NAACP Image Awards: 5 Heartthrob Performances From Morris Chestnut
There’s heartthrob and then there’s Morris Chestnut. For years, he’s been the face of grown-man romance, mixing charm, confidence, and emotional depth in a way that feels effortless. Whether he’s playing the devoted husband, the complicated lover, or the man learning how to love better, the 57-year-old brings warmth and intention to every role.
He doesn’t just play love interests, but he makes you believe in love. And that’s why his characters stay with us long after the credits roll. This year, he earned two NAACP Image Award nominations, including Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series, proving that his heartthrob era never replaced his talent, but it evolved it.
As the NAACP Image Awards continue to celebrate Black excellence across generations, these five performances remind us exactly why Morris Chestnut remains the standard.
The Best Man
Lance Sullivan is messy, passionate, stubborn—and unforgettable. The California native made Lance feel real, not romanticized. He showed how ego, love, and insecurity can all live in the same man. That complexity is what made the character and the love story so iconic.
Boyz n the Hood
As Ricky, Chestnut gave us one of the most tender and heartbreaking performances of his career. He played a young man full of dreams, love, and responsibility.
His sweetness, vulnerability, and hope made the tragedy hit even harder.
It was one of the first times audiences saw how deeply he could move people.
Two Can Play That Game
This is where he became a full-blown grown-woman crush. As the confident, charming, and slightly hard-headed Keith, he brought humor and sex appeal in equal measure. His chemistry with Vivica A. Fox made the movie instantly rewatchable. It proved he could carry romantic comedies with swagger and heart.
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The Perfect Holiday
In this holiday favorite, Chestnut played the soft, romantic lead we all wanted under the tree. He brought warmth, patience, and emotional steadiness to the role. It showed his ability to be gentle without being boring. This was heartthrob energy wrapped in Christmas lights.
The Best Man: The Final Chapters
Years later, the "Watson" star brought Lance back with more depth and maturity. This time, it wasn’t about ego—it was about healing, loss, and rediscovering love. He showed how a heartthrob ages into a man with emotional weight. And honestly? It only made him finer.
Watch the NAACP Image Awards on BET and CBS on Feb. 28, 2026.
