Morris Chestnut is one of the most respected Black actors in Hollywood who has had the privilege to act alongside many charming ladies. However, none has been able to captivate his heart like his wife of many years, Pam Byse.
In a world where divorce is fast becoming the norm, it is refreshing to see couples who are in a happy and fulfilling marriage, and one of such is Morris Chestnut and his wife of 26 years, Pam Byse.
The couple is a power duo who has been able to keep their marriage intact, despite the common issues that rocked the foundation of Hollywood marriages. Here’s a timeline of their admirable romance.
Met In the Nineties
Morris once recalled how he met Byse. The couple met at a club in Atlanta where Chestnut went to shoot a movie. The “When the Bough Breaks” actor noted that one of his pals, Tiny Lister, decided to host him and took him to a club. While they were at the club, Lister talked about different girls in a bid to matchmake Morris.
However, “The Best Man Holiday” actor’s interest was piqued when he sighted Byse. After asking his friend who she was, Lister told him not to bother because she does not seem to be interested in anyone.
However, the attempt to dissuade the Hollywood star only heightened his interest. Morris got to know Byse better and even discovered something more interesting.
Byse had a way of taking care of her nephews, and a motherly touch that Chestnut admired. This and a couple of other reasons were why he married her; he knew she would be the perfect mom to his kids.
Inside Their Marriage
He was right! Morris Chestnut’s wife has since become a pillar of strength for the actor, making sure things run smoothly in the house. Speaking of how he and Byse ran their household, Morris confessed they both let each other take their respective responsibilities.
The award-winning actor stated: “I let my wife be the woman. You know? I let her be the woman…And she, in turn, when it comes down to it, she lets me be the man….”
The “Rosewood” star also has a golden rule that he follows; he makes sure there are no doubts between him and Byse by always reiterating it’s her and there’s no one else.
The couple is parents to two kids, Grant and Paige Chestnut. The pair are in their young adult years, and it is safe to say that their parents have inspired them with their picture-perfect relationship.
Morris On His Marriage Values
Morris Chestnut’s new show “Our Kind Of People,” is another level in his achievements, but he alludes that his marriage is one of his greatest. The actor believes that the longevity attained in his marriage is because he and Pam grew together.
In a 2019 interview with Rolling Out, Morris opened up about how his marriage worked despite the high-rise in failing Hollywood romances. He started by thanking Byse and referring to her as an “amazing woman.”
He went on to state that it was pretty challenging being married to someone in the showbiz industry. Morris pointed out that communication was the key and it should be done constantly among partners.
He also highlighted the need for partners to have shared interests. Morris is quite enthusiastic about fitness, and Byse does share this interest. The duo often makes time to work out and bond better.
Why Morris Chestnut Chose Pam Byse
In an interview with Essence, Morris shared more nuggets on how he and Byse’s love came to be. He explained that while they were in the early stages of their relationship, he often paid attention to details about her.
Morris watched how Byse respectfully related with her family members, and he knew she would get a great partner. The “When The Bough Breaks” actor mentioned that he paid attention to details while sharing:
“I knew that she would be a great mother just for how she cared for her nephew and her family. She respected her mother and she respected her family and those were some of the initial qualities that I saw that I thought would make her a great partner.
When asked how they celebrated Valentine’s Day in 2020, he proved that it was never a one-time thing. The “The Perfect Guy” star stated that he often made it a triple threat.
Besides getting Byse flowers, he would get them for his mom and daughter too. He noted that Paige got flowers because she needed to know how to be treated [by a partner.]
Above all, the 54-year-old hunk pointed out that their solid mutual respect for each other has kept them going for years. He regarded this as the “number one thing” in their relationship.