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
One Spoon of Chocolate
2025
Guardians of the Galapagos
Self - Narrator (voice)
2025
Clinton: Portrait of a Presidency
Narrator
2024
Longlegs
Agent Carter
2024
Tigers on the Rise
Narrator (voice)
2024
Origin
Amari Selvan
2023
Black Patriots: Buffalo Soldiers
Narrator (voice)
2022
Bear Witness
Narrator (voice)
2022
Bad Hair
Amos Bludso
2021
A Soldier's Play
Captain Richard Davenport
2021
Really Love
Jerome Richmond
2020
Penguins: Life on the Edge
Narrator (voice)
2020
The Paley Center Salutes Law & Order: SVU
Self
2020
Juanita
Blair Underwood
2019
The After Party
Sgt. Martin Ellison
2018
Mr. SOUL!
Ellis Haizlip (voice)
2018
Olympic Pride, American Prejudice
Narrator (voice)
2016
The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar
Makuu (voice)
2016
The Trip to Bountiful
Ludie Watts
2014
Woman Thou Art Loosed: On the 7th Day
David Ames
2012
The Art of Getting By
Principal
2011
First Generation
Narrator
2011
Weather Girl
Fitz
2009
The Hit
Henry Alabaster
2007
Madea's Family Reunion
Carlos
2006
Something New
Mark Harper
2006
Covert One: The Hades Factor
Palmer Addison
2006
The Golden Blaze
Gregory Fletcher (voice)
2005
Do Geese See God
Man
2004
The Gristle
Self (uncredited)
2004
Malibu's Most Wanted
Tom Gibbsons
2003
Full Frontal
Calvin / Nicholas
2002
G
Chip Hightower
2002
Truth Be Told
Det. Harris
2002
Rules of Engagement
Capt. Lee
2000
The Wishing Tree
Thomas
1999
Asunder
Chance Williams
1998
Deep Impact
Mark Simon
1998
Gattaca
Geneticist
1997
Set It Off
Keith
1996
Mistrial
Lieutenant C. Hodges
1996
Soul of the Game
Jackie Robinson
1996
Just Cause
Bobby Earl Ferguson
1995
Posse
Carver
1993
Father & Son: Dangerous Relations
Jared Williams
1993
Voices That Care
Self - Choir Member
1991
Memorial: Letters from American Soldiers
Reader
1991
The Massachusetts 54th Colored Infantry
Self
1991
Heat Wave
Bob Richardson
1990
Murder in Mississippi
James Chaney
1990
The Cover Girl and the Cop
Horace Bouchet
1989
Mickey's 60th Birthday
Jonathan Rollins
1988
Krush Groove
Russell Walker
1985
Viral
Three Women
Richard · (10 episodes)
2024
Elsbeth
Cliff McGrath · (1 episode)
2024
Smothered
(6 episodes)
2023
The Jennifer Hudson Show
Self · (1 episode)
2022
Your Honor
Roland Carter · (1 episode)
2020
Love Life
Leon Hines · (1 episode)
2020
Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker
Charles James Walker · (4 episodes)
2020
Tamron Hall
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
2019
When They See Us
Bobby Burns · (2 episodes)
2019
American Crime Story
Vernon Jordan · (3 episodes)
2016
Quantico
Owen Hall · (35 episodes)
2015
Ironside
Robert Ironside · (9 episodes)
2013
Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Andrew Garner · (10 episodes)
2013
Thunder and Lightning
Black Lightning (voice) · (2 episodes)
2013
Celebrity Crime Files
Narrator (voice) · (8 episodes)
2012
スーパーマン @ Tokyo
Superman / Narrator (voice) · (2 episodes)
2012
Vietnam in HD
Charles Brown · (6 episodes)
2011
The Event
Elias Martinez · (22 episodes)
2010
Who Do You Think You Are?
Self · (1 episode)
2010
The Good Wife
Harry Dargis · (1 episode)
2009
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
2009
In Treatment
Alex Prince · (9 episodes)
2008
Dirty Sexy Money
Simon Elder · (23 episodes)
2007
Covert One: The Hades Factor
Palmer Addison · (2 episodes)
2006
The New Adventures of Old Christine
Daniel Harris · (9 episodes)
2006
The Tyra Banks Show
(1 episode)
2005
The Tony Danza Show
Self · (2 episodes)
2004
LAX
Roger De Souza · (13 episodes)
2004
Fatherhood
(26 episodes)
2004
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
Self · (1 episode)
2003
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Self · (1 episode)
2003
Half & Half
Himself · (1 episode)
2002
City of Angels
Ben Turner · (25 episodes)
2000
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Miles Sennet · (1 episode)
1999
Mama Flora's Family
Willie · (2 episodes)
1998
Sex and the City
Dr. Robert Leeds · (5 episodes)
1998
The View
Self · (1 episode)
1997
The Rosie O'Donnell Show
Self · (1 episode)
1996
High Incident
(32 episodes)
1996
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child
King Midas (voice) · (1 episode)
1995
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
Self · (2 episodes)
1988
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
1988
A Different World
Zelmer Collier · (1 episode)
1987
21 Jump Street
Reginald Brooks · (1 episode)
1987
Downtown
Terry Corsaro · (13 episodes)
1986
L.A. Law
Jonathan Rollins · (149 episodes)
1986
The Cosby Show
Mark · (1 episode)
1984
Aspel & Company
(1 episode)
1984
Scarecrow and Mrs. King
(1 episode)
1983
Knight Rider
Potts · (1 episode)
1982
Company Town
(1 episode)
Tony Awards
Self - Presenter · (1 episode)
1956
Golden Globe Awards
Self - Nominee · (2 episodes)
1944
Golden Globe Awards
Self - Audience Member · (1 episode)
1944