Morris Chestnut

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' ...

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Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid (2004)

The blood orchid - a rare flower that could hold the secret of eternal life and be worth a fortune to the company that finds it first. Led by a pharmaceutical research team, a scientific expedition sets out to go and explore deep into the jungles of Borneo to ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Dwight H. Little
CAST:  Johnny Messner  •  KaDee Strickland  •  Matthew Marsden  •  Nicholas Gonzalez

The blood orchid - a rare flower that could hold the secret of eternal life and be worth a fortune to the company that finds it first. Led by a pharmaceutical research team, a scientific expedition sets out to go and explore deep into the jungles of Borneo to ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Dwight H. Little
CAST:  Johnny Messner  •  KaDee Strickland  •  Matthew Marsden  •  Nicholas Gonzalez

Boyz n the Hood (1991)

Thought provokingTragicReal

Boyz n the Hood is the popular and successful film and social criticism from John Singleton about the conditions in South Central Los Angeles where teenagers are involved in gun fights and drug dealing on a daily basis.  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Singleton
CAST:  Laurence Fishburne  •  Cuba Gooding Jr.  •  Ice Cube  •  Morris Chestnut

Boyz n the Hood is the popular and successful film and social criticism from John Singleton about the conditions in South Central Los Angeles where teenagers are involved in gun fights and drug dealing on a daily basis.  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Singleton
CAST:  Laurence Fishburne  •  Cuba Gooding Jr.  •  Ice Cube  •  Morris Chestnut

Breakin' All the Rules (2004)

Inspired by his fiancée (who dumped him), a man publishes a break-up handbook for men, becoming a bestselling author in the process.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Daniel Taplitz
CAST:  Jamie Foxx  •  Morris Chestnut  •  Jennifer Esposito  •  Gabrielle Union

Inspired by his fiancée (who dumped him), a man publishes a break-up handbook for men, becoming a bestselling author in the process.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Daniel Taplitz
CAST:  Jamie Foxx  •  Morris Chestnut  •  Jennifer Esposito  •  Gabrielle Union

Confidence (2003)

What Jake Vig doesn't know just might get him killed. A sharp and polished grifter, Jake has just swindled thousands of dollars from the unsuspecting Lionel Dolby with the help of his crew. It becomes clear that Lionel wasn't just any mark, he was an accountant for ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  James Foley
CAST:  Edward Burns  •  Rachel Weisz  •  Morris Chestnut  •  Dustin Hoffman

What Jake Vig doesn't know just might get him killed. A sharp and polished grifter, Jake has just swindled thousands of dollars from the unsuspecting Lionel Dolby with the help of his crew. It becomes clear that Lionel wasn't just any mark, he was an accountant for ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  James Foley
CAST:  Edward Burns  •  Rachel Weisz  •  Morris Chestnut  •  Dustin Hoffman

FireHouse (1997)

A film about the dealings of a crew at a firehouse. The group is attacked by an assassin and eventually must accept that the firehouse is to be consolidated with a rescue unit.  (more)

DIRECTION:  John McNaughton  •  Alan Smithee
CAST:  Richard Dean Anderson  •  Lillo Brancato  •  Morris Chestnut  •  Edie Falco

A film about the dealings of a crew at a firehouse. The group is attacked by an assassin and eventually must accept that the firehouse is to be consolidated with a rescue unit.  (more)

DIRECTION:  John McNaughton  •  Alan Smithee
CAST:  Richard Dean Anderson  •  Lillo Brancato  •  Morris Chestnut  •  Edie Falco

G.I. Jane (1997)

In response to political pressure from Senator Lillian DeHaven, the U.S. Navy begins a program that would allow for the eventual integration of women into its services. The program begins with a single trial candidate, Lieutenant Jordan O'Neil, who is chosen ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ridley Scott
CAST:  Demi Moore  •  Viggo Mortensen  •  Anne Bancroft  •  Jason Beghe

In response to political pressure from Senator Lillian DeHaven, the U.S. Navy begins a program that would allow for the eventual integration of women into its services. The program begins with a single trial candidate, Lieutenant Jordan O'Neil, who is chosen ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ridley Scott
CAST:  Demi Moore  •  Viggo Mortensen  •  Anne Bancroft  •  Jason Beghe

Higher Learning (1995)

Malik is an African-American student attending on a track scholarship; academics are not his strong suit, and he goes in thinking that his athletic abilities will earn him a free ride through college. Fudge, a "professional student" who has been at Columbus for six ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Singleton
CAST:  Omar Epps  •  Kristy Swanson  •  Michael Rapaport  •  Jennifer Connelly

