Acting

Charles Esten

Born: September 9, 1965 (age 61)
Birthplace: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
Credits: 63 titles

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?.

Latest project Best work, ranked IMDb

Signature work

Known For

The Office

2005

The Mentalist

2008

Star Trek: The Next Generation

1987

Outer Banks

2020

Married... with Children

1987

NCIS: Los Angeles

2009

The Postman

1997

Star Trek: Voyager

1995

ER

1994

Thirteen Days

2000

Cheers

1982

Jessie

2011

Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman

1993

Wilfred

2011

Cold Case

2003

JAG

1995

Rocket Power

1999

Swing Vote

2008

Acting credits 60

Year	Title	Role
TBA	Signing Day Film	Coach Crew Marshall
TBA	Flint Film	Flint
TBA	My Jesus Film	Kent Wilson
2026	Drummer Boy Film	Lord Balfour
2026	Grizzly Night Film	Gary Bunney
2026	Signing Tony Raymond Film	Coach Crew Marshall
2024	Homestead: The Series TV	Cain Ross (9 ep)
2024	The Easy Kind Film	Tye
2021	Tubydi Film	Padastro
2020	Outer Banks TV	Ward Cameron (31 ep)
2019	The Kelly Clarkson Show TV	Self (3 ep)
2018	Nashville in Concert Film
2017	Die Helene Fischer Show 2017 Film	Self
2013	Whose Line Is It Anyway? TV	Self (6 ep)
2012	Nashville TV	Deacon Claybourne (124 ep)
2011	Enlightened TV	Damon Manning (1 ep)
2011	Jessie TV	Morgan Ross (4 ep)
2011	Wilfred TV	Nick (2 ep)
2011	Drew Carey's Improv-A-Ganza TV	Self (40 ep)
2009	NCIS: Los Angeles TV	John Cole / Ethan Stanhope (1 ep)
2008	1% Film	John Tipton
2008	The Mentalist TV	Rick Bregman (1 ep)
2008	Swing Vote Film	Lewis
2007	American Family Film	Larry Bogner
2007	The Winner TV	(1 ep)
2006	The New Adventures of Old Christine TV	Joe Campbell (2 ep)
2006	Big Love TV	Ray Henry (11 ep)
2005	The Office TV	Josh Porter (8 ep)
2004	Drew Carey's Green Screen Show TV	Self (13 ep)
2004	Nobody Knows Anything! Film	Conner Fulton
2003	Cold Case TV	John 'The Hawk' Hawkins (1 ep)
2003	On the Spot TV	(5 ep)
2003	Water Under the Bridge Film	Don
2002	CMT Music Awards TV	Self - Host, Self - Presenter (1 ep)
2002	Ten Minutes Older: The Trumpet Film	Bill (segment "Twelve Miles to Trona")
2001	The Guardian TV	Mark Hanson (1 ep)
2001	61* Film	Kevin Maris
2001	Drew Carey's Improv All Stars Film	Self (as Chip Esten)
2000	Thirteen Days Film	Maj. Rudolf Anderson
1999	Jack & Jill TV	Nick Seraph (1 ep)
1999	Late Last Night Film	Beverly Hills Cop
1999	Providence TV	Ted Shannon (1 ep)
1998	Jesse TV	Tad (1 ep)
1998	The Brian Benben Show TV	(9 ep)
1998	Hollywood Squares TV	Self - Panelist (2 ep)
1998	Whose Line Is It Anyway? TV	Self (39 ep)
1997	The Postman Film	Michael
1997	The Sleepwalker Killing Film	Mark Schall
1997	Just Shoot Me! TV	Jake (1 ep)
1995	JAG TV	Pete "Pistol" Ayers (1 ep)
1995	The Drew Carey Show TV	Chip (2 ep)
1995	The Crew TV	Randy Anderson (21 ep)
1995	Star Trek: Voyager TV	Dathan (1 ep)
1994	ER TV	Barry Grossman (4 ep)
1994	Party of Five TV	Luke (6 ep)
1993	Diagnosis: Murder TV	Joe Carter (1 ep)
1993	Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman TV	Ethan Press (1 ep)
1987	Star Trek: The Next Generation TV	Divok (1 ep)
1987	Married... with Children TV	Lonnie (2 ep)
1982	Cheers TV	Marine (1 ep)

Crew credits 3

Year	Title	Job
2025	The Runarounds TV	Consulting Producer (8 ep)
2003	3-2-1 Penguins!: Moon Menace on Planet Tell-A-Lie Film	Writer
1999	Rocket Power TV	Writer (119 ep)