Morris Chestnut

Background

The versatile American actor was born Morris Lamont Chestnut on January 1, 1969, in Cerritos, California, to Shirley (Wynn) and Morris Chestnut, Sr. He attended Richard Gahr High School and graduated in 1986. Chestnut later majored in finance and drama at California State University, Northridge. He is married to Pam Chestnut and has a son, Grant Chestnut, and a daughter, Paige Chestnut. The two first met in a club in Atlanta while he was there for a movie shoot.

Chestnut kick-started his acting career in 1990, with the brief role of Jason Woodman in an episode of the horror anthology “Freddy’s Nightmares — A Nightmare on Elm Street: The Series,” titled “A Family Affair.” The series was a spin-off of the 1984 supernatural slasher film of the same name. Chestnut made his big-screen debut the following year when he was cast in the starring role of Ricky Baker in the teen drama “Boyz n the Hood.” The same year, he appeared in a cameo in the action–comedy “The Last Boy Scout.”

Chestnut also played a role in Patti LaBelle’s short-lived sitcom “Out All Night” and his career continued to rise steadily. In 1999 Chestnut starred in “The Best Man” with Taye Diggs and Nia Long in which he played 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 N.A.A.C.P. Image Award nomination.

He has produced the movies “When the Bough Breaks,” “Takers,” and “Not Easily Broken.” He has also produced the series “Stage Black,” and directed the 2014 short film “Breakdown.”