Advertisement
Morris Chestnut is without a doubt one of the most successful African-American actors in Hollywood. For many years, he has utilized his talent and breathtaking looks to play the leading man in many unforgettable rom-com. Given the status he has attained as an actor, it is hard to imagine it wasn’t his first career choice. A native of Cerritos, he attended the Richard Galar High School where he played football and aspired to earn a college scholarship with the ultimate goal of joining the National Football League (NFL).
This lofty aspiration did not work out as planned but Chestnut wasn’t going to waste his time relishing what could have been. So he enrolled in college and studied finance and drama. What he does for a living would come to revolve around the latter, making him a popular figure. Chestnut is much more than your average Hollywood heartthrob, he is a decent family man who has sustained a healthy relationship with his wife of many years. As much as the many fans he has gained keep up with his works, his marriage to Pam Byse has inspired them.
Morris Chestnut Stormed the Limelight with His Debut Film
The actor is one of those who didn’t have a had time popularizing their name in the entertainment industry. Records have it that his professional acting career took off in 1990. His very first role came in the form of a guest appearance on the TV series, Freddy’s Nightmares: A Nightmare on Elm Street, in February 1990.
Unlike many actors who had to wait a long time to get their big break, Chestnut was lucky as he got his breakthrough just after a year in Hollywood. This came in the iconic 1991 movie, Boyz n the Hood. In the movie, he played the role of a teenager named Ricky Baker who relies on his football skills to escape violence and gang culture on the streets.
The movie featured a cast of would-be A-listers including Nia Long, Angela Basset, Ice Cube, Regina King, and Cuba Gooding Jr. Boyz n the Hood received numerous accolades and has since been preserved in the National Film Registry due to its cultural significance.
“The Best Man” and its Sequel Earned Him an NAACP Image Award Nomination
Since Boyz n the Hood, Morris Chestnut has appeared in over 30 movies and 18 TV series. The popular projects in his movie credit include The Brothers, Two Can Play That Game, The Game Plan, The Perfect Holiday, Think Like a Man, Identity Theft, The Perfect Guy, When the Bough Breaks, and many more.
Most of these projects were successful but none earned him the clout he acquired for playing Lance Sullivan in The Best Man and its sequel, The Best Man Holiday. These movies are definitely among Chestnut’s unforgettable projects. His character in the movie is an NFL star who discovers his bride-to-be slept with his best man during their college days.
He initially calls off the wedding but reconsiders after his friends convince him. The film received numerous accolades and did well at the box office. So also was its 2013 sequel.
The original movie released in 1999 got the actor an NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture. Several years later when its sequel was released, the actor received another nomination for the gong. But this time, it was for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture. Apart from that, The Best Man Holiday earned him a nomination for the Acapulco Black Film Festival Award for Best Actor and he won their Best Acting Ensemble gong with other cast members.
Advertisement
“Nurse Jackie” and “Rosewood” Are His Most Notable TV Projects
Morris Chestnut has also enjoyed a successful career on the small screen. He has been featured in TV series such as Nurse Jackie, V, America Horror Story: Murder House, Legends, Rosewood, and The Enemy Within.
Rosewood is a police procedural drama where Chestnut plays the lead role of Dr. Beaumont Rosewood, a highly sought-after private pathologist. He uses his skills to assist law enforcement agencies in solving crimes.
He played this lead role across at least 44 episodes of the Fox series that aired from September 2015 to April 2017. For his remarkable performance, he received yet another NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series.
In Nurse Jackie, a medical, comedy-drama series, Morris Chestnut played Dr. Prentiss. It was a major role he played in 17 episodes of the Showtime series in its 5th and 6th seasons through 2013 and 2014. His time on the medical drama was short but it was long enough to win him the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.
The Actor Met His Wife at a Club in Atlanta
Full Name: Pamela Byse Date of Birth: December 22, 1973 Place of Birth: Los Angeles, California Occupation: Undetermined
Morris Chestnut often portrays a lecher in movies but in real life, he is a responsible gentleman. The actor is happily married to Pam Byse who is also a native of California and they tied the knot in 1995.
Since they got married, the couple has remained strong together. Chestnut is a notoriously-private person but that hasn’t stopped him from showing his love for his wife. She often accompanies him to the premiere of his movies and Chestnut has revealed that they first met at a club in Atlanta.
He was immediately attracted to her but was warned to stay away due to her straight-laced character. He was however undeterred by this and the rest worked out gradually.
The Couple Has Two Kids
The Chestnuts have two kids together; a son named Grant and a daughter named Paige. The children often accompany their superstar dad to the red carpet.
Grant Chestnut
Date of Birth: 1999 Occupation: Undetermined
A graduate of the University of Colorado Boulder where he studied advertising; it has been reported in some quarters that Grant works as an international sales coordinator for EF Educational Tours. Other sources claim he is an aspiring actor. Time would tell the career path he’d settle for.
Paige Chestnut
Date of Birth: 1998 Occupation: Model
Paige is a budding model. She has appeared in print and TV ads. She has also walked the runway at many events including the L.A. Fashion Week.
Evading the Limelight Facilitated the Longevity of Their Union
The actor has revealed that the mutual love and respect they have for each other have contributed to their long marriage. Stressing that communication and understanding have helped them grow together instead of growing apart, Chestnut added that he avoids the lavish Hollywood lifestyle to completely stay committed to his life. As he once freestyled in the #forthepchallenge, his life revolves around his wife.
Morris Lamont Chestnut Jr. was born on the 1st of January 1969. He hails from a family of three and is the only child of his parents. His father’s name is Morris Chestnut Sr. while his mother’s name is Shirley.