Blair Underwood
Blair Underwood (born August 25, 1964) is an American television and film actor. He is perhaps best known as headstrong attorney Jonathan Rollins from the NBC legal drama L.A. Law, a role he portrayed for seven years. He has gained critical acclaim throughout his career, receiving numerous Golden Globe Award nominations, three NAACP Image Awards and 1 Grammy Award. His feature film debut was the 1985 movie Krush Groove. His 1985 appearance on The Cosby Show landed him a short stint on the ABC soap opera One Life to Live, which eventually led to his performance on the TV series L.A. Law, where he appeared from 1987 to 1994. Underwood broke into film with roles in Just Cause (1995), Set It Off (1996) and Deep Impact (1998). He also had a supporting role as a geneticist in the film Gattaca. In 2000, he played the lead role in the short-lived television series City of Angels. In 2003, he guest starred in four episodes on the HBO series Sex and the City playing Cynthia Nixon's love interest. In 2004, he played the role of Roger De Souza opposite Heather Locklear in NBC's LAX. He gained acclaim as the sexy grade school teacher in the CBS sitcom The New Adventures of Old Christine opposite Julia Louis-Dreyfus for two years. In 2007, he guest starred in an episode of the NBC series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. His also had a role as recurring character Alex in the HBO series In Treatment. Also in 2007, Underwood co-authored the novel Casanegra: A Tennyson Hardwick Novel with husband-and-wife team Steven Barnes and Tananarive Due. He's also had recurring roles on Dirty Sexy Money, NBC's The Event, Ironside, Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and Quantico. He has received three NAACP Image Awards, for his film work in Rules of Engagement, and his television work in L.A. Law, City of Angels, Murder in Mississippi and Mama Flora's Family. He was voted one of People's "50 Most Beautiful People" in 2000, and one of TV Guide's "Most Influential Faces of the 90s".
Known For
Credits
- 2024 ยทClinton: Portrait of a Presidencyas Narrator
- 2024 ยทThree Womenas Richard
- 2024 ยทLonglegsas Agent Carter
- 2024 ยทTigers on the Riseas Narrator (voice)
- 2024 ยทElsbethas Cliff McGrath
- 2023 ยทOriginas Amari Selvan
- 2023 ยทSmotheredas
- 2022 ยทBlack Patriots: Buffalo Soldiersas Narrator (voice)
- 2022 ยทBear Witnessas Narrator (voice)
- 2021 ยทBad Hairas Amos Bludso
- 2021 ยทA Soldier's Playas Captain Richard Davenport
- 2020 ยทYour Honoras Roland Carter
- 2020 ยทReally Loveas Jerome Richmond
- 2020 ยทLove Lifeas Leon Hines
- 2020 ยทPenguins: Life on the Edgeas Narrator (voice)
- 2020 ยทSelf Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walkeras Charles James Walker
- 2020 ยทThe Paley Center Salutes Law & Order: SVUas Self
- 2019 ยทTamron Hallas Self - Guest
- 2019 ยทWhen They See Usas Bobby Burns
- 2019 ยทJuanitaas Blair Underwood
- 2018 ยทThe After Partyas Sgt. Martin Ellison
- 2018 ยทMr. SOUL!as Voice of Ellis Haizlip
- 2016 ยทOlympic Pride, American Prejudiceas Narrator (voice)
- 2016 ยทAmerican Crime Storyas Vernon Jordan
- 2015 ยทThe Lion Guard: Return of the Roaras Makuu (voice)
- 2015 ยทQuanticoas Owen Hall
- 2014 ยทThe Trip to Bountifulas Ludie Watts
