Charles Esten
{{short description|American actor, musician and comedian (born 1965)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Charles Esten
| image = Charles Esten 2024 (cropped).jpg
| caption = Esten in 2024
| birth_name = Charles Esten Puskar III
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1965|9|9}}
| birth_place = Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
| other_names = Chip Esten
| occupation = {{hlist|Actor|musician|singer-songwriter|comedian}}
| years_active = 1988–present
| spouse = {{marriage|Patty Hanson|1991}}
| children = 3
| alma_mater = College of William and Mary
| website = {{url|charlesesten.com}}
}}
Charles Esten Puskar III (born September 9, 1965), also known professionally as Charles Esten, and (when appearing as himself on improvisation shows or hosting) as Chip Esten, is an American actor, musician, singer-songwriter, and comedian.
Esten played the role of country singer Deacon Claybourne on the drama Nashville from 2012 to 2018, which subsequently kickstarted his own musical career. He also played Ward Cameron on the teen drama series Outer Banks. He appeared in the improvisation show Whose Line Is It Anyway? as a series regular between 1999–2005 and returned with guest appearances from 2017–2020.
Early life
Esten was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and moved to Alexandria, Virginia at age nine, after his parents divorced.{{cite news|title="Whose Live Anyway"? is a party, performer says|url=http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/ae/more/s_647809.html?source=rss&feed=7|publisher=Pittsburgh Tribune-Review|date=October 13, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120906153121/http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/ae/more/s_647809.html?source=rss&feed=7|archive-date=September 6, 2012}} He and his younger sister were raised by their mother.{{cite news|title=Life is Good – For Chip Esten '87, success is more than "Nashville"|url=http://wmalumnimagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/vol_79_no_3_WM-Alumni-Magazine-2014-Spring.pdf|work=William & Mary Alumni Magazine|publisher=College of William & Mary|date=Spring 2014|pages=32–36|access-date=August 30, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402122808/http://wmalumnimagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/vol_79_no_3_WM-Alumni-Magazine-2014-Spring.pdf|archive-date=April 2, 2015|url-status=usurped}}
His late father, Charles, was a prominent local businessman and business partner of former Pittsburgh Steelers center Ray Mansfield.{{cite news|title=Obituary: Charles E. Puskar: force behind creation of SIDS of Pennsylvania|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/obituaries/obituary-charles-e-puskar-force-behind-creation-of-sids-of-pennsylvania-339398/|publisher=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|date=April 25, 2009}}
Esten is a 1983 graduate of Alexandria's T.C. Williams High School, where he played football for the Titans a decade after the events of the film Remember the Titans. He then attended his parents' and sister's alma mater, the College of William and Mary, where he was a member of Theta Delta Chi fraternity and graduated with a degree in economics in 1987. At William and Mary, he was the lead vocalist in the local band "N'est Pas" from 1985–88. Following graduation, Esten moved to the United Kingdom to make his theatrical debut, playing the title role in the musical Buddy in the early 1990s.
Esten's first television appearance was in December 1988 as a contestant on the NBC game show Sale of the Century (under the name Chip Puskar). He won over $32,000 in cash and prizes in five episodes (December 13-19); he later sold his prizes.{{cite news |url=https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/gq-hype/article/charles-esten-interview|title=Charles Esten: 'I was more afraid of me than of anyone else'|last=Bugler|first=Daphne|date=25 October 2019|work=GQ|access-date=14 January 2020}}
Career
{{Moresources | section|date=June 2024}}
=''Whose Line Is It Anyway?''=
In 1992, Esten made his debut on Whose Line Is It Anyway? in the fourth series and "won" the episode. He subsequently appeared in more episodes later the same year when the show did a run in New York City. At the time, the show needed a second specialist improvisational singer to fill in for Mike McShane.