Malik is an African-American student attending on a track scholarship; academics are not his strong suit, and he goes in thinking that his athletic abilities will earn him a free ride through college. Fudge, a "professional student" who has been at Columbus for six ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Singleton
CAST:  Omar Epps  •  Kristy Swanson  •  Michael Rapaport  •  Jennifer Connelly

In the Line of Duty: Street War (1992)

In this gritty cops-and-crooks drama, two detectives hunt a gang leader suspected of murdering a New York cop. The detectives enlist the help of the dead cop's partner, who is also the brother of the gangster. There's nothing civil about this war that has two ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Dick Lowry
CAST:  Peter Boyle  •  Courtney B. Vance  •  Morris Chestnut  •  Michael Boatman

In this gritty cops-and-crooks drama, two detectives hunt a gang leader suspected of murdering a New York cop. The detectives enlist the help of the dead cop's partner, who is also the brother of the gangster. There's nothing civil about this war that has two ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Dick Lowry
CAST:  Peter Boyle  •  Courtney B. Vance  •  Morris Chestnut  •  Michael Boatman

Ladder 49 (2004)

InspiringIntenseEmotionalThought provoking

Under the watchful eye of his mentor, Captain Mike Kennedy, probationary firefighter Jack Morrison matures into a seasoned veteran at a Baltimore fire station. However, Jack has reached a crossroads as the sacrifices he's made have put him in harm's way ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jay Russell
CAST:  Joaquin Phoenix  •  John Travolta  •  Jacinda Barrett  •  Robert Patrick

Under the watchful eye of his mentor, Captain Mike Kennedy, probationary firefighter Jack Morrison matures into a seasoned veteran at a Baltimore fire station. However, Jack has reached a crossroads as the sacrifices he's made have put him in harm's way ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jay Russell
CAST:  Joaquin Phoenix  •  John Travolta  •  Jacinda Barrett  •  Robert Patrick

Like Mike (2002)

Calvin and his friends, who all live in an orphanage, find old shoes with the faded letters MJ connected to a powerline. One stormy night, they go to get the shoes when Calvin and the shoes are struck by lightning. Calvin now has unbelievable basketball powers and ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Schultz
CAST:  Shad Moss  •  Morris Chestnut  •  Jonathan Lipnicki  •  Chris Webber

Calvin and his friends, who all live in an orphanage, find old shoes with the faded letters MJ connected to a powerline. One stormy night, they go to get the shoes when Calvin and the shoes are struck by lightning. Calvin now has unbelievable basketball powers and ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Schultz
CAST:  Shad Moss  •  Morris Chestnut  •  Jonathan Lipnicki  •  Chris Webber

Scenes of the Crime (2002)

A young man about to get married earns extra cash by driving a local mobster, but things go awry when the mobster is shot dead by a rival crime boss.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Dominique Forma
CAST:  Jon Abrahams  •  Peter Greene  •  Jeff Bridges  •  Mädchen Amick

A young man about to get married earns extra cash by driving a local mobster, but things go awry when the mobster is shot dead by a rival crime boss.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Dominique Forma
CAST:  Jon Abrahams  •  Peter Greene  •  Jeff Bridges  •  Mädchen Amick

The Best Man (1999)

After writing a soon-to-be bestselling novel, writer and committed bachelor Harper attempts to hide the fact that his saucy new book is loosely based on the lives and loves of his tight-knit group of friends. Harper is set to be best man at his friend Lance's ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Malcolm D. Lee
CAST:  Nia Long  •  Morris Chestnut  •  Terrence Howard  •  Harold Perrineau

After writing a soon-to-be bestselling novel, writer and committed bachelor Harper attempts to hide the fact that his saucy new book is loosely based on the lives and loves of his tight-knit group of friends. Harper is set to be best man at his friend Lance's ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Malcolm D. Lee
CAST:  Nia Long  •  Morris Chestnut  •  Terrence Howard  •  Harold Perrineau

The Brothers (2001)

This is the story of four African-American "yuppies" (a banker, a doctor, a lawyer, and a "playboy") who call themselves "The Brothers". When the playboy gets engaged, the other three friends find themselves having to come to terms with their own issues of ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Gary Hardwick
CAST:  Morris Chestnut  •  D.L. Hughley  •  Bill Bellamy  •  Shemar Moore

This is the story of four African-American "yuppies" (a banker, a doctor, a lawyer, and a "playboy") who call themselves "The Brothers". When the playboy gets engaged, the other three friends find themselves having to come to terms with their own issues of ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Gary Hardwick
CAST:  Morris Chestnut  •  D.L. Hughley  •  Bill Bellamy  •  Shemar Moore

