Biography
Chanchez was born in Montgomery, Alabama, and spent most of his childhood in Atlanta. Raised by a supportive family who recognized his talents, he was encouraged to follow his dreams. From the moment he sang along to his grandmother's records, he showed a natural gift for performing. By age 10, he knew he wanted to be an actor. After high school, he moved to Hollywood. Like many young actors, he faced a challenging start but found work as a car salesman while using his free time to learn the audition process and refine his skills. Through classes and workshops, he improved his craft and eventually secured an agent. Shortly thereafter, he booked his first of about 50 commercials. Chanchez humbly views his "big break" as the moment he became a working actor and values every day he spends on set.
Between acting gigs, Chanchez founded a nonprofit organization called Watch Me Win, aimed at enriching urban youth through mentorship, leadership development, encouragement, and empowerment. The foundation marked its first successful year with a celebrity benefit gala in Los Angeles. Outside of his organization, Chanchez enjoys reading, painting, and writing music. He also considers himself a "foodie," loves dining out, and offers excellent restaurant recommendations. As a cook, he's working on mastering the grill and constantly experiments with ingredients in his pursuit of the perfect salad. To balance his love of food, he regularly visits the gym. He stays grounded by maintaining close contact with his family in Georgia and being a devoted dad to his pampered English bulldog, Lola.
Over recent years, Chanchez has been honing his skills in film, television, and theater. He is best known for his current starring role as "Malik Wright," a confident yet kind star quarterback navigating sudden success, on BET’s hit comedy "The Game," a sharp, modern series about professional football players and the women in their lives.
While he enjoys his comedic role on "The Game," Chanchez has also demonstrated strong dramatic abilities through his work in film, theater, and episodic television. He starred in the feature film "Rich Quick" and appeared in supporting roles in "The Outsider" and "My Brother." In 2011, he featured in "96 Minutes," which premiered at the SXSW Music and Film Festival, and co-starred in independent films "Dysfunctional Friends" and "The Cost of Heaven," both in post-production. His theater experience includes productions such as Royal Oats and Glory, Shop Life, The Wiz, and The Long Walk Home. Television credits include CBS's "NCIS," FX's "The Shield," Warner Bros' "Everwood," CBS's "Close to Home," along with recurring roles on "Robbery Homicide Division" and WB's "For Your Love."
In 2012, Chanchez plans to continue working on "The Game," pursue more film opportunities, and develop new projects through his recently established production company, Kelp Productions.
