Chi McBride
A commanding character actor whose deep voice and formidable presence made him a scene-stealing fixture in television comedies and dramas for decades.
Born 1961 (age 65)·American actor·Birthday: September 23·Baby Boomers
Biography
Chi McBride brings a unique gravitational pull to every role he inhabits. With a baritone voice that rumbles like distant thunder and a physical stature that commands a room, he has carved out a singular niche as the authoritative heart of ensemble casts. Born in Chicago, he initially pursued a career in music management before catching the acting bug. His breakout came not with a whisper, but with the bombastic role of Steven Harper, the high school principal on the cult-favorite comedy 'Boston Public.' He proved he could deliver laughs with sheer, deadpan force. This led to a string of memorable television roles where he often played the grounded, moral center amidst chaos: the unflappable security chief Emerson Cod on the whimsical 'Pushing Daisies,' the tough-but-fair precinct captain on 'Hawaii Five-0,' and the wise father figure in 'The Human Target.' On film, he's lent his weight to projects ranging from the sci-fi of 'I, Robot' to the football drama 'The Longest Yard.' McBride's talent lies in his ability to convey immense warmth and integrity beneath a stern exterior, making him the reliable anchor audiences instinctively trust, whether he's delivering a punchline or a poignant life lesson.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Chi was born in 1961, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Chi Was Born
The biggest hits of 1961
#1 Movie
101 Dalmatians
Best Picture
West Side Story
#1 TV Show
Wagon Train
Chi's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1961Born
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1966Started school
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1974Became a teenager
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1977Could drive
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1979Could vote
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1982Turned 21
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1991Turned 30
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
2001Turned 40
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2011Turned 50
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 60
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 65 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Starred as Principal Steven Harper on the David E. Kelley drama 'Boston Public,' a role that brought him widespread recognition.
- Played the pivotal role of Emerson Cod, a cynical private investigator, on the critically acclaimed series 'Pushing Daisies.'
- Portrayed Captain Lou Grover in over 150 episodes of the CBS reboot of 'Hawaii Five-0.'
- Had a notable recurring role as Father Levi in the action series 'Human Target.'
Did You Know?
His nickname 'Chi' (pronounced 'shy') is short for Chicago, his hometown.
He worked as a music industry promoter and managed R&B groups before becoming an actor.
He is an avid fan of the NFL's Chicago Bears.
He provided the voice for the character of Joseph in the video game 'The Darkness.'
“I'm not here to be your friend; I'm here to tell you the truth.”
