Blair Underwood

Blair Underwood

Acting
Born 1964-08-25Tacoma, Washington, USA

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".

Movies (60)

Gattaca
7.6

Gattaca

1997Movie7.6
Deep Impact
6.2

Deep Impact

1998Movie6.2
Longlegs
6.5

Longlegs

2024Movie6.5
Set It Off
7.2

Set It Off

1996Movie7.2
Rules of Engagement
6.2

Rules of Engagement

2000Movie6.2
Bear Witness
6.0

Bear Witness

2022Movie6.0
Just Cause
6.3

Just Cause

1995Movie6.3
Something New
6.4

Something New

2006Movie6.4
Madea's Family Reunion
6.3

Madea's Family Reunion

2006Movie6.3
Youngblood
6.9

Youngblood

2026Movie6.9
The Art of Getting By
6.6

The Art of Getting By

2011Movie6.6
Sesame Street's 25th Birthday: A Musical Celebration
7.0

Sesame Street's 25th Birthday: A Musical Celebration

1993Movie7.0
Full Frontal
4.6

Full Frontal

2002Movie4.6
Posse
5.5

Posse

1993Movie5.5
Origin
6.2

Origin

2023Movie6.2
Bad Hair
5.6

Bad Hair

2021Movie5.6
Malibu's Most Wanted
5.4

Malibu's Most Wanted

2003Movie5.4
G
6.6

G

2002Movie6.6
Tigers on the Rise
7.8

Tigers on the Rise

2024Movie7.8
The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar
6.7

The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar

2016Movie6.7
Really Love
6.4

Really Love

2020Movie6.4
Weather Girl
5.6

Weather Girl

2009Movie5.6
Broken

Broken

2016Movie
Krush Groove
6.4

Krush Groove

1985Movie6.4
One Spoon of Chocolate
5.6

One Spoon of Chocolate

2026Movie5.6
Mistrial
5.3

Mistrial

1996Movie5.3
The Gristle
6.3

The Gristle

2004Movie6.3
Mickey's 60th Birthday
6.8

Mickey's 60th Birthday

1988Movie6.8
Heat Wave
6.8

Heat Wave

1990Movie6.8
Covert One: The Hades Factor
5.9

Covert One: The Hades Factor

2006Movie5.9
Voices That Care
7.0

Voices That Care

1991Movie7.0
A Soldier's Play

A Soldier's Play

2021Movie
The Massachusetts 54th Colored Infantry
4.3

The Massachusetts 54th Colored Infantry

1991Movie4.3
The After Party
6.1

The After Party

2018Movie6.1
The Trip to Bountiful
6.2

The Trip to Bountiful

2014Movie6.2
Penguins: Life on the Edge
7.7

Penguins: Life on the Edge

2020Movie7.7
Soul of the Game
4.9

Soul of the Game

1996Movie4.9
Don't Ever Wonder

Don't Ever Wonder

Movie
Juanita
5.4

Juanita

2019Movie5.4
The Paley Center Salutes Law & Order: SVU
9.7

The Paley Center Salutes Law & Order: SVU

2020Movie9.7
Mr. SOUL!
7.0

Mr. SOUL!

2018Movie7.0
Father & Son: Dangerous Relations
6.2

Father & Son: Dangerous Relations

1993Movie6.2
Asunder
8.5

Asunder

1998Movie8.5
Setting it Straight: Making ‘Set it Off’

Setting it Straight: Making ‘Set it Off’

2009Movie
Viral

Viral

Movie
Guardians of the Galapagos
7.2

Guardians of the Galapagos

2025Movie7.2
Murder in Mississippi
6.9

Murder in Mississippi

1990Movie6.9
The Cover Girl and the Cop
6.0

The Cover Girl and the Cop

1989Movie6.0
Truth Be Told
7.3

Truth Be Told

2002Movie7.3
Woman Thou Art Loosed: On the 7th Day
4.1

Woman Thou Art Loosed: On the 7th Day

2012Movie4.1
Memorial: Letters from American Soldiers
6.3

Memorial: Letters from American Soldiers

1991Movie6.3
Clinton: Portrait of a Presidency

Clinton: Portrait of a Presidency

2024Movie
The Golden Blaze
3.7

The Golden Blaze

2005Movie3.7
The Listeners

The Listeners

Movie
The Wishing Tree
7.5

The Wishing Tree

1999Movie7.5
First Generation

First Generation

2011Movie
Do Geese See God
6.5

Do Geese See God

2004Movie6.5
The Hit
5.0

The Hit

2007Movie5.0
Black Patriots: Buffalo Soldiers

Black Patriots: Buffalo Soldiers

2022Movie
Olympic Pride, American Prejudice
7.0

Olympic Pride, American Prejudice

2016Movie7.0

TV Shows (54)

