Charles Esten’s character on Nashville, Deacon Clayborne, was recently diagnosed with liver cancer and is in need of a transplant, but it’s a secret that he is keeping very close to the vest. Charles believeS there are a couple of reasons Deacon doesn’t want to let the love of his life, Rayna, know about his condition. “Number one, he doesn’t want to share that weakness,” says Charles. “He certainly doesn’t want that to be any reason that Rayna would come to him now at this point, and as he says in the show, he wants to be the one to take care of her. She’s taken care of him for so long. All he’s ever done has been a burden, someone she had to help carry, help up off the ground, tuck into bed and all those things, and he just doesn’t want that anymore.”
Charles knows Deacon’s secret will eventually come out and hopefully he’ll be the one to reveal the news but he says, “I think he knows at some point he’ll probably have to tell, but there’s a lot a steps before then that he can maybe get it under control, or there’s still a whole lot a denial going on.”
You can see new episodes of Nashville Wednesday night on ABC at 10p ET/9pm CT.
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Nashville – Charles Esten cancer secret :35
“As to why he doesn’t want to share it, I think there’s a couple reasons. Number one, he doesn’t want to share that weakness. He certainly doesn’t want that to be any reason that Rayna would come to him now at this point, and as he says in the show, he wants to be the one to take care of her. She’s taken care of him for so long. All he’s ever done has been a burden, someone she had to help carry, help up off the ground, tuck into bed and all those things, and he just doesn’t want that anymore. So, I think he knows at some point he’ll probably have to tell, but there’s a lot a steps before then that he can maybe get it under control, or there’s still a whole lot a denial going on.”
CHARLES “Chip” ESTEN – THE FACTS
BIRTH DATE: September 9, 1965 (he’s 49)
HOMETOWN: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
ABC’s NASHVILLE CHARACTER: He plays Deacon Claybourne.
ACTING CREDITS INCLUDE: TV’s Who’s Line Is It Anyway and 1997’s The Postman starring Kevin Costner.
RECENT TWEETS:
Charles Esten @CharlesEsten · February 21
In San Fran for the day and loving the view. #priceless #iceless http://instagram.com/p/zXuJUzzSNZ/
Charles Esten @CharlesEsten · February 19
Had this VERY cool dream where @itsgabrielleu said Deacon Claybourne is @DwyaneWade ‘s hero. Wait. NOT A DREAM.
Charles Esten @CharlesEsten · February 19
‘Bout to try that earlier @itsgabrielleu tweet again with the correct @DwyaneWade account.