Celebrity Info
Nick Chinlund, a New York native with big dreams, first made his mark not on the silver screen but on the basketball court. At Brown University, Nick Chinlund was an aspiring athlete who had his sights set on a future in the NBA—until a devastating injury during his freshman year changed everything. That turning point, while tough at the time, ultimately redirected his focus toward acting, a path where Nick Chinlund would eventually find his calling.
Though he began his career in mainstream Hollywood often cast as the intense, gun-toting mercenary or smarmy antagonist, there’s more to Nick Chinlund than meets the eye. He first caught wider attention playing Hatchett in the third installment of Mel Gibson’s iconic “Lethal Weapon” series—a role that helped cement his presence in action cinema. From there, he appeared in Jerry Bruckheimer’s high-octane 1997 thriller “Con Air,” portraying one of the dangerous escaped super villains aboard a hijacked prison transport. His knack for playing morally ambiguous characters continued in the critically acclaimed “Training Day,” where Nick Chinlund delivered a memorable performance as one of Denzel Washington’s corrupt cops.
While action films have been a consistent thread in his filmography, Nick Chinlund has also quietly built an impressive body of work in independent cinema. In fact, he co-starred in and produced the emotionally charged 1997 indie drama “A Brother’s Kiss,” collaborating with longtime friend and director Seth Zvi Rosenfeld. This project showcased a different side of Nick Chinlund—one rooted in depth, character exploration, and storytelling beyond explosions and shootouts.
Over the years, Nick Chinlund has skillfully balanced roles between major studio productions and smaller, more personal films. He returned to war-torn terrain in the 2003 military drama “Tears of the Sun,” once again wielding automatic weapons alongside Bruce Willis. Later, he stepped into sci-fi territory as a relentless bounty hunter chasing Vin Diesel’s character in “The Chronicles of Riddick.” Yet even amid these high-stakes roles, Nick Chinlund found opportunities to take center stage in independent features—delivering powerful lead performances as a guilt-ridden priest in “Sinner” and as an amnesiac entangled in international espionage in “The Fifth Patient.”
Throughout his career, Nick Chinlund has proven himself to be more than just another face in the action genre. Whether in supporting roles or as the protagonist, he brings intensity, nuance, and authenticity to every part he plays. And while his NBA dreams were cut short, Nick Chinlund has certainly made his own unique mark in the world of film.
When it comes to Nick Chinlund’s filmography, one standout in terms of critical reception is A Brother’s Kiss from 1997—it’s widely regarded as Nick Chinlund’s highest rated movie. The gritty crime drama showcased Nick Chinlund’s acting range and earned solid reviews, making it a clear highlight in his career. On the other end of the spectrum, also released in the same year, is Mr. Magoo, which turned out to be Nick Chinlund’s lowest rated film. While it had a different tone and audience appeal, it didn’t resonate well with critics or viewers, placing it at the bottom of Nick Chinlund’s movie rankings. It’s interesting how two films featuring Nick Chinlund came out in 1997, yet received such contrasting responses. Overall, Nick Chinlund’s body of work reflects a diverse range, but these two titles certainly mark the highs and lows in terms of ratings.
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