Chip Esten : biography
Charles Esten Puskar III (born September 9, 1965), known professionally as Chip Esten, is an American comedian, actor and singer known for his appearances on the improvisation show Whose Line Is It Anyway?. and Drew Carey’s Improv-a-ganza. He currently plays the character of Damon Manning on the award winning show "Enlightened".
Esten is known by his nickname "Chip" in improv comedy shows but is always credited as "Charles Esten".
Esten is currently playing the character of Deacon Claybourne on ABC’s Nashville.
Early life
Esten was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and moved to Alexandria, Virginia at age 9 after his parents divorced. His late father, also named Charles, was a prominent local businessman and business partner of former Pittsburgh Steelers center Ray Mansfield. He attended T.C. Williams High School and the College of William and Mary, where he was a brother of Theta Delta Chi. At William and Mary, he was the lead vocalist in the band N’est Pas from 1985 until 1988, one year after his graduation. After graduating from college and marrying his wife, Esten moved to the United Kingdom to make his theatrical debut, winning acclaim for his title role in the musical Buddy in the early 1990s.
Personal life
Esten is married to Patty, whom he met in college, and they have two daughters Taylor and Addie and a son named Chase. They reside in Sherman Oaks, California.
Filmography
Comedy Shows
Year | Show | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1992, 1994 | Whose Line Is It Anyway? (UK version) | Performer | 5 episodes |
1999-2005 | Whose Line Is It Anyway (US version) | Performer | 39 episodes |
2004-2005 | Drew Carey’s Green Screen Show | Recurring performer | 8 episodes |
2011 | Drew Carey’s Improv-A-Ganza | Regular performer | 32 episodes |
Television
Year | Work | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1988 | Sale of the Century | Himself/Contestant | 4 episodes |
1989 | On the Television | various | 5 episodes |
1990 | Scrabble | Himself/Contestant | 1 episode |
1993 | Cheers | Unnamed Marine | 1 episode |
Star Trek: The Next Generation | Divok | 1 episode | |
1994 | Murphy Brown | Secretary #67 | 1 episode |
1995-1996 | The Crew | Randy Anderson | 21 episodes |
1996 | Star Trek: Voyager | Dathan | 1 episode |
Diagnosis: Murder | Joe Carter | 1 episode | |
Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman | Ethan Press | Episode 75 "Stop the Presses" | |
1997 | JAG | Lieutenant Pete ‘Pistol’ Ayers | 1 episode |
Married… with Children | Lonnie | 2 episodes | |
1998-2000 | The Brian Benben Show | Chad Rockwell | 7 episodes |
1999 | Jesse | Tad | 1 episode |
Jack & Jill | Nick Seraph | 1 episode | |
Providence | Ted Shannon | 1 episode | |
2000 | Party of Five | Luke | 7 episodes |
2000-2001 | The Drew Carey Show | Himself (guest appearance) | 2 episodes |
2002 | The Guardian | Mark Hanson | 1 episode |
2003 | On the Spot | Himself (host) | 5 episodes |
Dragnet | Carl Savitsky | 1 episode | |
Just Shoot Me! | Jake | 1 episode | |
2004 | NYPD Blue | Tim Keating | 1 episode |
Cold Case | John "The Hawk" Hawkins | 1 episode | |
2006 | The Office | Josh Porter | 7 episodes |
2007 | Help Me Help You | Willis | 1 episode |
The Winner | Gary | 1 episode | |
The New Adventures of Old Christine | Joe Campbell | 2 episodes | |
2007-2008 | ER | Dr. Barry Grossman | 4 episodes |
2009-2010 | Big Love | Ray Henry | 11 episodes |
2009 | The Mentalist | Rick Bregman | 1 episode |
The Cleaner | Dr. Jake Slovak | 1 episode | |
NCIS: Los Angeles | John Cole/Ethan Stanhope | 1 episode | |
2011 | Wilfred | Nick | 2 episodes |
2011–present | Jessie | Morgan Ross | 4 episodes |
Enlightened | Damon Manning | ||
2012–present | Nashville | Deacon Claybourne |