# Blair Underwood

Blair Erwin Underwood (born August 25, 1964) is an American actor. He made his debut in the 1985 musical film Krush Groove and from 1987 to 1994 starred as attorney Jonathan Rollins in the NBC legal drama series L.A. Law.
Underwood has appeared in a number of films during his career, including Just Cause (1995), Set It Off (1996), Deep Impact (1998), Rules of Engagement (2000), Something New (2006), Madea's Family Reunion (2006), Juanita (2019), and Longlegs (2024). On television, he played a leading role in the 2000 medical drama City of Angels, and also had regular roles in High Incident (1996–97), LAX (2004–05), Dirty Sexy Money (2007–09), In Treatment (2008), The Event (2010–11), Ironside (2013) and Quantico (2016–18). Underwood has received two Golden Globe Award nominations, one Tony Award nomination, five NAACP Image Awards, one Daytime Emmy Award, and one Grammy Award.

## Early life

Underwood was born in Tacoma, Washington, the son of Marilyn Ann Scales, an interior decorator, and Frank Eugene Underwood Sr., a United States Army colonel. Frank Sr. was an Army ranger and paratrooper who was wounded in the Vietnam War. Underwood lived on bases and Army Posts in the United States and Stuttgart, Germany throughout his childhood due to his father's military career. Blair attended Petersburg High School in Petersburg, Virginia. He went on to attend the Carnegie Mellon School of Drama in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and is an honorary member of the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity.

## Career

After his film debut, Krush Groove, Underwood's 1985 appearance on The Cosby Show landed him a short stint for three months on the ABC soap opera One Life to Live as Bobby Blue. He later co-starred in the short-lived CBS crime drama series Downtown from 1986 to 1987, and guest-starred on Scarecrow and Mrs. King and 21 Jump Street.
In 1987, Underwood, at the age of 23, was cast as attorney Jonathan Rollins in the NBC legal drama series L.A. Law. He received Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film in 1991. The series ended in 1994. In 1990, he played James Chaney in the NBC television film Murder in Mississippi. In 1993, he co-starred in the western film Posse starring Mario Van Peebles. After L.A. Law, he starred in a number of movies, In 1995 he appeared in the legal thriller Just Cause, and the following year played Jada Pinkett's love interest in the heist film Set It Off. He also had a supporting role as a geneticist in the science fiction film Gattaca (1997) and in the disaster film Deep Impact (1998). In 1996, he was featured in the July issue of erotic magazine Playgirl.
In 1996, Underwood returned to series television with ABC police drama series, High Incident. He co-starred opposite Cicely Tyson in the 1998 miniseries Mama Flora's Family. In 2000, he played the lead role in the short-lived CBS medical drama series City of Angels. Underwood was voted one of People magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People" in 2000, and one of TV Guide magazine's "Most Influential Faces of the 90s". 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 short-lived drama LAX. In 2006, he appeared in the Tyler Perry's second film, Madea's Family Reunion. He had a recurring role as the sexy grade school teacher in the CBS sitcom The New Adventures of Old Christine opposite Julia Louis-Dreyfus from 2006 to 2008. In 2007, he guest starred in an episode of the NBC series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. In 2007, Underwood portrayed Jesus Christ in Inspired By... The Bible Experience, an 89-hour, celebrity-voiced, fully dramatized audio Bible based on Today's New International Version. Also in 2007, Underwood co-authored the novel Casanegra: A Tennyson Hardwick Novel with husband-and-wife team Steven Barnes and Tananarive Due.
In 2008, Underwood starred in the first season of the HBO drama series In Treatment, for which he was nominated for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film at the 2009 Golden Globes. From 2007 to 2009, he was regular cast member in the ABC prime time soap opera, Dirty Sexy Money.
In 2010–2011, Underwood portrayed United States President Elias Martinez in the NBC drama series The Event. In 2010, Underwood portrayed the role of Saint Mark in The Truth & Life Dramatized Audio New Testament Bible, a 22-hour, celebrity-voiced, fully dramatized audio New Testament, based on the RSV-CE translation. In 2012, he played the lead role of Stanley in the Broadway revival of A Streetcar Named Desire.
In 2013, Underwood played the role of Robert Ironside in the remake of the successful 1960s television series, Ironside, made famous by the late Raymond Burr. The show was cancelled after three episodes. The following year, he appeared in The Trip to Bountiful opposite Cicely Tyson. From 2015 to 2016, he had a recurring role in the ABC series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. In 2016, Underwood was cast in the ABC thriller series Quantico for the series regular role of CIA Deputy Director, Owen Hall. The series was canceled after three seasons in 2018.
In 2019, Underwood played attorney Bobby Burns in the Netflix miniseries When They See Us. The following year, he co-starred opposite Octavia Spencer in the Netflix miniseries Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker. Underwood has been a frequent guest narrator at Disney's Candlelight Processional, narrating the event in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2018, and 2021.
In January 2020, Underwood appeared on stage as Captain Richard Davenport in the Roundabout Theatre Company's Broadway revival of Charles Fuller's Pulitzer Prize-winning drama A Soldier's Play.