The Cave (2005)

After a group of biologists discovers a huge network of unexplored caves in Romania and, believing it to be an undisturbed eco-system that has produced a new species, they hire the best American team of underwater cave explorers in the world. While exploring deeper ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Bruce Hunt
CAST:  Cole Hauser  •  Eddie Cibrian  •  Morris Chestnut  •  Lena Headey

After a group of biologists discovers a huge network of unexplored caves in Romania and, believing it to be an undisturbed eco-system that has produced a new species, they hire the best American team of underwater cave explorers in the world. While exploring deeper ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Bruce Hunt
CAST:  Cole Hauser  •  Eddie Cibrian  •  Morris Chestnut  •  Lena Headey

The Ernest Green Story (1993)

Follows the story of Ernest Green, one of the Little Rock Nine who were the first blacks to integrate into an all white school.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Eric Laneuville
CAST:  Morris Chestnut  •  Monica Calhoun  •  Ossie Davis  •  Ruby Dee

Follows the story of Ernest Green, one of the Little Rock Nine who were the first blacks to integrate into an all white school.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Eric Laneuville
CAST:  Morris Chestnut  •  Monica Calhoun  •  Ossie Davis  •  Ruby Dee

The Inkwell (1994)

The Inkwell is about a 16-year-old boy coming of age on Martha's Vineyard in the summer of 1976.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Matty Rich
CAST:  Larenz Tate  •  Joe Morton  •  Suzzanne Douglas  •  Glynn Turman

The Inkwell is about a 16-year-old boy coming of age on Martha's Vineyard in the summer of 1976.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Matty Rich
CAST:  Larenz Tate  •  Joe Morton  •  Suzzanne Douglas  •  Glynn Turman

The Last Boy Scout (1991)

When the girl that detective Joe Hallenback is protecting gets murdered, the boyfriend of the murdered girl attempts to investigate and solve the case. What they discover is that there is deep seated corruption going on between a crooked politician and the owner of ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tony Scott
CAST:  Bruce Willis  •  Damon Wayans  •  Chelsea Field  •  Noble Willingham

When the girl that detective Joe Hallenback is protecting gets murdered, the boyfriend of the murdered girl attempts to investigate and solve the case. What they discover is that there is deep seated corruption going on between a crooked politician and the owner of ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tony Scott
CAST:  Bruce Willis  •  Damon Wayans  •  Chelsea Field  •  Noble Willingham

The N Word (2006)

The film explores the history of the word throughout its inception to present day. Woven into the narrative are poetry, music, and commentary from celebrities about their personal experiences with the word and their viewpoints. Each perspective is unique, as is ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Todd Williams
CAST:  Chris Rock  •  Morris Chestnut  •  Bryant Gumbel  •  Michael Irvin

The film explores the history of the word throughout its inception to present day. Woven into the narrative are poetry, music, and commentary from celebrities about their personal experiences with the word and their viewpoints. Each perspective is unique, as is ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Todd Williams
CAST:  Chris Rock  •  Morris Chestnut  •  Bryant Gumbel  •  Michael Irvin

Two Can Play That Game (2001)

Corporate overachiever and all-around fly chick Shanté Smith thinks she's got the goods to keep her slickster boyfriend from straying—until he discovers a greener pasture, Shanté's archrival. Scorned, she plans to get her man back by any means necessary.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mark Brown
CAST:  Vivica A. Fox  •  Morris Chestnut  •  Anthony Anderson  •  Gabrielle Union

Corporate overachiever and all-around fly chick Shanté Smith thinks she's got the goods to keep her slickster boyfriend from straying—until he discovers a greener pasture, Shanté's archrival. Scorned, she plans to get her man back by any means necessary.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mark Brown
CAST:  Vivica A. Fox  •  Morris Chestnut  •  Anthony Anderson  •  Gabrielle Union

Under Siege 2: Dark Territory (1995)

A passenger train has been hijacked by an electronics expert and turned into an untraceable command center for a weapons satellite. He has planned to blow up Washington DC and only one man can stop him, former Navy SEAL Casey Ryback.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Geoff Murphy
CAST:  Steven Seagal  •  Eric Bogosian  •  Everett McGill  •  Katherine Heigl

A passenger train has been hijacked by an electronics expert and turned into an untraceable command center for a weapons satellite. He has planned to blow up Washington DC and only one man can stop him, former Navy SEAL Casey Ryback.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Geoff Murphy
CAST:  Steven Seagal  •  Eric Bogosian  •  Everett McGill  •  Katherine Heigl
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