Chip Esten

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Chip Esten bigraphy, stories - Comedians

Chip Esten : biography

September 9, 1965 –

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