Charles Esten Puskar III, also known professionally as Charles Esten, and (when appearing as himself on improvisation shows, comedy or hosting) as Chip Esten, is an American actor, musician, singer-songwriter, and improv 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. He and his younger sister were raised by their mother.
His late father, Charles, was a prominent local businessman and business partner of former Pittsburgh Steelers center Ray Mansfield.
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.
Career
Whose Line Is It Anyway? In 1992, Esten made his debut on the UK improvised comedy show Whose Line Is It Anyway?; the show was looking to add more specialist improvisational singers in addition to Mike McShane. After winning his first episode, he made subsequent appearances on the show's fourth series, which was part-filmed in New York. After making his final appearance in the UK edition in 1994 he moved back to America and focused on stage and screen before debuting on the show's American iteration, hosted by Drew Carey, in 1999. He became a regular cast member on the show, often paired with series regular Wayne Brady on musical games. Although Esten did not feature on the show when it was revived in 2013 due to his commitments on Nashville, he eventually returned as a regular improviser 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-improvised comedy mini series called On the Spot. Between 2004–06, he was a member of the touring group Improv All-Stars'Whose Line' co-star relishing 'Improv All-Stars' tour : North County Times – Californian, Nctimes.com; accessed March 19, 2015. 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 but later became a recurring member with the rest of the cast members during tours once Nashville had ended.
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.
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. 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.
In 2013, he appeared as a celebrity contestant on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire and won $500,000 for his charity.
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.
On July 9, 2018, it was announced that Esten was cast in a recurring role in the TNT thriller Tell Me Your Secrets.
Music
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". 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.
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.
On May 15, 2019, it was announced that Esten had signed with APA's concert division for music representation. 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. "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, whom he met in college. They have three children. The family moved to Nashville after Esten was cast as a series regular on Nashville.
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.
Filmography Film Year Work Role Notes1996Wing Commander IV: The Price of FreedomGeneric Cap #1Video game, voice role1997The PostmanMichael, Abby's Husband2000Thirteen DaysMaj. Rudolf Anderson2001Roots of the Cuban Missile CrisisMajor AndersonVideo documentary2002Ten Minutes Older: The TrumpetBillsegment "Twelve Miles to Trona"2003Water Under the BridgeDonNobody Knows Anything!Conner Fulton2007American FamilyLarry Bogner20081%John TiptonSwing VoteLewis(as Charles 'Chip' Esten)2024 The Easy Kind Tye 2025 Signing Tony Raymond Coach Crew Marshall 2026 Grizzly Night Gary BunneyDrummer BoyBalfour
