Morris Chestnut
Morris Lamont Chestnut[1] (born January 1, 1969)[2] is an American actor. He first came to prominence for his role as Ricky in the 1991 film Boyz n the Hood. He has appeared in feature films and on television series, including the starring role of FBI Agent Will Keaton in the NBC TV series The Enemy Within.
Morris Chestnut | |
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Morris at the San Diego Comic-Con International in July 2010 | |
Born | Morris Lamont Chestnut January 1, 1969 Cerritos, California, U.S. |
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 1990–present |
Spouse(s) | Pam Bryce-Chestnut ( m. 1995) |
Children | 2 |
Early life
Chestnut was born in Cerritos, California, the son of Morris Chestnut Sr. and Shirley Chestnut.[3]
Career
Chestnut's first professional acting role was as Jadon in Freddy's Nightmares – A Nightmare on Elm Street: The Series, season 2, episode 19 ("A Family Affair"), which aired on February 18, 1990. His first feature film role was as Ricky Baker in Boyz n the Hood (1991). He followed that up with roles in various TV movies. Chestnut also played a role on Patti LaBelle's short-lived sitcom Out All Night. His career continued to rise steadily with co-starring roles in standard big-budget studio films such as Under Siege 2: Dark Territory (1995) opposite Steven Seagal and Katherine Heigl and G.I. Jane (1997) opposite Demi Moore. He was also a regular cast member on C-16, in the role of Special Agent Mal Robinson, from 1997 to 1998.[4]
In 1998, he won the annual Madden Bowl video game competition. In 1999, Chestnut starred in The Best Man with Taye Diggs and Nia Long, as a professional football player on the eve of his wedding. The Best Man earned positive reviews from the press and did well at the box office. For his performance, Chestnut earned an NAACP Image Award nomination. He again played a football player in The Game Plan (2007). In 2001, he starred in The Brothers, a film centering on the themes of fidelity and success among young professionals. In 2004, he appeared as a firefighter in Ladder 49.
He has worked with Steven Seagal three times: Under Siege 2: Dark Territory (1995) as Seagal's reluctant partner and lead male villain in Half Past Dead (2002) and Prince of Pistols (2008).
In 2015, Morris Chestnut played Derrick Dog Prince in the movie Heist. People magazine named Morris Chestnut as one of the "Sexiest Men Alive" in 2015.[5]
To prepare for his role as Professional Football Player, Lance Sullivan, in the movie The Best Man Holiday, Morris Chestnut had to get back into shape. His fitness training experience with Celebrity Fitness Trainer Obi Obadike inspired him to become Obadike's co-author on the health and fitness book, The Cut. The Cut, published on April 18, 2017, contains exercise drills and recipes.[6]
Personal life
Morris Chestnut has been married to Pam Byse-Chestnut since 1995. The couple have two children, son Grant and daughter Paige.[7]
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1991 | Boyz n the Hood | Ricky Baker | Debut film |
1991 | The Last Boy Scout | Locker room kid | |
1993 | The Ernest Green Story | Ernest Green | |
1993 | The Fugitive | Prison bus guard | |
1994 | The Inkwell | Harold Lee | |
1995 | Under Siege 2: Dark Territory | Bobby Zachs | |
1995 | Higher Learning | Track Anchor | Uncredited |
1997 | G.I. Jane | McCool | |
1999 | The Best Man | Lance Sullivan | Nominated—NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture |
2001 | The Brothers | Jackson Smith | |
2001 | Two Can Play That Game | Keith Fenton | |
2001 | Scenes of the Crime | Ray | |
2002 | Like Mike | Tracy Reynolds | |
2002 | Half Past Dead | Donald Robert Johnson | |
2003 | Confidence | Travis | |
2004 | Breakin' All the Rules | Evan Fields | |
2004 | Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid | Gordon Mitchell | |
