Charles Esten

Biography

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?.

Career Overview

Charles Esten has 48 screen credits in a career dating back to 1982. Their work is anchored in the Ten Minutes Older... (Collection) universe with 1 titles. Signature works include Nashville, Grizzly Night, Homestead: The Series. Explore the interactive character relationship maps on each title page to trace how their roles connect across franchises.

Personal Facts

Known For

Acting

Gender

male

Known Credits

48

Birth Date

1965-09-09 00:00:00

Birth Place

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

Known For

• 

  Nashville
• 

  Grizzly Night
• 

  Homestead: The Series
• Signing Day
• Tubydi
• 

  Nashville in Concert

Associated Universes

• Ten Minutes Older... (Collection) (1 titles)

Frequent Collaborators

• Clare Bowen (2 collaborations)
• Jonathan Jackson (2 collaborations)
• Sam Palladio (2 collaborations)
• Hayden Panettiere (1 collaborations)
• Lennon Stella (1 collaborations)
• Maisy Stella (1 collaborations)
• Oded Fehr (1 collaborations)
• Brec Bassinger (1 collaborations)
• Joel Johnstone (1 collaborations)
• Lauren Call (1 collaborations)

Credits

• actors (46 credits)

  • Drummer Boy

    Lord Balfour

    actor

    actors
    2026
  • Signing Day

    Coach Crew Marshall

    actor

    actors
    2026
  • Flint

    Flint

    actor

    actors
    2026
  • Grizzly Night

    Gary Bunney

    actor

    actors
    2026
  • Signing Tony Raymond

    Coach Crew Marshall

    actor

    actors
    2026
  • Homestead: The Series

    Cain Ross

    actor

    actors

    - Episode 1 () ... Cain Ross actor actors

    - Maybe that's what it took. Maybe it was worth it. (2025) ... Cain Ross actor actors

    - Fighting for the Cross (2025) ... Cain Ross actor actors

    - Evil Has a Certain Smell (2025) ... Cain Ross actor actors

    - Catch a Falling Knife (2025) ... Cain Ross actor actors
    2024
  • The Easy Kind

    Tye

    actor

    actors
    2024
  • Tubydi

    Padastro

    actor

    actors
    2021
  • Outer Banks

    - Secret of the Gnomon (2023) ... Ward Cameron actor actors

    - Welcome to Kitty Hawk (2023) ... Ward Cameron actor actors

    - Tapping the Rudder (2023) ... Ward Cameron actor actors

    - Happy Anniversary (2023) ... Ward Cameron actor actors

    - The Dark Forest (2023) ... Ward Cameron actor actors
    2020
  • The Kelly Clarkson Show

    - Matt Iseman, Sam Heughan, Julia Michaels, Charles Esten (2025) ... Self actor actors

    - Kevin James, Renata Notni, Charles Esten (2024) ... Self actor actors

    - Awkwafina, Charles Esten (2023) ... Self actor actors
    2019
  • Nashville in Concert

    actor

    actors
    2018
  • Die Helene Fischer Show 2017

    Self

    actor

    actors
    2017
  • Whose Line Is It Anyway?

    - Charles Esten 4 (2020) ... Self actor actors

    - Charles Esten 3 (2020) ... Self actor actors

    - Elizabeth Gillies (2019) ... Self actor actors

    - Chris Hardwick (2019) ... Self actor actors

    - Charles Esten 2 (2018) ... Self actor actors
    2013
  • Nashville

    Deacon Claybourne

    actor

    actors

    - Beyond the Sunset (2018) ... Deacon Claybourne actor actors

    - I Don't Want to Lose You Yet (2018) ... Deacon Claybourne actor actors

    - For the Sake of the Song (2018) ... Deacon Claybourne actor actors

    - Strong Enough to Bend (2018) ... Deacon Claybourne actor actors

    - The House That Built Me (2018) ... Deacon Claybourne actor actors
    2012
  • Jessie

    - Gotcha Day (2012) ... Morgan Ross actor actors

    - Star Wars (2012) ... Morgan Ross actor actors

    - Christmas Story (2011) ... Morgan Ross actor actors

    - New York, New Nanny (2011) ... Morgan Ross actor actors
    2011
  • NCIS: Los Angeles