Esten made his final appearance in the UK edition in 1994 before moving back to the US. Although appearing on stage and screen thereafter, his 1999 return to Whose Line Is It Anyway? — in the show's American format with Drew Carey as host — established him as a regular "fourth contestant" on the show. Due to his singing abilities, he was often paired with series regular Wayne Brady on musical games. Although he did not return as a regular when the show was revived in 2013 and only appeared as a special guest during the 13th and 14th seasons (as he was one of the main cast members of Nashville), he eventually returned as a fourth seater in season 15.
=Other comedy work=
Following his return to Whose Line Is It Anyway, Esten made a guest appearance as himself with fellow regular cast members from the show Wayne Brady, Greg Proops and Brad Sherwood on The Drew Carey Show. In 2003, he hosted a semi-scripted semi-improvised comedy mini series called On the Spot. Between 2004–06, he was a member of the touring group Improv All-Stars[http://nctimes.com/articles/2004/10/30/entertainment/theater/10_27_0414_29_46.txt 'Whose Line' co-star relishing 'Improv All-Stars' tour : North County Times – Californian], Nctimes.com; accessed March 19, 2015.{{cite web|url=http://www.improvallstars.com/schedule.html|title=Untitled Document|access-date=March 19, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080827232422/http://www.improvallstars.com/schedule.html|archive-date=August 27, 2008}} and recurring cast member on Drew Carey's Green Screen Show.
In 2011, he was a regular on Drew Carey's Improv-A-Ganza on GSN. Esten and fellow former Whose Line Is It Anyway stars Greg Proops, Ryan Stiles and Jeff Davis regularly teamed up and tour around the country doing live improv under the name Whose Live Anyway?. In April 2014, Esten left Whose Live Anyway? due to his role in Nashville, and was replaced by Joel Murray, once Nashville ended, he would be a recurring member with the rest of the cast members during their tours.
=Film appearances=
In 2001, Esten appeared in Billy Crystal's TV movie 61* as Kevin Maris, the son of legendary New York Yankees slugger Roger Maris. He had small roles in three Kevin Costner movies, The Postman, Thirteen Days as downed U-2 pilot Major Rudolf Anderson, and Swing Vote.
=Television=
Esten has appeared as a guest star in various TV series, including Married... with Children, The New Adventures of Old Christine, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Voyager, ER, NCIS: Los Angeles, Jessie, The Mentalist, and The Office.{{Cite video|people=Chip Esten|title=NCIS: Los Angeles episode|medium=TV-Series|date=2009}}
From 2012 to 2018, he was part of the main cast of Nashville, starring as Deacon Claybourne. He has also contributed to the soundtracks as both a singer and songwriter.{{cite magazine|title=Watch Charles Esten Bring 'Nashville'-Worthy Grit to the Opry|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/videos/watch-charles-esten-bring-nashville-worthy-grit-to-the-opry-20141203|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=December 3, 2014}} He co-wrote "I Know How to Love You Now" with Deana Carter, which was featured in the season 3 premiere. Starting in 2020, he was one of the stars of the Netflix series, Outer Banks, playing Ward Cameron.{{cn|date=June 2024}}
In 2013, he appeared as a celebrity contestant on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire and won $500,000 for his charity.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/chip-esten-on-nashville-finale-shows-future/|title=Chip Esten on Nashville Finale, Show's Future|work=CBS News|last=Moraski|first=Lauren|date=May 7, 2014|access-date=July 20, 2014}}
In 2017, Esten was cast in a series of television and radio advertisements as Carl Hardee Sr., the fictional founder of the Carl's Jr. and Hardee's fast food chains.{{cite news |first=T.L. |last=Stanley |date=March 19, 2017 |url=http://www.adweek.com/brand-marketing/burgers-not-boobs-carls-jr-brilliantly-flips-the-script-by-tearing-down-its-own-smutty-ads/ |title=Burgers, Not Boobs: Carl's Jr. Brilliantly Flips the Script by Tearing Down Its Own Smutty Ads |newspaper=Ad Week |access-date=June 24, 2017}}