## Personal life

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. In addition, he is involved with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation's Blair Underwood Clinic in Washington, DC.
On June 24, 2023 he married his longtime friend, Josie Hart.
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.
He supported President Barack Obama's candidacy and spoke at campaign rallies for him. Underwood got to know former President Obama while researching his L.A. Law role at Harvard Law School, while the would-be President Obama was president of the Harvard Law Review.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1985 | Krush Groove | Russell Walker | |
| 1992 | The Second Coming | Jesus | Short |
| 1993 | Posse | Sheriff Carver | |
| 1995 | Just Cause | Bobby Earl Ferguson | |
| 1996 | Set It Off | Keith Weston | |
| 1997 | Gattaca | Geneticist | |
| 1998 | Sister I'm Sorry | Himself | Short |
| 1998 | Deep Impact | Mark Simon | |
| 1999 | Asunder | Chance Williams | |
| 1999 | The Wishing Tree | "Magic Man" | |
| 2000 | Rules of Engagement | Captain Lee, USMC | |
| 2002 | Truth Be Told | Detective Harris | |
| 2002 | G | Chip Hightower | |
| 2002 | Full Frontal | Calvin / Nicholas | |
| 2003 | Malibu's Most Wanted | Tom Gibbons | |
| 2004 | Fronterz | Unknown | |
| 2004 | Do Geese See God? | Man | |
| 2005 | The Golden Blaze | Gregory Fletcher/The Golden Blaze (voice) | |
| 2006 | Something New | Mark Harper | |
| 2006 | Madea's Family Reunion | Carlos | |
| 2006 | Company Town | Tom Wilson | Short |
| 2007 | The Hit | Hen | |
| 2009 | Weather Girl | Weather Girl | |
| 2010 | From Cape Town with Love | Tennyson Hardwick | Short |
| 2010 | I Will Follow | Evan | |
| 2011 | The Art of Getting By | Principal Bill Martinson | |
| 2012 | Woman Thou Art Loosed: On the 7th Day | David Ames | |
| 2018 | The After Party | Sergeant Martin Ellison | |
| 2019 | Juanita | Himself | |
| 2020 | Bad Hair | Amos Bludso | |
| 2020 | Really Love | Jerome Richmond | |
| 2023 | Origin | Amari | |
| 2024 | Longlegs | Agent Carter | |
| TBA | Viral | Andrew | Also director |
| TBA | One Spoon of Chocolate | TBA | Post-production |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1985 | Knight Rider | Potts | Episode: "Knight of the Juggernaut: Part 1" |
| 1985 | The Cosby Show | Denise's Friend/Mark | Guest cast (season 1–2) |
| 1985 | One Life to Live | Bobby Blue | Regular cast |
| 1986 | Soul Train | Himself | Episode: "Melba Moore/Freddie Jackson/Beau Williams" |
| 1986–87 | Downtown | Terry Corsaro | Main cast |
| 1987 | Scarecrow and Mrs. King | Stillman | Episode: "All That Glitters" |
| 1987 | 21 Jump Street | Reginald Brooks | Episode: "Gotta Finish the Riff" |
| 1987–94 | L.A. Law | Jonathan Rollins | Main cast (season 2–8) |
| 1988 | Mickey's 60th Birthday | Johnathon Rollins | TV movie |
| 1989 | The Cover Girl and the Cop | Horace Bouchet | TV movie |
| 1990 | Murder in Mississippi | James Chaney | TV movie |
| 1990 | Heat Wave | Robert Richardson | TV movie |
| 1990 | Rose Parade | Himself/Co-Host | Main co-host |
| 1991 | Showtime at the Apollo | Himself/Co-Host | Episode: "Episode #5.9" |
| 1991 | Sesame Street | Himself | Episode: "Episode #23.7" |
| 1991 | A Different World | Zelmer Collier | Episode: "War and Peace" |
| 1991 | American Experience | Lewis Douglass | Episode: "The Massachusetts 54th Colored Infantry" |
| 1993 | Father & Son: Dangerous Relations | Jared Williams | TV movie |
| 1994 | ABC Afterschool Special | Himself | Episode: "I Hate the Way I Look" |
| 1996 | Soul of the Game | Jackie Robinson | TV movie |
| 1996 | Mistrial | Lieutenant C. Hodges | TV movie |
| 1996 | Duckman | Himself (voice) | Episode: "Pig Amok" |
| 1996–97 | High Incident | Officer Michael Rhoades | Main cast (season 2) |
| 1997 | Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child | King Midas (voice) | Episode: "King Midas and the Golden Touch" |
| 1998 | Mama Flora's Family | Willie | Episode: "Part 1 & 2" |
| 1999 | NAACP Image Awards | Himself/Co-Host | Main co-host |
