Blair Underwood
Born: 1964-08-25 in Tacoma, Washington, USA
Known For: Acting
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".
Filmography
2026
- Youngblood as Blane Youngblood
2025
- One Spoon of Chocolate
- Guardians of the Galapagos as Self - Narrator (voice)
2024
- Elsbeth as Cliff McGrath
- Longlegs as Agent Carter
- Three Women as Richard
- Tigers on the Rise as Narrator (voice)
- Clinton: Portrait of a Presidency as Narrator
2022
- The Jennifer Hudson Show as Self
- Bear Witness as Narrator (voice)
- Black Patriots: Buffalo Soldiers as Narrator (voice)
2021
- Bad Hair as Amos Bludso
- A Soldier's Play as Captain Richard Davenport
2020
- Your Honor as Roland Carter
- Love Life as Leon Hines
- Really Love as Jerome Richmond
- Penguins: Life on the Edge as Narrator (voice)
- The Paley Center Salutes Law & Order: SVU as Self
- Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker as Charles James Walker
2019
- Tamron Hall as Self - Guest
- Juanita as Blair Underwood
- When They See Us as Bobby Burns
2018
- The After Party as Sgt. Martin Ellison
- Mr. SOUL! as Ellis Haizlip (voice)
2016
- American Crime Story as Vernon Jordan
- The Lion Guard as Makuu (voice)
- The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar as Makuu (voice)
- Olympic Pride, American Prejudice as Narrator (voice)
2015
- Quantico as Owen Hall
2014
- The Trip to Bountiful as Ludie Watts
2013
- Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. as Andrew Garner
- Ironside as Robert Ironside
- Thunder and Lightning as Black Lightning (voice)
2012
- Woman Thou Art Loosed: On the 7th Day as David Ames
- Celebrity Crime Files as Narrator (voice)
- スーパーマン @ Tokyo as Superman / Narrator (voice)
2011
- First Generation as Narrator
- The Art of Getting By as Principal
- Vietnam in HD as Charles Brown
2010
- Who Do You Think You Are? as Self
- The Event as Elias Martinez
2009
- Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen as Self - Guest
- The Good Wife as Harry Dargis
- Weather Girl as Fitz
- The Bridge to Nowhere ... (Director)
2008
- In Treatment as Alex Prince
2007
- The Hit as Henry Alabaster
- Dirty Sexy Money as Simon Elder
2006
- The New Adventures of Old Christine as Daniel Harris
- Covert One: The Hades Factor as Palmer Addison
- Something New as Mark Harper
- Madea's Family Reunion as Carlos
- Covert One: The Hades Factor as Palmer Addison
2005
- The Tyra Banks Show
- The Golden Blaze as Gregory Fletcher (voice)
2004
- The Tony Danza Show as Self
- The Gristle as Self (uncredited)
- LAX as Roger De Souza
- Do Geese See God as Man
- Fatherhood
2003
- The Ellen DeGeneres Show as Self
- Malibu's Most Wanted as Tom Gibbsons
2002
- Half & Half as Himself
- G as Chip Hightower
- Full Frontal as Calvin / Nicholas
- Truth Be Told as Det. Harris
2000
- Rules of Engagement as Capt. Lee
- City of Angels as Ben Turner
1999
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Miles Sennet
- The Wishing Tree as Thomas
1998
- Sex and the City as Dr. Robert Leeds
- Deep Impact as Mark Simon
- Mama Flora's Family as Willie
- Asunder as Chance Williams
1996
- Mistrial as Lieutenant C. Hodges
- Set It Off as Keith
- High Incident
- The Rosie O'Donnell Show as Self
- Soul of the Game as Jackie Robinson
1995
- Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child as King Midas (voice)
- Just Cause as Bobby Earl Ferguson
1993
- Posse as Carver
- Father & Son: Dangerous Relations as Jared Williams
1991
- Voices That Care as Self - Choir Member
- Memorial: Letters from American Soldiers as Reader
- The Massachusetts 54th Colored Infantry as Self
1990
- Heat Wave as Bob Richardson
- Murder in Mississippi as James Chaney
1989
- The Cover Girl and the Cop as Horace Bouchet
1988
- LIVE with Kelly and Mark as Self
- Mickey's 60th Birthday as Jonathan Rollins
1987
- 21 Jump Street as Reginald Brooks
- A Different World as Zelmer Collier
1985
- Krush Groove as Russell Walker
1984
- The Cosby Show as Mark
- Aspel & Company
1982
- Knight Rider as Potts
1956
- Tony Awards as Self - Presenter
1944
- Golden Globe Awards as Self - Nominee