On July 9, 2018, it was announced that Esten was cast in a recurring role in the TNT thriller Tell Me Your Secrets. {{cite web |last1=Swift |first1=Andy |title=Nashville's Charles Esten Joins TNT Thriller Tell Me Your Secrets |url=https://tvline.com/2018/07/09/charles-esten-cast-tell-me-your-secrets-tnt-nashville/ |website=TVLine |access-date=July 9, 2018 |date=July 9, 2018 |archive-date=February 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204033934/https://tvline.com/2018/07/09/charles-esten-cast-tell-me-your-secrets-tnt-nashville/ |url-status=dead }}
=Music=
File:Aviano USO hosts variety show (8793507).jpg
On July 25, 2018, Esten was awarded the Guinness World Records title of "The most consecutive weeks to release an original digital single by a music act".{{cite web |last1=Stephenson |first1=Kristen |title= Country music star and actor honored with the official certificate on TODAY show |url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2018/8/country-music-star-and-actor-charles-esten-honored-with-official-certificate-on-t-535195/ |website=Guinness World Records |access-date=July 20, 2019 |date=August 2, 2018}} He was presented with the certificate following a performance of his single, Halfway Home, on NBC's Today. His #EverySingleFriday project was announced via his Twitter page July 1, 2016 and ran from July 15th of that year through July 21, 2017. Over the course of 54 weeks Esten delivered a new single each Friday, which he himself wrote or co-wrote. Artists featured throughout the project include Ashley Campbell, Colin Linden, Steve Mandile of Sixwire, Sarah Siskind, Karla Davis, and Miss Jackie Wilson.{{cn|date=June 2024}}
Esten is a frequent performer on the Grand Ole Opry. His 100th performance was celebrated with his appearance on the program on July 20, 2018. On February 4, 2023, Esten filled in as host of the Saturday live performance segment of the Grand Ole Opry, his first appearance in that role.{{cn|date=June 2024}}
On May 15, 2019, it was announced that Esten had signed with APA's concert division for music representation. {{cite magazine |last1=Mims |first1=Taylor |title= 'Nashville' Star Charles Esten Signs With APA for Music Representation |url= https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/8511466/nashville-charles-esten-apa-music-representation |magazine=Billboard |access-date=July 20, 2019 |date=May 15, 2019}} He continues to tour across the U.S. and Europe, performing his original music.
In 2023, Esten announced the release of "One Good Move", the debut single from his upcoming debut studio album, set for independent release later in the year.{{cite web | url=https://entertainment-focus.com/2023/02/22/charles-esten-announces-his-debut-album-release-with-new-song-one-good-move/ | title=Charles Esten announces his debut album release with new song 'One Good Move' | date=February 22, 2023 }} "Love Ain't Pretty" was released as the second single from the album, later revealed to be set for release on January 26, 2024.
Personal life
Esten is married to Patty Hanson,{{cite news|title=Puskar-Hanson|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1991/11/03/puskar-hanson/|publisher=Orlando Sentinel|date=November 3, 1991}} whom he met in college.{{cite news|title=Charles Esten|url=http://www.cowboysindians.com/2015/09/charles-esten/|work=Cowboys & Indians|date=August–September 2015|first=Joe|last=Leydon}} They have three children. The family moved to Nashville after Esten was cast as a series regular on Nashville.{{Cite web|url=https://tasteofcountry.com/charles-esten-nashville-home/|title = Charles Esten Isn't Leaving Nashville After 'Nashville'| date=December 28, 2017 }}
Esten is national chairman for the annual Light the Night Walks, a fundraiser benefiting The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). His daughter is a leukemia survivor.{{cite web|last1=Schmitt|first1=Brad|title=Charles Esten's painful path through daughter's cancer|url=http://www.tennessean.com/story/entertainment/2016/10/19/chip-estens-painful-path-through-daughters-cancer/92313980/|website=The Tennessean|access-date=October 21, 2016}}
Filmography
=Film=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| style="background:#B0C4DE" | Year
! style="background:#B0C4DE" | Work ! style="background:#B0C4DE" | Role ! style="background:#B0C4DE" | Notes |
|---|
| 1996
|Wing Commander IV: The Price of Freedom |Generic Cap #1 |Video game, voice role |
| 1997
|Michael, Abby's Husband | |
| 2000
|Maj. Rudolf Anderson | |
| 2001
|Roots of the Cuban Missile Crisis |Major Anderson |Video documentary |
| 2002
|Ten Minutes Older: The Trumpet |Bill |segment "Twelve Miles to Trona" |
| rowspan="2"|2003
|Water Under the Bridge |Don | |
| Nobody Knows Anything!