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
4.9

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen

2009Series4.9
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
8.0

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

1999Series8.0
The Good Wife
7.6

The Good Wife

2009Series7.6
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
5.3

Jimmy Kimmel Live!

2003Series5.3
The Jennifer Hudson Show
5.6

The Jennifer Hudson Show

2022Series5.6
The View
4.3

The View

1997Series4.3
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
5.6

LIVE with Kelly and Mark

1988Series5.6
Sex and the City
7.4

Sex and the City

1998Series7.4
Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
7.5

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

2013Series7.5
Knight Rider
7.5

Knight Rider

1982Series7.5
Golden Globe Awards
7.0

Golden Globe Awards

1944Series7.0
L.A. Law
7.1

L.A. Law

1986Series7.1
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
5.6

The Ellen DeGeneres Show

2003Series5.6
Tony Awards

Tony Awards

1956Series
21 Jump Street
7.3

21 Jump Street

1987Series7.3
American Crime Story
7.6

American Crime Story

2016Series7.6
Elsbeth
6.7

Elsbeth

2024Series6.7
The Cosby Show
7.0

The Cosby Show

1984Series7.0
Tamron Hall
4.5

Tamron Hall

2019Series4.5
A Different World
7.1

A Different World

1987Series7.1
Scarecrow and Mrs. King
6.7

Scarecrow and Mrs. King

1983Series6.7
In Treatment
7.7

In Treatment

2008Series7.7
The Tyra Banks Show
5.0

The Tyra Banks Show

2005Series5.0
The Tony Danza Show
6.4

The Tony Danza Show

2004Series6.4
Quantico
6.5

Quantico

2015Series6.5
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child
6.3

Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child

1995Series6.3
The New Adventures of Old Christine
7.2

The New Adventures of Old Christine

2006Series7.2
Your Honor
8.1

Your Honor

2020Series8.1
The Lion Guard
7.7

The Lion Guard

2016Series7.7
Half & Half
8.3

Half & Half

2002Series8.3
The Event
6.4

The Event

2010Series6.4
The Word
6.0

The Word

1990Series6.0
Dirty Sexy Money
6.2

Dirty Sexy Money

2007Series6.2
When They See Us
8.2

When They See Us

2019Series8.2
Who Do You Think You Are?
6.9

Who Do You Think You Are?

2010Series6.9
Love Life
6.9

Love Life

2020Series6.9
The Rosie O'Donnell Show
4.1

The Rosie O'Donnell Show

1996Series4.1
High Incident
8.0

High Incident

1996Series8.0
LAX
7.3

LAX

2004Series7.3
Ironside
5.0

Ironside

2013Series5.0
Aspel & Company

Aspel & Company

1984Series
Three Women
6.1

Three Women

2024Series6.1
スーパーマン @ Tokyo
6.0

スーパーマン @ Tokyo

2012Series6.0
Downtown
7.0

Downtown

1986Series7.0
City of Angels
9.0

City of Angels

2000Series9.0
Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker
7.5

Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker

2020Series7.5
Celebrity Crime Files

Celebrity Crime Files

2012Series
Vietnam in HD
7.6

Vietnam in HD

2011Series7.6
Fatherhood
4.8

Fatherhood

2004Series4.8
Thunder and Lightning
7.0

Thunder and Lightning

2013Series7.0
Covert One: The Hades Factor
5.4

Covert One: The Hades Factor

2006Series5.4
Smothered
5.0

Smothered

2023Series5.0
Mama Flora's Family
7.6

Mama Flora's Family

1998Series7.6
Company Town

Company Town

Series