- 2013 ยทIronsideas Robert Ironside
- 2013 ยทMarvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.as Andrew Garner
- 2013 ยทThunder and Lightningas Black Lightning
- 2012 ยทCelebrity Crime Filesas Narrator (voice)
- 2012 ยทWoman Thou Art Loosed: On the 7th Dayas David Ames
- 2011 ยทVietnam in HDas Charles Brown
- 2011 ยทThe Art of Getting Byas Principal
- 2011 ยทFirst Generationas Narrator
- 2010 ยทThe Eventas Elias Martinez
- 2010 ยทWho Do You Think You Are?as Self
- 2009 ยทThe Good Wifeas Harry Dargis
- 2009 ยทWatch What Happens Live with Andy Cohenas Self - Guest
- 2009 ยทWeather Girlas Fitz
- 2008 ยทIn Treatmentas Alex Prince
- 2007 ยทDirty Sexy Moneyas Simon Elder
- 2007 ยทThe Hitas Henry Alabaster
- 2006 ยทCovert One: The Hades Factoras Palmer Addison
- 2006 ยทThe New Adventures of Old Christineas Daniel Harris
- 2006 ยทMadea's Family Reunionas Carlos
- 2006 ยทSomething Newas Mark Harper
- 2006 ยทCovert One: The Hades Factoras Palmer Addison
- 2005 ยทThe Tyra Banks Showas
- 2005 ยทThe Golden Blazeas Gregory Fletcher (voice)
- 2004 ยทDo Geese See Godas Man
- 2004 ยทThe Tony Danza Showas Self
- 2004 ยทLAXas Roger De Souza
- 2004 ยทFatherhoodas
- 2004 ยทThe Gristleas Self (uncredited)
- 2003 ยทThe Ellen DeGeneres Showas Self
- 2003 ยทMalibu's Most Wantedas Tom Gibbsons
- 2003 ยทJimmy Kimmel Live!as
- 2002 ยทHalf & Halfas Himself
- 2002 ยทFull Frontalas Calvin / Nicholas
- 2002 ยทGas Chip Hightower
- 2002 ยทTruth Be Toldas Det. Harris
- 2000 ยทRules of Engagementas Capt. Lee
- 2000 ยทCity of Angelsas Ben Turner
- 1999 ยทLaw & Order: Special Victims Unitas Miles Sennet
- 1999 ยทThe Wishing Treeas Thomas
- 1998 ยทMama Flora's Familyas Willie
- 1998 ยทAsunderas Chance Williams
- 1998 ยทSex and the Cityas Dr. Robert Leeds
- 1998 ยทDeep Impactas Mark Simon
- 1997 ยทGattacaas Geneticist
- 1997 ยทThe Viewas Self
- 1996 ยทSet It Offas Keith
- 1996 ยทMistrialas Lieutenant C. Hodges
- 1996 ยทThe Rosie O'Donnell Showas Self
- 1996 ยทSoul of the Gameas Jackie Robinson
- 1996 ยทHigh Incidentas
- 1995 ยทHappily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Childas King Midas (voice)
- 1995 ยทJust Causeas Bobby Earl Ferguson
- 1993 ยทPosseas Carver
- 1993 ยทFather & Son: Dangerous Relationsas Jared Williams
- 1991 ยทVoices That Careas Self - Choir Member
- 1991 ยทThe Massachusetts 54th Colored Infantryas Self
- 1991 ยทMemorial: Letters from American Soldiersas Reader
- 1990 ยทHeat Waveas Bob Richardson
- 1989 ยทThe Cover Girl and the Copas Horace Bouchet
- 1985 ยทKrush Grooveas Russell Walker
- Future ยทCompany Townas
- 1990 ยทMurder in Mississippias James Chaney
- 1988 ยทMickey's 60th Birthdayas Jonathan Rollins
- 1988 ยทLIVE with Kelly and Markas Self
- 1988 ยทLIVE with Kelly and Markas Self - Guest
- 1987 ยทA Different Worldas Zelmer Collier
- 1987 ยท21 Jump Streetas Reginald Brooks
- 1986 ยทDowntownas Terry Corsaro
- 1986 ยทL.A. Lawas Jonathan Rollins
- 1984 ยทThe Cosby Showas Mark
- 1984 ยทAspel & Companyas
- 1983 ยทScarecrow and Mrs. Kingas
- 1982 ยทKnight Rideras Potts
- 1956 ยทTony Awardsas Self - Presenter
- 1944 ยทGolden Globe Awardsas Self - Nominee
- 1944 ยทGolden Globe Awardsas Self - Audience Member
- Future ยทOne Spoon of Chocolateas
- Future ยทThree Womenas Richard Ford
- Future ยทViralas