|Conner Fulton | |
| 2007
|American Family |Larry Bogner | |
| rowspan="2"|2008
|1% |John Tipton | |
| Swing Vote
|Lewis |(as Charles 'Chip' Esten) |
| rowspan="1"|2024
|The Easy Kind | Tye | |
| rowspan="2"|{{TableTBA}}
| style="background:#FFFFCC;" | Grizzly Night {{dagger|alt=Films that have not yet been released}} | Gary Bunney | Post-production |
| style="background:#FFFFCC;" | Signing Day {{dagger|alt=Films that have not yet been released}}
| Coach Crew Marshall | Post-production |
| class="wikitable"
|+Key |style="background:#FFFFCC;" | {{dagger|alt=Films that have not yet been released}} |Denotes films that have not yet been released |
=TV=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| style="background:#B0C4DE" | Year
! style="background:#B0C4DE" | Work ! style="background:#B0C4DE" | Role ! style="background:#B0C4DE" | Notes |
|---|
| 1988
|Self/Contestant |4 episodes (as Chip Puskar) |
| 1989
|On the Television |various |5 episodes |
| 1990
|Self/Contestant |1 episode (as Chip Puscar) |
| 1992, 1994
|Self/Performer |8 episodes (as Chip Esten) |
| rowspan="2"|1993
|unnamed marine |1 episode |
| Star Trek: The Next Generation
|Divok |Episode: "Rightful Heir" |
| 1994
|Secretary #67 |1 episode |
| 1995–1996
|Randy Anderson |Main cast |
| rowspan="3" |1996
|Dathan |Episode: "Remember" |
| Diagnosis: Murder
|Joe Carter |1 episode |
| Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
|Ethan Press |Episode: "Stop the Presses" |
| rowspan="3"|1997
|JAG |Lieutenant Pete 'Pistol' Ayers |1 episode |
| Married... with Children
|Lonnie |2 episodes |
| The Sleepwalker Killing
|Mark Schall |
| 1998–2000
|Chad Rockwell |Main cast |
| 1998
|Instant Comedy with the Groundlings |Self |TV series |
| 1999–2005, 2017–2020 | Whose Line Is It Anyway (US) |Self/Performer |Recurring (Seasons 2–8), |
| rowspan="5"|1999
|Tad |1 episode |
| Jack & Jill
|Nick Seraph |1 episode |
| The Expendables
|Ram |Made-for-TV movie |
| Late Last Night
|Beverly Hills Cop |Made-for-TV movie |
| Providence
|Ted Shannon |1 episode |
| rowspan="2"|2000
|Luke |Recurring role (Season 6) |
| My VH1 Music Awards
|Self |TV special documentary (as Chip Esten) |
| 2000–2001
|Chip / Stall for Time Player #1 |2 episodes |
| rowspan="4"|2001
|Self |2 episodes (as Chip Esten) |
| The Trouble with Normal
|Carson |Episode: "Unconventional Behavior" |
| 61*
|Kevin Maris ('98) |Made-for-TV movie (as Chip Esten) |
| Drew Carey's Improv All Stars
|Self/Performer |TV special (as Chip Esten) |
| rowspan="3"|2002
|Mark Hanson |1 episode |
| The Johnny Chronicles
|Patrick Monroe |Made-for-TV movie |
| Rendez-View
|Self |Episode: "Freak-a-thon" |
| rowspan="5"|2003
|Self/Host |Main cast |
| L.A. Dragnet
|Carl Savitsky |1 episode |
| All Grown Up!
