Blair Underwood
Acting
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
Acting114
movieOne Spoon of Chocolate
2026
Officer Beem
movieYoungblood
2026
Blane Youngblood
movieGuardians of the Galapagos
2025
Narrator (voice)
movieClinton: Portrait of a Presidency
2024
Narrator (voice)
tvThree Women
2024
Richard
movieLonglegs
2024
Agent Carter
movieTigers on the Rise
2024
Narrator (voice)
tvElsbeth
2024
Cliff McGrath
movieOrigin
2023
Amari Selvan
tvThe Jennifer Hudson Show
2022
Self - Guest
movieBlack Patriots: Buffalo Soldiers
2022
Narrator (voice)
movieBear Witness
2022
Narrator (voice)
movieBad Hair
2021
Amos Bludso
movieA Soldier's Play
2021
Captain Richard Davenport
tvYour Honor
2020
Roland Carter
movieReally Love
2020
Jerome Richmond
tvLove Life
2020
Leon Hines
moviePenguins: Life on the Edge
2020
Narrator (voice)
tvSelf Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker
2020
Charles James Walker
tvTamron Hall
2019
Self - Guest
tvWhen They See Us
2019
Bobby Burns
movieJuanita
2019
Blair Underwood
movieThe After Party
2018
Sgt. Martin Ellison
movieMr. SOUL!
2018
Ellis Haizlip (voice)
movieOlympic Pride, American Prejudice
2016
Narrator (voice)
tvAmerican Crime Story
2016
Vernon Jordan
movieThe Lion Guard: Return of the Roar
2016
Makuu (voice)
tvThe Lion Guard
2016
Makuu (voice)
tvQuantico
2015
Owen Hall
movieThe Trip to Bountiful
2014
Ludie Watts
tvIronside
2013
Robert Ironside
tvMarvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
2013
Andrew Garner
tvThunder and Lightning
2013
Black Lightning (voice)
tvCelebrity Crime Files
2012
Narrator (voice)
tvスーパーマン @ Tokyo
2012
Superman / Narrator (voice)
tvVietnam in HD
2011
Charles Brown
movieThe Art of Getting By
2011
Principal
First Generation
2011
Narrator (voice)
tvThe Event
2010
Elias Martinez
tvThe Good Wife
2009
Harry Dargis
tvWatch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
2009
Self - Guest
tvIn Treatment
2008
Alex Prince
The Hit
2007
Henry Alabaster
tvDirty Sexy Money
2007
Simon Elder
tvCovert One: The Hades Factor
2006
Palmer Addison
tvThe New Adventures of Old Christine
2006
Daniel Harris
movieSomething New
2006
Mark Harper
movieCovert One: The Hades Factor
2006
Palmer Addison
movieThe Golden Blaze
2005
Gregory Fletcher (voice)
tvLAX
2004
Roger De Souza
movieThe Gristle
2004
Self (uncredited)
movieMalibu's Most Wanted
2003
Tom Gibbsons
tvJimmy Kimmel Live!
2003
Self - Guest
tvHalf & Half
2002
Blair Underwood
movieFull Frontal
2002
Calvin / Nicholas
movieG
2002
Chip Hightower
movieTruth Be Told
2002
Det. Harris
movieRules of Engagement
2000
Capt. Lee
tvCity of Angels
2000
Ben Turner
tvLaw & Order: Special Victims Unit
1999
Miles Sennet
movieAsunder
1998
Chance Williams
tvSex and the City
1998
Dr. Robert Leeds
movieDeep Impact
1998
Mark Simon
tvThe View
1997
Self
movieGattaca
1997
Geneticist
movieSet It Off
1996
Keith
movieMistrial
1996
Lieutenant C. Hodges
movieSoul of the Game
1996
Jackie Robinson
tvHappily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child
1995
King Midas (voice)
movieJust Cause
1995
Bobby Earl Ferguson
movieSesame Street Jam: A Musical Celebration
1993
Self (segment "Monster in the Mirror")
moviePosse
1993
Carver
movieFather & Son: Dangerous Relations
1993
Jared Williams
movieVoices That Care
1991
Self - Choir Member
movieHeat Wave
1990
Bob Richardson
movieMurder in Mississippi
1990
James Chaney
movieThe Cover Girl and the Cop
1989
Horace Bouchet
movieMickey's 60th Birthday
1988
Jonathan Rollins
tvLIVE with Kelly and Mark
1988
Self / Self - Guest
tvA Different World
1987
Zelmer Collier
tv21 Jump Street
1987
Reginald Brooks
tvDowntown
1986
Terry Corsaro
tvL.A. Law
1986
Jonathan Rollins
movieKrush Groove
1985
Russell Walker
tvKnight Rider
1982
Potts
tvTony Awards
1956
Self - Presenter
tvGolden Globe Awards
1944
Self - Nominee / Self - Audience Member
The Listeners
Dr. Thomas Hale
Company Town
Tom Wilson
Production5
movieClinton: Portrait of a Presidency
2024
Executive Producer
movieMr. SOUL!
2018
Executive Producer
movieOlympic Pride, American Prejudice
2016
Executive Producer
The Hit
2007
Producer
Directing2
movieThe Bridge to Nowhere
2009
Director
Viral
Director