Morris L. Chestnut (born January 1, 1969) is an American actor. He is known for his roles in the films Boyz n the Hood (1991), The Best Man (1999) and its sequel (2013), The Brothers (2001), Two Can Play That Game (2001), Like Mike (2002), Ladder 49 (2004), The Perfect Holiday (2007), Not Easily Broken (2009), Think Like A Man (2012), and TV series V (2009). Additionally, he co-starred on the short-lived Patti LaBelle 1992â€"1993 NBC sitcom Out All Night as Jeff Carswell. He is now the host of the new BET show Vindicated.
§Early life
Chestnut, born in Cerritos, California, is the son of Morris Chestnut, Sr. and his wife Shirley. He graduated from Richard Gahr High School in 1986, and subsequently studied finance and drama at California State University, Northridge.
§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) and G.I. Jane (1997).
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. In Under Siege 2: Dark Territory (1995), Chestnut is Seagal's reluctant partner. In both Half Past Dead (2002) and Prince of Pistols (2008), he co-stars as the main villain.
§Personal life
Chestnut married Pam Byse in 1995 and they have two children.
§Filmography
§Theatrical performances
- Love In The Nick of Tyme
- What Your Husband Doesn't Know (2011)
§References
§External links
- Morris Chestnut at the Internet Movie Database
- Morris Chestnut at Yahoo! Movies
- Morris Chestnut And Wife