| |Made-for-TV movie |
| Just Shoot Me!
|Jake |1 episode |
| Rocket Power
|Story writer |Episode: "A Rocket X-mas" |
| 2004–2005
|Drew Carey's Green Screen Show |Self/Performer |Recurring (as Chip Esten) |
| rowspan="3"|2004
|Tim Keating |1 episode |
| Cold Case
|John "The Hawk" Hawkins |1 episode |
| The Magical Gathering
|Self |Made-for-TV movie (as Chip Esten) |
| 2006
|Josh Porter |Guest (Season 2), |
| rowspan="3"|2007
|Willis |Episode: "Moving On" |
| The Winner
|Gary |Episode: "Broken Home" |
| The New Adventures of Old Christine
|Joe Campbell |2 episodes |
| 2007–2008
|ER |Dr. Barry Grossman |4 episodes |
| 2009–2010
|Ray Henry |Recurring role (Season 3), |
| rowspan="3"|2009
|Rick Bregman |1 episode |
| The Cleaner
|Dr. Jake Slovak |Episode: "An Ordinary Man" |
| NCIS: Los Angeles
|John Cole/Ethan Stanhope |1 episode |
| rowspan="4"|2011
|Nick |2 episodes |
| Drew Carey's Improv-A-Ganza
|Self/Performer |Main cast (as Chip Esten) |
| Jessie
|Morgan Ross |4 episodes |
| Enlightened
|Damon Manning |Recurring role |
| 2012–2018
|Deacon Claybourne |Main cast; 124 episodes |
| 2012
|Nashville: The Whole Story |Self/Narrator |TV special |
| rowspan="2"|2013
|Nashville: On the Record | rowspan=4|Self |TV special |
| Who Wants to Be a Millionaire
|2 episodes |
| 2014
|Nashville: On the Record 2 |TV special |
| 2015
|Nashville: On the Record 3 |TV special |
| 2017
|Self/Host | |
| 2020–2023
| Ward Cameron |Main cast; 28 episodes |
| 2020
|Country Music Association Awards |Self/Presenter | |
| 2021
| Saul Barlow | 4 episodes |
| 2023-2025
| Self/Musical Guest | 3 episodes |
| 2024
|Homestead: The Series | Cain Ross |1 episode |
Discography
=Albums=
==Studio albums==
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col" style="width:15em;"| Title
! scope="col" style="width:19em;"| Album details |
|---|
| scope="row"| Love Ain't Pretty{{Cite web|url=https://musicrow.com/2023/08/charles-esten-to-ring-in-2024-with-love-aint-pretty-release/|title=Charles Esten To Ring In 2024 With 'Love Ain't Pretty' Release|last=Anderson|first=Liza|date=August 24, 2023 |publisher=MusicRow|accessdate=January 23, 2024}}
|
|
=Singles=
- ADid not enter the Hot 100 but charted on Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles.
- B "When Love Ain't Love" is the B-side to the single "Make You Happy."
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://www.charlesesten.com/}}
- {{IMDb name}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20120227141620/http://www.whoseliveanyway.com/ Whose Live Anyway?] live improv comedy show starring Ryan Stiles, Greg Proops, Chip Esten and Jeff Davis touring North America
{{Whose Line Is It Anyway?}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Esten, Chip}}
Category:Male actors from Pittsburgh
Category:American male comedians
Category:21st-century American comedians
Category:American male film actors
Category:American male singers
Category:American male television actors
Category:American expatriates in England
Category:College of William & Mary alumni
Category:Contestants on American game shows
Category:Singers from Pittsburgh
Category:20th-century American male actors
Category:21st-century American male actors