
Morris Chestnut
Biography
Morris Lamont Chestnut is an American film and television actor. He is known for his roles as teenage father Ricky Baker in the 1991 film Boyz n the Hood, groom-to-be Lance Sullivan in the 1999 film The Best Man, as NBA star Tracy Reynolds in the 2002 film Like Mike, and as the Visitor Ryan Nichols in the TV series V (2009).
His first professional acting role was as Jadon in Freddy's Nightmares: A Nightmare on Elm Street: The Series in the episode "A Family Affair" (season 2, episode 19) which aired on February 18, 1990.
His first feature film role was as Ricky Baker in Boyz n the Hood (1991). He followed 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 like Under Siege 2 (1995) and G.I. Jane (1997). In 1998, he won the annual Madden Bowl video game competition.
In 1999, he 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. He reprised his role in Best Man Holiday. For both of his performances, he earned NAACP Image Award nominations. He then starred in The Brothers (2001), another film centering on the themes of fidelity and success among urban professionals. He has worked with Steven Seagal three times in Under Siege 2: Dark Territory, Half Past Dead and Prince of Pistols.
He starred In Two Can Play That Game (2001), Breakin' All the Rules (2004), and Ladder 49 (2004). He again played a football player in The Game Plan (2007). He produced and starred in the film Not Easily Broken (2009). He starred as Ryan Nichols in the TV series reboot of V (2009). He then appeared in the films Think Like a Man (2012), and, in 2013, the films Identity Thief, Kick-Ass 2, and The Call.
In 2013, he joined the cast of HBO's Nurse Jackie, playing war veteran Dr. Ike Prentiss. The following year, he won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. In 2015, Morris Chestnut played Derrick Dog Prince in the movie Heist; and People magazine named him as one of the "Sexiest Men Alive" in 2015. He then starred in the films The Perfect Guy (2016) and When the Bough Breaks (2017).
He played the lead role of pathologist Dr. Beaumont Rosewood Jr. in the series Rosewood, receiving another NAACP image Award nomination. He had recurring roles in the TV series Legends, The Enemy Within, and Our Kind of People. He had a starring guest role on the medical drama The Resident.
Known For

TV
Bones
Agent Oakes
2005

TV
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
Self - Guest
2009

TV
The Daily Show
Self
1996

TV
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Self
2014

TV
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Self
2015

TV
American Dad!
Craig (voice)
2005

TV
The Kelly Clarkson Show
Self
2019

TV
Rosewood
Beaumont Rosewood Jr.
2015

TV
American Horror Story
Luke
2011

TV
After Midnight
Self
2024

TV
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Self
2003

TV
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
Self
1988

TV
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
Self - Guest
1988

TV
ER
Frank 'Rambo' Bacon
1994

TV
The Jennifer Hudson Show
Self
2022

TV
Golden Globe Awards
Self - Presenter
1944

TV
Living Single
Hamilton Brown
1993

TV
The Resident
Barrett Cain
2018

TV
Sherri
Self - Guest
2022

TV
Goliath
Hakeem Rashad
2016
Filmography
2025TVNumber One on the Call Sheetas Self2025TVWatsonas Dr. John Watson2024TVDiarra from Detroitas Swa2024TVAfter Midnightas Self2023TVRebuilding Black Wall Streetas Self - Host2022TVThe Best Man: The Final Chaptersas Lance Sullivan2022FilmHalloween in Hollywoodas Self2022TVReasonable Doubtas Corey Cash2022TVThe Jennifer Hudson Showas Self2022TVSherrias Self - Guest2021TVOur Kind of Peopleas Raymond Dupont2020FilmSaving OurSelves: BET COVID-19 Relief Effortas Self2019TVThe Kelly Clarkson Showas Self2019TVThe Enemy Withinas Will Keaton2018TVAll Americanas Rick Barnes2018TVThe Residentas Barrett Cain2017FilmGirls Tripas Morris Chestnut2016TVGoliathas Hakeem Rashad2016FilmWhen the Bough Breaksas John Taylor2015FilmHeistas Dog2015TVRosewoodas Beaumont Rosewood Jr.2015FilmThe Perfect Guyas Dave King2015TVThe Late Show with Stephen Colbertas Self2014TVLegendsas Tony Rice2014TVThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallonas Self2013FilmThe Best Man Holidayas Lance Sullivan2013FilmKick-Ass 2as Detective Marcus Williams2013FilmThe Callas Officer Paul Phillips2013FilmIdentity Thiefas Detective Reilly2012FilmThink Like a Manas James2011TVAmerican Horror Storyas Luke2011FilmThe Enduring Significance of 'Boyz n the Hood'as Self2009FilmLove in the Nick of Tymeas Marcelles Wynters2009TVVas Ryan Nichols2009TVWatch What Happens Live with Andy Cohenas Self - Guest2009FilmNot Easily Brokenas Dave Johnson2008TVThe Wendy Williams Show2008FilmThe Prince of Motor Cityas Leo Moore2007FilmThe Perfect Holidayas Benjamin Armstrong2007FilmThe Game Planas Travis Sanders2006FilmThe N Wordas Self2005TVBonesas Agent Oakes2005FilmThe Caveas Top Buchanan2005TVAmerican Dad!as Craig (voice)2004FilmLadder 49as Tommy Drake2004FilmAnacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchidas Gordon Mitchell2004FilmBreakin' All the Rulesas Evan2003FilmFriendly Fire: Making of an Urban Legendas Self2003FilmConfidenceas Travis2003TVJimmy Kimmel Live!as Self2002FilmHalf Past Deadas Donald Robert Johnson2002FilmLike Mikeas Tracey Reynolds2002FilmScenes of the Crimeas Ray2001FilmThe Killing Yardas Shango2001FilmTwo Can Play That Gameas Keith Fenton2001FilmThe Brothersas Jackson Smith1999FilmThe Best Manas Lance Sullivan1997TVC-16: FBIas Mal Robinson1997FilmG.I. Janeas McCool1996TVThe Daily Showas Self1996FilmFirehouseas Andre1995FilmUnder Siege 2: Dark Territoryas Bobby Zachs1995FilmHigher Learningas Track Anchor1994TVERas Frank 'Rambo' Bacon1994FilmThe Inkwellas Harold Lee1993TVLiving Singleas Hamilton Brown1993FilmThe Ernest Green Storyas Ernest Green1992FilmIn the Line of Duty: Street Waras Prince Franklin1992TVOut All Nightas Jeff Carswell1991FilmThe Last Boy Scoutas Locker Room Kid1991FilmBoyz n the Hoodas Ricky Baker1988TVLIVE with Kelly and Markas Self1944TVGolden Globe Awardsas Self - Presenter—TVUnsung Hollywood