Morris Chestnut

Morris L. Chestnut (born January 1, 1969) 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, Jackson Smith in the 2001 film The Brothers, Keith Fenton in the 2001 film Two Can Play That Game, NBA star Tracy Reynolds in the 2002 film Like Mike, Benjamin in the 2007 film The Perfect Holiday, Dave Johnson in the 2009 film Not Easily Broken, and James in the 2012 film Think Like A Man. His best-known television role is as the Visitor Ryan in the 2009 reboot TV series V. --- Chestnut, born in Cerritos, California, is the son of Morris Chestnut, Sr. and his wife Shirley. He graduated from Richard Gahr High School in 1986, and subsequently studied finance and drama at California State University, Northridge. Chestnut's first professional acting role was as Jadon in Freddy's Nightmares: A Nightmare on Elm Street: The Series, season 2, episode 19 ("A Family Affair"), which aired on February 18, 1990. His first feature film role was as Ricky Baker in Boyz n the Hood (1991). He followed that up 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 such as Under Siege 2 (1995) and G.I. Jane (1997). --- Chestnut married Pamela Byse in 1995. They have a son Grant (1997) and a daughter Paige (1998). He also has an older son from a previous relationship.