This page uses content from the Morris Chestnut biography page on the English version of Wikipedia and is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. This list of authors can be seen in the page history. Rotten Tomatoes disclaims any and all warranties as to the accuracy or reliability of the content.

Morris L. Chestnut (born January 1, 1969) is an American film and television actor.

Biography

Personal life

Chestnut was born in Cerritos, California. He majored in Finance at California State University. He is divorced, and said (in an interview for essence.com) that he prefers to keep his private life private.

Career

Chestnut's first professional acting role was in Boyz 'N the Hood in 1991. He followed that up with roles in various TV movies, as well as a part on Patti LaBelle's short-lived sitcom Out All Night. Chestnut's career continued to rise steadily, but he often had only bit parts in throwaway, big-budget films, like 1995's Under Siege 2 or 1997's G.I. Jane. But as the decade ended, movies about young, professional African-Americans and their problems with family and relationships began to fill the cineplexes, creating roles for Chestnut and all the other talented black actors stuck in minor TV and film roles.

In 1999, Chestnut starred in The Best Man with Taye Diggs and Nia Long, playing a professional athlete who doesn't know that his soon-to-be wife dallied with his best man - who is about to release those details in his first novel, a Roman à clef about their time in college. The Best Man earned pretty good reviews, did well at the box office, and even earned Chestnut a NAACP Image Award nomination for his performance. He followed it up with The Brothers, another film centering on the themes of fidelity and success among urban professionals.

Trivia

• In 1998 Morris won the annual Madden Bowl.
• Is a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated.
• Is an excellent Texas Hold 'Em poker player. Recently held his own against 6 established poker professionals in a made for TV tournament.
• Has worked with Steven Seagal twice. He was both Seagal's character's partner, and main enemy. In Under Siege 2: Dark Territory, Chestnut is Seagal's character's reluctant partner. In Half Past Dead he co-starred as the main villain.
• Purchased $1.5 million estate in suburban Los Angeles.
• Had a cameo appearance, but was uncredited in the movie Higher Learning as one of the track runners on the team.
• Has 2 children with Pam Byse.

Filmography

• Boyz N the Hood (1991)
• The Last Boy Scout (1991)
• In the Line of Duty: Street War (1992)
• The Ernest Green Story (1993) (TV)
• The Inkwell (1994)
• Under Siege 2 (1995)
• G.I. Jane (1997)
• Firehouse (1997) (TV)
• The Best Man (1999)
• The Brothers (2001)
• Two Can Play That Game (2001)
• Scenes Of The Crime (2001)
• The Killing Yard (2001) (TV)
• Like Mike (2002)
• Half Past Dead (2002)
• Confidence (2003)
• Breakin' All the Rules (2004)
• Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid (2004)
• Ladder 49 (2004)
• The Cave (2005)

Television

• Out All Night (1992)
• C-16: FBI (1997-1998)

External link

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