Person Details

Birthday: 1964-08-25 09:36:26

Aliases: No known aliases

Gender: Male

Place of birth: Tacoma, Washington, USA

Homepage:

Movie Involvements: 44

TV Involvements: 22


Most Famous Work

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. In recent years, he has appeared on The New Adventures of Old Christine, Dirty Sexy Money and In Treatment and currently stars in NBC's The Event. Underwood's 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. In 1996 Underwood was featured in the July issue of Playgirl. 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 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 In 2007, Underwood co-authored the novel Casanegra: A Tennyson Hardwick Novel with husband-and-wife team Steven Barnes and Tananarive Due. Next, Underwood can seen as the President of the United States in the NBC drama series The Event. Underwood 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". In 1989, Underwood co-founded Artists for a New South Africa, a non-profit organization dedicated to democracy and equality in South Africa. Underwood is a part of several charitable organizations. He won the 1993 Humanitarian Award for his work with the Los Angeles chapter of the Muscular Dystrophy Association. In 2003, along with Ashley Judd, he served as the spokesperson for YouthAIDS. Underwood also appeared in a 2004 public service announcement for The Fulfillment Fund. He is a Trustee for the Robey Theatre Company in Los Angeles, a non-profit theatre group founded by Danny Glover, focusing on plays about the Black experience. On September 17, 1994, he married Desiree DaCosta, with whom he has three children.

Most Famous Work

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Average
8

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

(1999) Miles Sennet
Knight Rider
Average
8

Knight Rider

(1982) Potts
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child
Average
8
Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Average
7

Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

(2013) Andrew Garner
American Crime Story
Average
8

American Crime Story

(2016) Vernon Jordan
L.A. Law
Average
7

L.A. Law

(1986) Jonathan Rollins
Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker
Average
7
21 Jump Street
Average
7

21 Jump Street

(1987) Reginald Brooks

Acting

Year Character Movie/Tv
2023 Richard
Amari Selvan
N/A
2022 Narrator
Narrator (voice)
2021 Amos Bludso
Captain Richard Davenport
2020 Roland Carter
Jerome Richmond
Leon Hines
Narrator (voice)
Charles James Walker
Self
2019 Self - Guest
Bobby Burns
Blair Underwood
2018 Sgt. Martin Ellison
Voice of Ellis Haizlip
2016 Narrator
Vernon Jordan
2015 Makuu (voice)
Owen Hall
2014 Ludie Watts
2013 Robert Ironside
Andrew Garner
Black Lightning
2012 David Ames
2011 Charles Brown
Principal
Narrator
2010 Elias Martinez
Self
2009 Fitz
2008 Alex Prince
2007 Simon Elder
Henry Alabaster
2006 Palmer Addison
Daniel Harris
Carlos
Mark Harper
Palmer Addison
2005 N/A
Gregory Fletcher (voice)
2004 Man
Self
N/A
N/A
Self (uncredited)
2003 Self
Tom Gibbsons
N/A
2002 N/A
Calvin / Nicholas
Chip Hightower
Det. Harris
2000 Capt. Lee
Ben Turner
1999 Miles Sennet
Thomas
1998 Willie
Chance Williams
Dr. Robert Leeds
Mark Simon
1997 Geneticist
Self
1996 Keith
Lieutenant C. Hodges
Self
Jackie Robinson
N/A
1995 King Midas (voice)
Bobby Earl Ferguson
1993 Carver
Jared Williams
1991 Reader
Self
1990 Bob Richardson
Self - Choir Member
James Chaney
1989 Horace Bouchet
1988 Jonathan Rollins
Self - Guest
N/A
1987 Zelmer Collier
Reginald Brooks
1986 Terry Corsaro
Jonathan Rollins
1985 Russell Walker
1984 N/A
N/A
1983 N/A
1982 Potts
N/A
N/A
N/A
Year Character Movie/Tv

Production

Year Role Movie/Tv
2018 Executive Producer
2016 Executive Producer
2012 Producer
Year Role Movie/Tv

Directing

Year Role Movie/Tv
2009 Director
Director
Year Role Movie/Tv

Writing

Year Role Movie/Tv
2009 Writer
Year Role Movie/Tv

Join the discussion

Please Log in to comment