He was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Supporting Actor in a play, for his role of Elder Joseph Barlow in August Wilson's Radio Golf.
He performed internationally in the hit Vietnam play, Tracers, at The Seymour Center, Sydney, Australia; the Universal Theatre, Melbourne, Australia; The Royal Court Theatre, London, England.
He also performed Jitney at London's National Theatre on the South Bank winning the Olivier Award for Best New Play.
Chisholm played Burr Redding on the HBO television series Oz for three seasons.
Chisholm was drafted into the Army in 1964 and served as a platoon leader in Vietnam.