Why Raymond Dupont From Our Kind Of People Looks So Familiar
The Fox lineup has received an exciting and soapy new addition with the premiere of "Our Kind of People," which debuted in September. Taking place in a stronghold of black wealth and power in the Martha's Vineyard locale of Oak Bluffs, the series follows its predominately black ensemble as they navigate life and grapple with long-buried secrets. The show has assembled a very strong cast of performers to bring these fascinating characters to life.
In fact, one of the most intriguing characters of the bunch is Raymond Dupont, a "legacy-driven" wealthy member of high society who wants to do right by his family while maintaining his success. Some viewers who watch "Our Kind of People" may quickly recognize Dupont. That is because the character is portrayed by 52-year-old actor Morris Chestnut. A common face in film and television from the 1990s to now, Chestnut has accumulated a large number of credits throughout his career. On that note, it's time to dive in and look at some of Chestnut's most prominent roles leading up to "Our Kind of People."
Chestnut's character was tragically gunned down in Boyz n the Hood
One of the earliest films in Morris Chestnut's filmography ultimately turned out to be one of the most impactful films of its generation. Chestnut received his big break portraying the ill-fated Ricky in John Singleton's legendary film "Boyz n the Hood." The film chronicles the lives of several young black teenagers living in South Los Angeles. It was nominated for two Academy Awards following its release and was a massive critical success (via IMDb).
One of the most pivotal and iconic moments from "Boyz n the Hood" is the tragic death of Ricky. An innocent victim of senseless gang and gun violence, Ricky's death arguably represents the loss of hope in the film, as his character is the one with the best prospects of getting out of the neighborhood. In interviews looking back on his time working on the film, Chestnut has expressed how nervous he was filming the legendary sequence, as it was his first film role and he was warned that the squibs used in the slow-motion sequence could explode in his face (via HuffPost).
He teamed up with Steven Seagal in Under Siege 2
Following his appearance in "Boyz n the Hood," Morris Chestnut made his way to the action genre. This time, he teamed up with action icon Steven Seagal for "Under Siege 2: Dark Territory." The follow-up to the hit film "Under Siege," the 1995 sequel sees Chestnut portray Bobby Zachs, a porter on the highjacked train who works with Seagal's Casey Ryback to stop a group of terrorists. Bobby helps defeat the terrorists and rescue hostages, including Ryback's niece Sarah — portrayed in the film by Katherine Heigl.
Like its predecessor, "Under Siege 2: Dark Territory" is one of many films released in the 1990s to capitalize on the post "Die Hard" craze of films focusing on terrorist threats in confined locations. That said, the film was generally not well-received at the time of its release, and while Seagal has talked openly about making a third "Under Siege" film, there has been minimal movement on it in recent years. However, Chestnut's work in "Under Siege 2" would eventually pave the way for him to appear in other major action projects.
The actor played a Navy SEAL in G.I. Jane
Morris Chestnut returned to the action genre two years after "Under Siege 2: Dark Territory" for Ridley Scott's "G.I. Jane." This time, instead of partnering with a Navy SEAL, Chestnut gets to be one himself, taking on the role of McCool. The film centers on Demi Moore as Jordan O'Neill, a woman who enters Naval special forces training in an effort to promote gender integration in the United States Navy.
Though not the lead of "G.I. Jane," Chestnut's portrayal of McCool serves as a parallel to O'Neill throughout the movie. In the face of rampant sexism and discrimination experienced by O'Neill as she goes through training, McCool supports her because he can empathize with her experience. This all culminates in the recruits banding together during a real-life mission to rescue their commander, Master Chief John James Urgayle (Viggo Mortensen), after a reconnaissance operation goes wrong.
He looked after Hit-Girl in Kick-Ass 2
Matthew Vaughn's "Kick-Ass" broke new ground in the comic book movie genre when it debuted in 2010. An adaptation of Mark Millar and John Romita, Jr.'s graphic novel series of the same name, the subversive film combines grounded and gritty violence with bright and cartoonish visuals to tell the story of a teenager who decides to become a superhero with no training and minimal preparation. "Kick-Ass 2" debuted three years later, and sees Morris Chestnut step into the role of Marcus Williams, played by Omari Hardwick in the original film. Marcus is the former partner of Big Daddy (Nicolas Cage) who adopts the deadly Hit-Girl (Chloë Grace Moretz) following the murder of her father.
For fans of the original "Kick-Ass," expectations were incredibly high for the follow-up. However, the film was unsuccessful with critics, earning a mere 32% on Rotten Tomatoes, and its release was largely considered a disappointment. This has made prospects of a third film doubtful without a full-blown reboot. As such, until we learn otherwise, it appears that this is the last we will see of Chestnut in the "Kick-Ass" universe for the foreseeable future.
The actor performed autopsies in Rosewood
One of Morris Chestnut's more recent small screen starring roles sees him bring his charisma to Fox's "Rosewood." Starring as the titular Dr. Beaumont Rosewood, Chestnut portrays the character as a brilliant and charming pathologist who solves seemingly impossible mysteries in Miami, Florida.
In addition to his professional life, the series also explores his personal desire to live life to the fullest due to underlying medical conditions and the grim nature of his work. In addition to the lead performance by Chestnut, the series' ensemble includes actors such as Jaina Lee Ortiz, Gabrielle Dennis, and Anna Konkle.
Despite Chestnut's charm, "Rosewood" did not last very long on Fox. The series ran for a total of two seasons and 44 episodes before receiving the axe from the network in 2017. Per a report from The Hollywood Reporter, this cancellation was potentially due to a rating dip that occurred when the series changed nights in the Fox lineup.
Chestnut portrayed a neurosurgeon in The Resident
Morris Chestnut has appeared in numerous medical procedurals over the course of his career. One of his most recent and popular characters of the bunch is his role as Dr, Barrett Cain in "The Resident." In the series, Cain can be extremely intelligent and endearing when he wants to be, but also conniving and greedy. Primarily concerned with money and respect over the course of his two-season tenure on "The Resident," Cain finds himself humbled when an accident puts his professional life at risk.
Despite his character's riveting storyline, Chestnut's time on "The Resident" ultimately turned out to be short-lived. The actor exited the series following Season 4, with Season 5 confirming that Cain opted to leave his position at Chastain Park Memorial Hospital for a job at Johns Hopkins. At this time, it remains unclear if Chestnut will ever return to "The Resident," as the actor even recently noted (via Deadline) that he passed up a chance to return to the Fox medical drama in order to take on his role as Raymond Dupont in "Our Kind of People."