
Melika dated Bobby Brown in the 1980s.
One report says they began dating in 1984.
The couple had a son, Landon Brown, on June 22, 1986.
Their relationship ended around 1987, but they reportedly continued to co-parent their son.
Who Is Bobby Brown?
Bobby Brown is an American R&B singer, songwriter, and performer.
He became famous as a member of New Edition and later had a successful solo career.
He is known for songs such as My Prerogative, Every Little Step, and On Our Own.
Bobby later married Whitney Houston in 1992.
Her Son Landon Brown
Landon Brown is Melika’s oldest son.
He was born on June 22, 1986.
Landon remained connected to both of his parents after Melika and Bobby separated.
He later followed his father into entertainment and became involved in music and film.
Landon has also spoken positively about Carl Anthony Payne II, who helped raise him.
Landon and Carl Payne
Carl became an important father figure in Landon’s life after marrying Melika.
One report says Landon referred to Carl as his other dad from a young age.
At the same time, Bobby Brown remained part of Landon’s life and reportedly took him on trips and spent time with him.
How Melika Met Carl Anthony Payne II
Melika and Carl reportedly first crossed paths in the mid-1980s.
One source says Carl appeared briefly in Bobby Brown’s Girl Next Door music video in 1986.
Another report says Melika and Carl were later properly introduced during Carl’s entertainment career.
The exact details are not fully clear, but they became a couple before marrying in 1992.
Who Is Carl Anthony Payne II?
Carl Anthony Payne II is an American actor, producer, comedian, and podcast host.
He is best known for playing Walter “Cockroach” Bradley on The Cosby Show and Cole Brown on Martin.
His other acting credits include The Game, George Lopez, Rock Me, Baby, Marry Me for Christmas, and Tyler Perry’s Young Dylan.
He has worked in television and film for more than three decades.
Marriage to Carl Anthony Payne II
Melika and Carl married in 1992.
The couple has been together for more than 30 years.
They have raised four sons, including Landon from Melika’s earlier relationship.
Their marriage has not always been easy, and at one point they came close to divorcing.
Divorce Filing
Melika and Carl reportedly separated in 2012.
In 2014, Melika filed for divorce and cited irreconcilable differences.
She reportedly asked for sole physical custody and joint legal custody of one of their minor sons.
She also requested spousal support.
The divorce was never completed.
Their Reconciliation
Melika later withdrew the divorce petition.
She and Carl reconciled and remained married.
Carl later spoke about the lessons he learned from marriage. He said communication, learning how to argue, and growing together were important parts of keeping a relationship strong.
In 2019, Carl shared a public post thanking Melika for supporting him for more than 25 years.
Melika Payne’s Children
Melika Payne is reported to have four sons.
Her oldest son is Landon Brown, whose father is Bobby Brown.
She later had three sons with Carl Anthony Payne II.
Two of those sons are publicly named:
- Malek Payne
- Carl Anthony Payne III
The name of the fourth son is not clearly given in the supplied sources.
Malek Payne
Malek Payne is one of Melika and Carl’s sons.
Carl has shared posts about him on social media.
In 2016, Malek was reportedly on set with his father while Carl was directing the film Misguided Behavior.
There is little other public information about his career.
Carl Anthony Payne III
Carl Anthony Payne III is another of Melika and Carl’s sons.
His name appears in several family profiles, but there is limited public information about his personal life or career.
Acting Career
Melika Payne has one reported acting credit.
She is listed as playing Donna in the 2003 production Swirl.
There are no other major acting roles linked to her in the supplied sources.
Because of this, acting does not appear to have been a large public career for her.
Her Profession
Melika’s current occupation is not clearly documented.
Some sources describe her as an actress, entrepreneur, and homemaker.
However, no major company, business, or regular professional role has been clearly identified.
She is therefore best described as a private figure with a small reported acting credit.
Public Appearances
Melika has appeared with Carl at several entertainment events.
She attended the 2022 BET Awards in Los Angeles.
She was also seen at the Martin: The Reunion private screening in June 2022.
She has also appeared with Carl at events connected to the NAACP Image Awards.
Social Media
Melika Payne keeps a low public profile.
There is no clearly verified public social media account widely connected to her in the supplied sources.
Most public family updates appear through Carl’s social media or entertainment coverage.
Where Does Melika Payne Live?
Melika Payne and Carl have been reported to live in Northridge, California.
Their exact current living arrangements should be treated as private.
Net Worth
Melika Payne’s personal net worth is not reliably known.
One secondary source estimates her net worth at around $1 million, but there is no clear financial evidence supporting that figure.
It is better to treat the number as an unverified estimate.
Facts About Melika Payne
- Melika Payne was born on April 10, 1969.
- Her reported birth name is Melika Michem Williams.
- She was born in Los Angeles, California.
- She previously dated singer Bobby Brown.
- Melika Payne and Bobby had a son, Landon Brown, in 1986.
- She married Carl Anthony Payne II in 1992.
- Carl helped raise Landon.
- Melika and Carl have three sons together.
- She is the mother of four sons in total.
- Her known sons include Landon Brown, Malek Payne, and Carl Anthony Payne III.
- She filed for divorce from Carl in 2014 after an earlier separation.
- She later withdrew the petition and reconciled with him.
- She has one reported acting credit in Swirl.
- She attended the 2022 BET Awards with Carl.
- Her current profession is not clearly known.
- Her personal net worth is not reliably confirmed.
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