Actor profile

Charles Esten

9th September 1965 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA Acting

Charles Esten Puskar III (September 9, 1965), also known as Chip Esten, is an American actor, musician and comedian. He is best known for his role as country singer Deacon Claybourne on the ABC/CMT drama Nashville (2012-2018), which subsequently kickstarted his own musical career. He's also known for his comedy (as Chip Esten) on the US version of the improv series Whose Line Is it Anyway?.

16 Movies 38 TV Shows 1 In Production 60 Credits

Filmography

Movies & TV Shows

Grizzly Night poster

Grizzly Night 30th January 2026 as Gary Bunney

Signing Tony Raymond poster

Signing Tony Raymond 16th January 2026 as Coach Crew Marshall

The Easy Kind poster

The Easy Kind 30th August 2024 as Tye

Nashville in Concert poster

Nashville in Concert 15th April 2018

Die Helene Fischer Show 2017 poster

Die Helene Fischer Show 2017 25th December 2017 as Self

1% poster

1% 31st December 2008 as John Tipton

Swing Vote poster

Swing Vote 1st August 2008 as Lewis

American Family poster

American Family 20th September 2007 as Larry Bogner

Nobody Knows Anything! poster

Nobody Knows Anything! 24th August 2004 as Conner Fulton

Ten Minutes Older: The Trumpet poster

Ten Minutes Older: The Trumpet 18th May 2002 as Bill (segment "Twelve Miles to Trona")

61* poster

61* 28th April 2001 as Kevin Maris

Drew Carey's Improv All Stars poster

Drew Carey's Improv All Stars 27th January 2001 as Self (as Chip Esten)

Thirteen Days poster

Thirteen Days 25th December 2000 as Maj. Rudolf Anderson

Late Last Night poster

Late Last Night 20th June 1999 as Beverly Hills Cop

The Postman poster

The Postman 25th December 1997 as Michael

The Sleepwalker Killing poster

The Sleepwalker Killing 28th April 1997 as Mark Schall

Homestead: The Series poster

Homestead: The Series 22nd December 2024 as Cain Ross

Outer Banks poster

Outer Banks 15th April 2020 as Ward Cameron

The Kelly Clarkson Show poster

The Kelly Clarkson Show 9th September 2019 as Self

Whose Line Is It Anyway? poster

Whose Line Is It Anyway? 16th July 2013 as Self

Nashville poster

Nashville 10th October 2012 as Deacon Claybourne

Enlightened poster

Enlightened 10th October 2011 as Damon Manning

Jessie poster

Jessie 30th September 2011 as Morgan Ross

Wilfred poster

Wilfred 23rd June 2011 as Nick

Drew Carey's Improv-A-Ganza poster

Drew Carey's Improv-A-Ganza 11th April 2011 as Self

NCIS: Los Angeles poster

NCIS: Los Angeles 22nd September 2009 as John Cole / Ethan Stanhope

The Mentalist poster

The Mentalist 23rd September 2008 as Rick Bregman

The Winner poster

The Winner 4th March 2007

The New Adventures of Old Christine poster

The New Adventures of Old Christine 13th March 2006 as Joe Campbell

Big Love poster

Big Love 12th March 2006 as Ray Henry

The Office poster

The Office 24th March 2005 as Josh Porter

Drew Carey's Green Screen Show poster

Drew Carey's Green Screen Show 7th October 2004 as Self

Cold Case poster

Cold Case 28th September 2003 as John 'The Hawk' Hawkins

CMT Music Awards poster

CMT Music Awards 12th June 2002 as Self - Host

CMT Music Awards poster

CMT Music Awards 12th June 2002 as Self - Presenter

The Guardian poster

The Guardian 25th September 2001 as Mark Hanson

Jack & Jill poster

Jack & Jill 26th September 1999 as Nick Seraph

Providence poster

Providence 8th January 1999 as Ted Shannon

Jesse poster

Jesse 24th September 1998 as Tad

The Brian Benben Show poster

The Brian Benben Show 21st September 1998

Hollywood Squares poster

Hollywood Squares 14th September 1998 as Self - Panelist

Whose Line Is It Anyway? poster

Whose Line Is It Anyway? 5th August 1998 as Self

Just Shoot Me! poster

Just Shoot Me! 4th March 1997 as Jake

JAG poster

JAG 23rd September 1995 as Pete "Pistol" Ayers

The Drew Carey Show poster

The Drew Carey Show 13th September 1995 as Chip

The Crew poster

The Crew 31st August 1995 as Randy Anderson

Star Trek: Voyager poster

Star Trek: Voyager 16th January 1995 as Dathan

ER poster

ER 19th September 1994 as Barry Grossman

Party of Five poster

Party of Five 12th September 1994 as Luke

Diagnosis: Murder poster

Diagnosis: Murder 29th October 1993 as Joe Carter

Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman poster

Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman 12th September 1993 as Ethan Press

Star Trek: The Next Generation poster

Star Trek: The Next Generation 28th September 1987 as Divok

Married... with Children poster

Married... with Children 5th April 1987 as Lonnie

Cheers poster

Cheers 30th September 1982 as Marine

Drummer Boy poster

Coming soon

Drummer Boy 6th November 2026 as Lord Balfour