    - Pushback (2009) ... John Cole / Ethan Stanhope actor actors
    2009
  • 1%

    John Tipton

    actor

    actors
    2008
  • Swing Vote

    Lewis

    actor

    actors
    2008
  • The Mentalist

    - Miss Red (2009) ... Rick Bregman actor actors
    2008
  • American Family

    Larry Bogner

    actor

    actors
    2007
  • The Office

    - Branch Closing (2006) ... Josh Porter actor actors

    - Diwali (2006) ... Josh Porter actor actors

    - Initiation (2006) ... Josh Porter actor actors

    - Grief Counseling (2006) ... Josh Porter actor actors

    - The Coup (2006) ... Josh Porter actor actors
    2005
  • Nobody Knows Anything!

    Conner Fulton

    actor

    actors
    2004
  • Water Under the Bridge

    Don

    actor

    actors
    2003
  • Cold Case

    - Static (2006) ... John 'The Hawk' Hawkins actor actors
    2003
  • Ten Minutes Older: The Trumpet

    Bill (segment "Twelve Miles to Trona")

    actor

    actors
    2002
  • 61*

    Kevin Maris

    actor

    actors
    2001
  • Drew Carey's Improv All Stars

    Self (as Chip Esten)

    actor

    actors
    2001
  • The Guardian

    - Assuming the Position (2002) ... Mark Hanson actor actors
    2001
  • Thirteen Days

    Maj. Rudolf Anderson

    actor

    actors
    2000
  • Late Last Night

    Beverly Hills Cop

    actor

    actors
    1999
  • Providence

    - The Phantom Menace (1999) ... Ted Shannon actor actors
    1999
  • Whose Line Is It Anyway?

    - Chip Esten (2005) ... Self actor actors

    - Chip Esten (2005) ... Self actor actors

    - Chip Esten (2005) ... Self actor actors

    - Chip Esten (2005) ... Self actor actors

    - Chip Esten (2005) ... Self actor actors
    1998
  • Hollywood Squares

    - Episode 85 (2001) ... Self - Panelist actor actors

    - Episode 84 (2001) ... Self - Panelist actor actors
    1998
  • The Postman

    Michael

    actor

    actors
    1997
  • The Sleepwalker Killing

    Mark Schall

    actor

    actors
    1997
  • Just Shoot Me!

    - Strange Bedfellows (2003) ... Jake actor actors
    1997
  • The Drew Carey Show

    - Drew Live III (2001) ... Chip actor actors

    - Drew Live II (2000) ... Chip actor actors
    1995
  • Star Trek: Voyager

    - Remember (1996) ... Dathan actor actors
    1995
  • JAG

    - Jinx (1997) ... Pete "Pistol" Ayers actor actors
    1995
  • ER

    - Atonement (2008) ... Barry Grossman actor actors

    - Believe the Unseen (2008) ... Barry Grossman actor actors

    - Status Quo (2008) ... Barry Grossman actor actors

    - Coming Home (2007) ... Barry Grossman actor actors
    1994
  • Party of Five

    - All's Well... (1) (2000) ... Luke actor actors

    - Isn't It Romantic (2000) ... Luke actor actors

    - One for the Road (2000) ... Luke actor actors

    - The Declaration of Co-Dependence (2000) ... Luke actor actors

    - Fear and Loathing (2000) ... Luke actor actors
    1994
  • Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman

    - Stop the Presses (1996) ... Ethan Press actor actors
    1993
  • Diagnosis: Murder

    - An Explosive Murder (1996) ... Joe Carter actor actors
    1993
  • Married... with Children

    - How to Marry a Moron (1997) ... Lonnie actor actors

    - The Desperate Half-Hour (1997) ... Lonnie actor actors
    1987
  • Star Trek: The Next Generation

    - Rightful Heir (1993) ... Divok actor actors
    1987
  • Cheers

    - Sunday Dinner (1993) ... Marine actor actors
    1982

• production (1 credits)

  • The Runarounds

    consulting producer

    production
    2025

• writing (1 credits)

  • 3-2-1 Penguins!: Moon Menace on Planet Tell-A-Lie

    writer

    writing
    2003