| 2000 | Linc's | Himself | Episode: "A Dry White Season" |
| 2000 | City of Angels | Dr. Ben Turner | Main cast |
| 2001 | Biography | Himself | Episode: "Kim Fields: A Little Somethin' Somethin'" |
| 2001 | Great Performances | Himself/Narrator | Episode: "Free to Dance" |
| 2002 | Inside TV Land | Himself | Episode: "Inside TV Land: African Americans in Television – Variety" |
| 2003 | The Jamie Kennedy Experiment | Himself | 2 episodes |
| 2003–04 | Sex and the City | Dr. Robert Leeds | Recurring cast (season 6) |
| 2004 | TV Land's Top Ten | Himself | Episode: "Top 10 TV Cars" |
| 2004–05 | LAX | Roger De Souza | Main cast |
| 2004–05 | Fatherhood | Dr. Arthur Bindlebeep (voice) | Main cast |
| 2005 | Half & Half | Himself | Episode: "The Big Pomp & Circumstance Episode" |
| 2006–10 | The New Adventures of Old Christine | Daniel Harris | Recurring cast (season 2–3), guest (season 5) |
| 2006 | Covert One: The Hades Factor | Palmer Addison | Episode: "Part 1 & 2" |
| 2007 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Miles Sennett | Episode: "Burned" |
| 2007–09 | Dirty Sexy Money | Simon Elder | Main cast |
| 2008 | In Treatment | Alex | Recurring cast (season 1) |
| 2010–11 | The Event | President Elias Martinez | Main cast |
| 2011 | Vietnam in HD | Charles J. Brown | Main cast |
| 2012 | Unsung | Himself | Episode: "Full Force" |
| 2012 | Who Do You Think You Are? | Himself | Episode: "Blair Underwood" |
| 2012 | Superman of Tokyo | Superman of Tokyo | Episode: "Part 1 & 2" |
| 2012–13 | The Secret Millionaire | Himself/Narrator | Main narrator |
| 2013 | Thunder and Lightning | Black Lightning | Recurring cast (season 1) |
| 2013 | Ironside | Robert Ironside | Main cast |
| 2014 | The Trip to Bountiful | Ludie Watts | TV movie |
| 2015 | Jake and the Never Land Pirates | Captain Wraith (voice) | Recurring cast (season 4) |
| 2016 | Against the Odds | Himself/Narrator | Main narrator |
| 2016 | Unsung Hollywood | Himself | Episode: "Tim Reid" |
| 2016 | The Good Wife | Harry Dargis | Episode: "Shoot" |
| 2016 | Sofia the First | Sir Jaxon (voice) | Episode: "The Secret Library: The Tale of the Noble Knight" |
| 2015–16 | Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. | Andrew Garner | Recurring cast (season 2-3) |
| 2016–18 | Quantico | Owen Hall | Main cast (season 2–3) |
| 2016–19 | The Lion Guard | Makuu (voice) | Recurring cast (season 1–2), guest (season 3) |
| 2016-2017 | Give | Himself | Episode: "Give to Veterans Who Are Adjusting to Life After Service"; also executive producer |
| 2019 | When They See Us | Bobby Burns | Episode: "Part 2 & 4" |
| 2019 | Dear White People | Professor Moses Brown | Recurring cast (season 3) |
| 2020 | Self Made | Charles James Walker | Main cast |
| 2020 | Your Honor | Roland Carter | Episode: "Part One" |
| 2021 | Independent Lens | Himself/Narrator | Episode: "Mr. Soul!" |
| 2021 | Impeachment: American Crime Story | Vernon Jordan | Recurring cast |
| 2021 | Love Life | Leon Hines | Episode: "Suzanné Hayward & Leon Hines" |
| 2023 | Black Pop: Celebrating the Power of Black Culture | Himself | Recurring guest |
| 2023 | See It Loud: The History of Black Television | Himself | Recurring guest |
| 2024 | Elsbeth | Cliff McGrath | Episode: "Ball Girl" |
| 2024 | Three Women | Richard | |

### Documentary

| Year | Title |
| 1998 | Men of Alaye: The Hottest Black Men in America |
| 2006 | Wilder: An American First |
| 2007 | Operation Homecoming |
| 2008 | Barack Obama: Who Is This Guy? |
| 2009 | President Barack Obama: The Man and His Journey |
| 2011 | First Generation |
| 2012 | It's a Hard Act to Follow |
| 2016 | Olympic Pride, American Prejudice |
| 2018 | Mr. Soul! |
| 2020 | Penguins: Life on the Edge |
| 2022 | Bear Witness |
| 2024 | Clinton: Portrait of a Presidency |

### Music videos

| Year | Artist | Song |
| 1989 | Michael Jackson | "Liberian Girl" |
| 2007 | Joe | "If I Was Your Man" |

### Video games

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2008 | The Legend of Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon | Hunter | Voice role |