TV Year Work Role Notes1988Sale of the CenturySelf/Contestant4 episodes (as Chip Puskar)1989On the Televisionvarious5 episodes1990ScrabbleSelf/Contestant1 episode (as Chip Puscar)1992, 1994Whose Line Is It Anyway (UK) Self/Performer8 episodes (as Chip Esten)1993Cheersunnamed marine1 episodeStar Trek: The Next GenerationDivokEpisode: "Rightful Heir"1994Murphy BrownSecretary #671 episode1995–1996The CrewRandy AndersonMain cast1996Star Trek: VoyagerDathanEpisode: "Remember"Diagnosis: MurderJoe Carter1 episodeLois & Clark: The New Adventures of SupermanEthan PressEpisode: "Stop the Presses"1997JAGLieutenant Pete 'Pistol' Ayers1 episodeMarried... with ChildrenLonnie2 episodesThe Sleepwalker KillingMark SchallMade-for-TV movie1998–2000The Brian Benben ShowChad RockwellMain cast1998Instant Comedy with the GroundlingsSelfTV series1999–2005,2017–2020 Whose Line Is It Anyway (US)Self/PerformerRecurring (Seasons 2–8),Guest (Seasons 13–16) (all as Chip Esten)1999JesseTad 1 episodeJack & JillNick Seraph1 episodeThe ExpendablesRamMade-for-TV movieLate Last NightBeverly Hills CopMade-for-TV movieProvidenceTed Shannon1 episode2000Party of FiveLukeRecurring role (Season 6)My VH1 Music AwardsSelfTV special documentary (as Chip Esten)2000–2001The Drew Carey ShowChip / Stall for Time Player #12 episodes2001Hollywood SquaresSelf2 episodes (as Chip Esten)The Trouble with NormalCarsonEpisode: "Unconventional Behavior"61*Kevin Maris ('98)Made-for-TV movie (as Chip Esten)Drew Carey's Improv All StarsSelf/PerformerTV special (as Chip Esten)2002The GuardianMark Hanson1 episodeThe Johnny ChroniclesPatrick MonroeMade-for-TV movieRendez-ViewSelfEpisode: "Freak-a-thon"2003On the SpotSelf/HostMain castL.A. DragnetCarl Savitsky1 episodeAll Grown Up!Made-for-TV movieJust Shoot Me!Jake1 episodeRocket PowerStory writerEpisode: "A Rocket X-mas"2004–2005Drew Carey's Green Screen ShowSelf/PerformerRecurring (as Chip Esten)2004NYPD BlueTim Keating1 episodeCold CaseJohn "The Hawk" Hawkins1 episodeThe Magical GatheringSelfMade-for-TV movie (as Chip Esten)2006The OfficeJosh PorterGuest (Season 2),Recurring role (Season 3)2007Help Me Help YouWillisEpisode: "Moving On"The WinnerGaryEpisode: "Broken Home"The New Adventures of Old ChristineJoe Campbell2 episodes2007–2008ERDr. Barry Grossman4 episodes2009–2010Big LoveRay HenryRecurring role (Season 3),Guest (Season 4)2009The MentalistRick Bregman1 episodeThe CleanerDr. Jake SlovakEpisode: "An Ordinary Man"NCIS: Los AngelesJohn Cole/Ethan Stanhope1 episode2011WilfredNick2 episodesDrew Carey's Improv-A-GanzaSelf/PerformerMain cast (as Chip Esten)JessieMorgan Ross4 episodesEnlightenedDamon ManningRecurring role2012–2018NashvilleDeacon ClaybourneMain cast; 124 episodesNominated—Guild of Music Supervisors Award for Best Song Written and/or Recorded for Television2012Nashville: The Whole StorySelf/NarratorTV special2013Nashville: On the RecordSelfTV specialWho Wants to Be a Millionaire2 episodes2014Nashville: On the Record 2TV special2015Nashville: On the Record 3TV special2017CMT Music AwardsSelf/Host2020–2023Outer Banks Ward CameronMain cast; 28 episodes2020Country Music Association AwardsSelf/Presenter2021Tell Me Your Secrets Saul Barlow 4 episodes2023-2025The Kelly Clarkson Show Self/Musical Guest 3 episodes2024–presentHomestead: The Series Cain Ross
Discography
Albums Studio albums Title Album details Love Ain't PrettyReleased: January 26, 2024 Label: Self-released Format: Digital download, streaming
Singles Year Single Peak chartpositions Sales Album US Country US 2012 "Undermine" (with Hayden Panettiere)A 35 116 The Music of Nashville: Season 1 Volume 1 "No One Will Ever Love You" (with Connie Britton)A 36 117 2013 "This Town" (with Clare Bowen) 41 — The Music of Nashville: Season 2, Volume 1 2017 "Sanctuary" (with Lennon & Maisy) 31 — US: 9,000 The Music of Nashville: Season 5, Volume 1 2020 "Strong" (with Jillian Cardarelli) — — 2023 "One Good Move" — — Love Ain't Pretty "A Little Right Now" — — "In a Bar Somewhere" — — "Down the Road" — — "Somewhere in the Sunshine" — — 2024 "Make You Happy" / "When Love Ain't Love"B — — "—" denotes releases that did not chart
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
External links
Whose Live Anyway? live improv comedy show starring Ryan Stiles, Greg Proops, Chip Esten and Jeff Davis touring North America