Morris Chestnut first won us over in his starring role as Ricky in the 1991 film Boyz in the Hood. Since then, he has remained a constant name in Hollywood with lead roles in hit films like The Best Man and its sequel, Two Can Play that Game and Not Easily Broken, to name a few. His most recent film, The Perfect Guy, with Sanaa Lathan and Michael Ealy, earned the No. 1 spot at the box office its opening weekend, raking in an estimated $26.7 million.

[RELATED: Lathan, Ealy and Chestnut Star in The Perfect Guy]

“The opportunity to be able to do what I do and do it to a certain level, in large part, is because of my fans,” the 46-year-old actor tells BlackEnterprise.com. “Whenever I do a project my fans come out and support, whether it’s a show, play or movie. They come out and support me every time and they show the industry that they still believe in me.”

With the support of his unwavering fans by his side, Chestnut is stepping outside of the film world to test the waters in his first leading television role in Fox network’s new show, Rosewood. Playing the character of a charismatic pathologist name Dr. Beaumont Rosewood, Chestnut says that the television opportunity literally fell in his lap.

“I was doing another show for the same production and they sent me a script and said we want you on this show. Will you consider doing this pilot,” said Chestnut. “I read the script and after the first scene I was into it. It was a smart and funny character, and so they made it happen.”

Giving insight into how the television business works, Chestnut says that while Rosewood is a Fox network show produced by Fox studios, there are times where two separate networks and studios will work on the same show.

(Continued on next page)

“Sometimes different studios will have different networks, like you might have a show on Fox that is produced by ABC studios because it’s based on deals by producers,” adds the actor.

However, regardless of the studio and network behind today’s major television shows, it’s clear that Hollywood is slowly catching on to the value of diversity. When asked if the success of shows like Empire, Scandal, and How to Get Away With  Murder will lead to more black actors and actresses exploring the possibilities of television, Chestnut makes it clear that he believes all actors are looking at the opportunities that rest in TV.

“I think that is completely across the board. Not just black actors, but actors of every level. They are looking for TV because TV is producing great material right now.”

With 20 plus years of experience in the industry and a host of successful projects under his belt, Chestnut advises any young actor who wants longevity in the industry to realize that success does not happen over night.

“People come up to me all the time and say they want to be famous, but you really have to focus on the craft and study,” says Chestnut. “There are people coming in who are so focus[ed] on the end of the journey, and they don’t want to go on the journey itself. They want it here and now and in two minutes, and it doesn’t work that way. For some people, they may catch a break where they wait on tables today and land a starring role tomorrow. But it usually doesn’t work that way. That’s not the norm.”

Be sure to catch Chestnut’s new show Rosewood every Wednesday night at 8 p.m. EST on Fox beginning Sept. 23.