2004 | Ladder 49 | Tommy Drake | |
2005 | The Cave | Top Buchanan | |
2007 | The Game Plan | Travis Sanders | |
2007 | The Perfect Holiday | Benjamin | |
2008 | The Prince of Motor City | Leo Moore | |
2009 | Not Easily Broken | Dave Johnson | |
2012 | Think Like a Man | James Merrill | |
2013 | Identity Thief | Detective Reilly | |
2013 | The Call | Officer Phillips | |
2013 | Kick-Ass 2 | Marcus Williams | Replaces Omari Hardwick |
2013 | The Best Man Holiday | Lance Sullivan | Acapulco Black Film Festival Award for Best Acting Ensemble Nominated—Acapulco Black Film Festival Award for Best Actor Nominated—NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture |
2015 | The Perfect Guy | Dave | |
2015 | Heist | Derrick "Dog" Prince | |
2016 | When the Bough Breaks | John Taylor | |
2017 | Girls Trip | Himself | |
2020 | Spell | N/A | Producer only |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1990 | Freddy's Nightmares – A Nightmare on Elm Street: The Series | Jason Woodman | Episode: "A Family Affair" |
1992 | In the Line of Duty: Street War | Prince Franklin | Television film |
1992–1993 | Out All Night | Jeff Carswell | Main role, 20 episodes |
1993 | The Ernest Green Story | Ernest Green | Television film |
1994 | Living Single | Hamilton Brown | 2 episodes |
1997 | Firehouse | Andre | Television film |
1997–1998 | C-16: FBI | Mal Robinson | Main role, 12 episodes |
2000 | ER | ICU Nurse Frank 'Rambo' Bacon | 2 episodes |
2002 | The Killing Yard | Shango | Television film |
2005 | Bones | Agent Oakes | Episode: "The Man in the Wall" |
2009–2011 | V | Ryan Nichols | Main role, 22 episodes |
2011 | American Horror Story: Murder House | Luke | Recurring role, 6 episodes |
2013 | American Dad! | Craig | Episode: "For Black Eyes Only" |
2013–2014 | Nurse Jackie | Dr. Prentiss | Main role (seasons 5–6), 17 episodes NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series |
2014 | Legends | Tony Rice | Main role (season 1), 9 episodes |
2015–2017 | Rosewood | Dr. Beaumont Rosewood Jr. | Lead role, 44 episodes Nominated – NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series 2016- This Is Us - Himself |
2018 | Goliath | Hakeem Rashad | 7 episodes |
2019 | The Enemy Within | FBI Agent Will Keaton | Lead role |
2019 | Being Mary Jane | Beau Mercer | Guest Star |
2019–present | The Resident | Dr. Barrett Cain | Supporting actor role |
Theatrical performances
- Love In The Nick of Tyme (2007)
- What My Husband Doesn't Know (2011)
- The Nutcracker (2013)
Published work
- Chestnut, Morris (2017). The Cut: Lose Up to 10 Pounds in 10 Days and Sculpt Your Best Body. Hachette Book Group, Inc. ISBN 978-1455565238.
References
- "Morris Chesnut, Also Known As: Morris Lamont Chestnut". FamilySearch.org. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
- "UPI Almanac for Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019". United Press International. January 1, 2019. Archived from the original on September 2, 2019. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
actor Morris Chestnut in 1969 (age 51)
- "Morris Chestnut". TVGuide.com. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
- Terrace, Vincent. Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2007 (Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Co., 2008), p.331.
- "The Weeknd, Jussie Smollett Among People's Sexiest Men of the Year - Music News - ABC News Radio". ABC News Radio. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
- Jack, Fisher (2017-04-18). "Morris Chestnut and Obi Obadike's 'The Cut: Lose Up to 10 Pounds in 10 Days". EURweb. Retrieved 2020-02-24.
- Carvajal, Edduin (2019-01-29). "Morris Chestnut's grown-up son shows off his shirtless body, posing by the sea in recent photos". amomama.com. Retrieved 2020-02-24.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Morris Chestnut. |