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Charles Esten

Acting

Born September 9, 1965 · Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

Also known as Chip Esten · چارلز استن

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?.

Filmography38 titles

The Office

2005as Josh Porter

The Mentalist

2008as Rick Bregman

Star Trek: The Next Generation

1987as Divok

Outer Banks

2020as Ward Cameron

Jessie

2011as Morgan Ross

The Runarounds

2025Consulting Producer

Cold Case

2003as John 'The Hawk' Hawkins

Whose Line Is It Anyway?

1998as Self

Star Trek: Voyager

1995as Dathan

ER

1994as Barry Grossman

Whose Line Is It Anyway?

2013as Self

Rocket Power

1999Writer

Married... with Children

1987as Lonnie

Hollywood Squares

1998as Self - Panelist

Cheers

1982as Marine

Wilfred

2011as Nick

NCIS: Los Angeles

2009as John Cole / Ethan Stanhope

JAG

1995as Pete "Pistol" Ayers

Drew Carey's Improv-A-Ganza

2010as Self

The New Adventures of Old Christine

2006as Joe Campbell

Diagnosis: Murder

1993as Joe Carter

Enlightened

2011as Damon Manning

61*

2001as Kevin Maris

The Guardian

2001as Mark Hanson

Thirteen Days

2000as Maj. Rudolf Anderson

Party of Five

1994as Luke

Big Love

2006as Ray Henry

Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman

1993as Ethan Press

Nashville

2012as Deacon Claybourne

Just Shoot Me!

1997as Jake

The Drew Carey Show

1995as Chip

Grizzly Night

2026as Gary Bunney

The Kelly Clarkson Show

2019as Self

The Postman

1997as Michael

The Sleepwalker Killing

1997as Mark Schall

Swing Vote

2008as Lewis

Nobody Knows Anything!

2003as Conner Fulton

Signing Tony Raymond

2026as Coach Crew Marshall