'Empire' Star -- Tries Cutting Line ... Shut Down By Security Guard

'Empire' star Bryshere "Yazz" Gray tried pulling the celebrity card big time Saturday night but one security guard just wasn't having it.

We're told Yazz, who plays Hakeem Lyon, was trying to get into Memphis' famous Beale Street ... the only problem? ... He didn't want to stand in line. A witness says there were about 35 people waiting when the actor came out of nowhere and tried going through the street's exit, completely ignoring the line.

Yazz got into it with a security guard before his bodyguard stepped in and took him away.