17-02-2025
Mystery solved: Morris Chestnut belongs to 3 gyms so his 'Watson' can rock washboard abs
Mystery solved: Morris Chestnut belongs to 3 gyms so his 'Watson' can rock washboard abs
In USA TODAY's The Essentials, celebrities share what fuels their lives, whether it's at home, on the set or on the road.
Deducing that Morris Chestnut brings the heat to the CBS's "Watson" is pretty elementary.
The versatile Chestnut, 56, leads with intellect, charm and six-pack abs as Dr. John Watson, the beloved colleague of the apparently deceased Sherlock Holmes, in CBS' modern series. During the medical mystery's January premiere episode, executive producer Craig Sweeny even found a plausible reason for Watson to take off his shirt after crashing on the office couch at Pittsburgh's Holmes Clinic.
"We wanted to show Watson's physicality at some point," Chestnut tells USA TODAY of the smoldering moment that would have elicited a "Eureka!" from Sherlock. "I knew after the pilot episode that I would be exhausted from the schedule and not have the gym time. So I told Craig, if we're going to do it, it's now. I have the time. He put the scene in."
The TV physician detective and "The Best Man" franchise star reveals his life essentials as "Watson" continues in its regular CBS Sunday spot on Feb. 23 (9 p.m. PST/EST).
'Watson' surprise: Randall Park emerges as Professor Moriarty
Morris Chestnut has three different memberships
Chestnut credits good genes and daily two-hour workouts among three gym franchises for his impressive physique. Sure, he has a full gym at his home outside of Los Angeles. But his 24 Hour Fitness membership, for example, is perfect for that 3 a.m. workout. "Being at the gym is part of my everyday life," he says. "I'm a morning person. When I go early, I don't have to wait at a machine."
The gym members get used to having a Hollywood star sweating among them, and Chestnut enjoys the relationships with the regulars who inspire crucial cardio ‒ like a recent dynamic 83-year-old gymgoer.
"I was staring at the TV and saw her working the weights with such energy. I said, 'Oh my!' So I really hit it. People in the gym are really motivating. I love the environment."
Chestnut rocks custom suits on 'Watson' but prefers sweatsuits
Watson wears some fine suits investigating rare disorders which are all custom-made. "There's not a suit on the planet that fits me off the rack," says Chestnut. "Our costume designers have a tough job, but those suits fit like a glove."
At home, Chestnut prefers variations of sweatsuits in everyday life where "I'm much more relaxed." There are two favorite Nike suits (one 15 years old) for outings like the gym and a "slightly more elevated" Hugo Boss pairing for events like plane travel.
Smelling good is 'extremely important' for Chestnut
Chestnut is as good on the olfactory senses as he is on the eyes. "Smelling good is extremely important," he says. "I don't feel comfortable leaving the house unless I have some type of cologne or fragrance." There's Insurrection cologne for the gym, Jean Paul Gaultier mixed with a lotion for media interviews and various others from Bulgari to Prada. "It depends on what I'm doing. Some of them last long, some don't," he says.
Pam Byse-Chestnut, his wife of nearly 30 years, prefers Creed, so that's a regular scent. "She loves that."
It's no medical mystery – skincare helps
Chestnut's skin care routine includes washing his face twice a day, particularly at night, as well as mixing various products: CeraVe cleansers and moisturizers, iS clinical and Dermalogica pharmaceutical-grade skin care products. As a couple, the Chestnuts also share La Mer cream.
Chestnut, wife Pam watch 'Forensic Files,' but aren't exclusive on TV watching
Dr. Watson would approve that the long-lasting Hollywood couple watch the news magazine show "Dateline NBC" and devour medical mysteries like "Forensic Files," which features experts solving real crimes and disease outbreaks. "We've probably seen every single 'Forensic Files' out there," Chestnut says.
However, lasting unity is aided when they go their separate TV ways. Chestnut doesn't share his wife's love of reality TV and shows "with 8 million housewives based on drama and toxicity. I can't sit through that. Nor can my wife sit through Laker games," he says. "So we have our moments in our separate corners, and we really respect that."
Chestnut ventures in bourbon but hits the cranberry juice
Longtime friends from "The Best Man" franchise Chestnut, Harold Perrineau, Taye Diggs and director Malcolm D. Lee launched Sable Bourbon ‒ a joint venture and homage to the beverage the characters imbibe in two hit movies and the 2022 limited series, "The Best Man: The Final Chapter."
"Harold reached out to us to see if we'd be interested," says Chestnut. "We all got together, did taste tests, and agreed it's authentic to 'Best Man.'"
While he enjoys the "smooth" bourbon, Chestnut generally sticks with cranberry juice. "People get on me because I always drink cranberry juice," he says. "I'm a huge juice guy."
Chestnut was an Eagles fan before Super Bowl flight
Chestnut's lifetime of Philadelphia Eagles love deserves attention as the world jumps on the bandwagon following the Birds' blowout Super Bowl victory. The avid sports fans grew up idolizing the 1980 Eagle Super Bowl champs (running back Wilbert Montgomery and wide receiver Harold Carmichael). A stand-out high school football safety, Chestnut flocks to the "Go Birds" and the "Inside the Birds" Eagles podcasts, along with "The Herd with Colin Cowherd."
"I've never rooted for any other pro football team than the Eagles," says Chestnut, who celebrated Sunday. "I love this team."
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
