STREAM EXCLUSIVE ORIGINALS

6 Times Morris Chestnut Has Played Characters In the Medical Field

The “Watson” star has previously played doctors on “Nurse Jackie,” “Rosewood” and more.

Veteran actor Morris Chestnut has charmed our screens in iconic films like “Boyz in the Hood,” “The Best Man” and “Two Can Play That Game.” But while the two-time NAACP Image Award winner is known for romantic comedy legend and eternally ‘90s fine, Chestnut has also made his rounds in medical-focused shows like “Nurse Jackie” and “Rosewood.”

With Chestnut now starring on new CBS show “Watson,” we look back on the times that he’s played medical roles and made us wish he was our doctor.

“ER”

Although Chestnut was a guest star on long-running medical series “ER,” his character of ICU Nurse Frank ‘Rambo’ Bacon was brought into focus after passing out on the job in season 6. In his introductory episode, Bacon blames his fainting on going on a long run before work and is placed on a heart monitor, with his bare chest hilariously distracting Dr. Jing-Mei “Deb” Chen (Ming-Na Wen).

“The Brothers”

While 2001 romantic comedy “The Brothers” doesn’t spend too much time with Chestnut as children’s physician Jackson Smith, it’s his nurturing instinct that catches the attention of Denise Johnson (Gabrielle Union) and jumpstarts a complicated relationship between them.

“Nurse Jackie”

Chesnut’s character of trauma surgeon Ike Prentiss teaches senior ER nurse Jackie Peyton (Edie Falco) not to underestimate a lower-ranked colleague upon his joining the Showtime medical dramedy in season five. Prentiss’ first scene on the show was iconic for him coming to a patient’s aid after Peyton misjudges him for someone not on staff.

“Rosewood” 

Chestnut was a memorable lead as Miami-based private pathologist and bachelor Dr. Beaumont Darius Rosewood, Jr. in Fox drama “Rosewood.” While partnering with law enforcement for forensics, Rosewood also struggles with his active love life, in which he has issues settling down.

“The Resident” 

While Chestnut generally plays beloved characters, his archetypal heel turn was on former Fox medical drama “The Resident” as embittered neurosurgeon Barrett Cain. Occasionally turning on the charm as a ruse, Cain’s truth lies in his disdain for coworkers and patients while in favor of large insurance payouts.

“Watson” 

With just one episode underway, Chestnut met his match with the character of Dr. John Watson from the famed Sherlock Holmes tales. On the CBS mystery crime drama, Watson uses knowledge from working alongside the late Holmes to uncover patients’ peculiar cases and finds evidence that Holmes’ foe, Moriarty, could still be alive.

Subscribe for BET Updates

Provide your email address to receive our newsletter.


By clicking Subscribe, you confirm that you have read and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge our Privacy Policy. You also agree to receive marketing communications, updates, special offers (including partner offers) and other information from BET and the Paramount family of companies. You understand that you can unsubscribe at any time.