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Although Chi McBride did not start acting until he was 30, he was met with almost immediate success. He first landed guest spots on Fox’s IN LIVING COLOR and NBC’s THE FRESH PRINCE OF BEL-AIR. He was later given the lead role of ‘Principal Steven Harper’ on Fox’s BOSTON PUBLIC, and starred in Fox’s HUMAN TARGET. Other notable television roles include THE JOHN LARROQUETTE SHOW, HOUSE, THE SECRET DIARY OF DESMOND PFEIFFER, KILLER INSTINCT, and PUSHING DAISIES. He recently wrapped a seven-season run as ‘Lou Grover’ on CBS’ HAWAII FIVE-0.​

After landing a featured role in TV movie REVENGE OF THE NERDS III: THE NEXT GENERATION, Chi starred as ‘Tommy B. Jordan’ in MERCURY RISING alongside Bruce Willis. He also starred in Steven Spielberg’s THE TERMINAL alongside Tom Hanks. As in both of these films, much of Chi’s work sees him playing right-hand man to the hero. Other film credits include CRADLE 2 THE GRAVE, THE DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN, GONE IN 60 SECONDS, THE FRIGHTENERS, NARC, THE TERMINAL, Disney’s THE KID, I, ROBOT, ROLL BOUNCE, ANNAPOLIS, HOODLUM, UNDERCOVER BROTHER, LET'S GO TO PRISON, and THE BROTHERS SOLOMON. Chi portrayed eight different characters in the play NAGATAKI SAKE, directed by Robert Downey, Sr.​ He is the voice of Marvel Universe’s ‘Nick Fury’ in ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN, HULK AND THE AGENTS OF S.M.A.S.H, and AVENGERS ASSEMBLE.​

In addition to being a series regular on HAWAII FIVE-0 for its final six seasons, Chi has written a number of episodes for the series, along with several pilots. He is currently developing an original idea for television.

Chi’s first success in show business came with the hit song BASICALLY, HE’S THE CHAMP as part of the group KSL, which parodied the marriage of boxer Mike Tyson and actress Robin Givens. Based on the tune's success, McBride was signed by Esquire Records and he joined the rhythm and blues band Covert.​

Chi will next star alongside Pete Holmes and Katie Lowes in CBS’ SMALLWOOD, a sitcom based around the life of laid-off auto worker-turned-professional bowler Tom Smallwood. Chi will play ‘Archie’, a bowling alley owner who serves as friend and mentor to the main character played by Holmes. The series has a mid-season debut planned for the 2021–22 television season.

​​He was born in Chicago, Illinois, from which his stage name, pronounced "shy," derives. He loves to cook – one of his favorites being a ground buffalo pasta with heirloom carrots, butternut squash, brussels sprout leaves, radicchio, english peas, asparagus tips, morel mushrooms, and aged pecorino cheese topped with fried sage leaves.