Personal Info
Known For:
Acting
Birthday:
August 25, 1964
Place of Birth:
Tacoma, Washington, USA
Social Media
Blair Underwood
Biography
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
Filmography
| Year | Movie | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | One Spoon of Chocolate | |
| 2025 | Guardians of the Galapagos | Self - Narrator (voice) |
| 2024 | Longlegs | Agent Carter |
| 2024 | Tigers on the Rise | Narrator (voice) |
| 2024 | Clinton: Portrait of a Presidency | Narrator |
| 2023 | Origin | Amari Selvan |
| 2022 | Bear Witness | Narrator (voice) |
| 2022 | Black Patriots: Buffalo Soldiers | Narrator (voice) |
| 2021 | Bad Hair | Amos Bludso |
| 2021 | A Soldier's Play | Captain Richard Davenport |
| 2020 | Penguins: Life on the Edge | Narrator (voice) |
| 2020 | The Paley Center Salutes Law & Order: SVU | Self |
| 2020 | Really Love | Jerome Richmond |
| 2019 | Juanita | Blair Underwood |
| 2018 | The After Party | Sgt. Martin Ellison |
| 2018 | Mr. SOUL! | Ellis Haizlip (voice) |
| 2016 | The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar | Makuu (voice) |
| 2016 | Olympic Pride, American Prejudice | Narrator (voice) |
| 2014 | The Trip to Bountiful | Ludie Watts |
| 2012 | Woman Thou Art Loosed: On the 7th Day | David Ames |
| 2011 | First Generation | Narrator |
| 2011 | The Art of Getting By | Principal |
| 2009 | Weather Girl | Fitz |
| 2007 | The Hit | Henry Alabaster |
| 2006 | Covert One: The Hades Factor | Palmer Addison |
| 2006 | Madea's Family Reunion | Carlos |
| 2006 | Something New | Mark Harper |
| 2005 | The Golden Blaze | Gregory Fletcher (voice) |
| 2004 | The Gristle | Self (uncredited) |
| 2004 | Do Geese See God | Man |
| 2003 | Malibu's Most Wanted | Tom Gibbsons |
| 2002 | G | Chip Hightower |
| 2002 | Full Frontal | Calvin / Nicholas |
| 2002 | Truth Be Told | Det. Harris |
| 2000 | Rules of Engagement | Capt. Lee |
| 1999 | The Wishing Tree | Thomas |
| 1998 | Asunder | Chance Williams |
| 1998 | Deep Impact | Mark Simon |
| 1997 | Gattaca | Geneticist |
| 1996 | Set It Off | Keith |
| 1996 | Soul of the Game | Jackie Robinson |
| 1996 | Mistrial | Lieutenant C. Hodges |
| 1995 | Just Cause | Bobby Earl Ferguson |
| 1993 | Father & Son: Dangerous Relations | Jared Williams |
| 1993 | Posse | Carver |
| 1991 | Memorial: Letters from American Soldiers | Reader |
| 1991 | Voices That Care | Self - Choir Member |
| 1991 | The Massachusetts 54th Colored Infantry | Self |
| 1990 | Murder in Mississippi | James Chaney |
| 1990 | Heat Wave | Bob Richardson |
| 1989 | The Cover Girl and the Cop | Horace Bouchet |
| 1988 | Mickey's 60th Birthday | Jonathan Rollins |
| 1985 | Krush Groove | Russell Walker |
| Viral |