He was likely to have been the son of the actor Richard Cross who appeared in London in the early eighteenth century.
[1] The younger Cross possibly made his first recorded performance at the Haymarket Theatre in November 1729, and also appeared a some of the summer fairs in London.
In early 1735 he became associated with the actress Frances Shireburn, who was thereafter billed as Mrs Cross, although a formal marriage ceremony didn't take place until 1751.
[3] Frustrated by his low pay at Drury Lane, he switched to the rival Covent Garden Theatre in 1739 but did not earn much more.
[5] During the summers he appeared at Richmond Theatre, and also wrote a novel and a play The Henpecked Captain which was staged at Drury Lane in 1749 during a benefit performance for him.