Blair Underwood
Biography
Blair Underwood is an American television and film actor born on August 25, 1964, in Tacoma, Washington. He is perhaps best known for his role as headstrong attorney Jonathan Rollins in the NBC legal drama L.A. Law, a character he played for seven years from 1987 to 1994. Throughout his career, he has received numerous accolades, including multiple NAACP Image Awards, Golden Globe Award nominations, and a Grammy Award, alongside nominations for a Tony Award and a Daytime Emmy Award. His early career featured his feature film debut in the 1985 movie Krush Groove, an appearance on The Cosby Show, and a stint on the ABC soap opera One Life to Live, followed later by film roles including Just Cause in 1995.
Career overview
Blair Underwood is an American television and film actor born on August 25, 1964, in Tacoma, Washington. Throughout his career, he has earned critical acclaim and recognition, receiving Golden Globe Award nominations, NAACP Image Awards, a Grammy Award, a Tony Award nomination, and a Daytime Emmy Award.
His feature film debut occurred in the 1985 movie Krush Groove. Following an appearance on The Cosby Show in 1985, he secured a short stint on the ABC soap opera One Life to Live. This television work eventually led to his role as headstrong attorney Jonathan Rollins in the NBC legal drama L.A. Law, a character he portrayed for seven years from 1987 to 1994.
He later expanded his career into additional film and television projects, with other notable credits associated with his filmography including Just Cause, Set It Off, Gattaca, When They See Us, and American Crime Story.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
124 titles- One Spoon of Chocolate (2026) as Officer Beem
- Youngblood (2026) as Blane Youngblood
- Guardians of the Galapagos (2025) as Narrator (voice)
- Elsbeth (2024) as Cliff McGrath
- Longlegs (2024) as Agent Carter
- Three Women (2024) as Richard
- Tigers on the Rise (2024) as Narrator (voice)
- Clinton: Portrait of a Presidency (2024) as Narrator (voice)
- Clinton: Portrait of a Presidency (2024) Executive Producer
- Origin (2023) as Amari Selvan
- Smothered (2023)
- The Jennifer Hudson Show (2022) as Self - Guest
- Bear Witness (2022) as Narrator (voice)
- Black Patriots: Buffalo Soldiers (2022) as Narrator (voice)
- Bad Hair (2021) as Amos Bludso
- A Soldier's Play (2021) as Captain Richard Davenport
- Your Honor (2020) as Roland Carter
- Love Life (2020) as Leon Hines
- Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker (2020) as Charles James Walker
- Really Love (2020) as Jerome Richmond
- The Paley Center Salutes Law & Order: SVU (2020) as Self
- Penguins: Life on the Edge (2020) as Narrator (voice)
- Tamron Hall (2019) as Self - Guest
- When They See Us (2019) as Bobby Burns
- Juanita (2019) as Blair Underwood
- Mr. SOUL! (2018) as Ellis Haizlip (voice)
- Mr. SOUL! (2018) Executive Producer
- The After Party (2018) as Sgt. Martin Ellison
- American Crime Story (2016) as Vernon Jordan
- The Lion Guard (2016) as Makuu (voice)
- The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar (2016) as Makuu (voice)
- Broken (2016)
- Olympic Pride, American Prejudice (2016) as Narrator (voice)
- Olympic Pride, American Prejudice (2016) Executive Producer
- Quantico (2015) as Owen Hall
- The Trip to Bountiful (2014) as Ludie Watts
- Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2013) as Andrew Garner
- Ironside (2013) as Robert Ironside
- Thunder and Lightning (2013) as Black Lightning (voice)
- Celebrity Crime Files (2012) as Narrator (voice)
- スーパーマン @ Tokyo (2012) as Superman / Narrator (voice)
- Woman Thou Art Loosed: On the 7th Day (2012) as David Ames
- Woman Thou Art Loosed: On the 7th Day (2012) Producer
- The Art of Getting By (2011) as Principal
- Vietnam in HD (2011) as Charles Brown
- First Generation (2011) as Narrator (voice)
- Who Do You Think You Are? (2010) as Self
- The Event (2010) as Elias Martinez
- Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen (2009) as Self - Guest
- The Good Wife (2009) as Harry Dargis
- Weather Girl (2009) as Fitz
- The Bridge to Nowhere (2009) Director
- The Bridge to Nowhere (2009) Writer
- Setting it Straight: Making ‘Set it Off’ (2009) as Self
- In Treatment (2008) as Alex Prince
- Dirty Sexy Money (2007) as Simon Elder
- The Hit (2007) as Henry Alabaster
- The Hit (2007) Producer
- The New Adventures of Old Christine (2006) as Daniel Harris
- Madea's Family Reunion (2006) as Carlos
- Something New (2006) as Mark Harper
- Covert One: The Hades Factor (2006) as Palmer Addison
- Covert One: The Hades Factor (2006) as Palmer Addison
- The Tyra Banks Show (2005)
- The Golden Blaze (2005) as Gregory Fletcher (voice)
- The Tony Danza Show (2004) as Self
- LAX (2004) as Roger De Souza
- Fatherhood (2004)
- The Gristle (2004) as Self (uncredited)
- Do Geese See God (2004) as Man
- Jimmy Kimmel Live! (2003) as Self - Guest
- The Ellen DeGeneres Show (2003) as Self
- Malibu's Most Wanted (2003) as Tom Gibbsons
- Half & Half (2002) as Blair Underwood
- Full Frontal (2002) as Calvin / Nicholas
- G (2002) as Chip Hightower
- Truth Be Told (2002) as Det. Harris
- City of Angels (2000) as Ben Turner
- Rules of Engagement (2000) as Capt. Lee
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999) as Miles Sennet
- The Wishing Tree (1999) as Thomas
- Sex and the City (1998) as Dr. Robert Leeds
- Deep Impact (1998) as Mark Simon
- Mama Flora's Family (1998) as Willie
- Asunder (1998) as Chance Williams
- The View (1997) as Self
- Gattaca (1997) as Geneticist
- High Incident (1996)
- The Rosie O'Donnell Show (1996) as Self
- Set It Off (1996) as Keith
- Mistrial (1996) as Lieutenant C. Hodges
- Soul of the Game (1996) as Jackie Robinson
- Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child (1995) as King Midas (voice)
- Just Cause (1995) as Bobby Earl Ferguson
- Posse (1993) as Carver
- Father & Son: Dangerous Relations (1993) as Jared Williams
- Sesame Street Jam: A Musical Celebration (1993) as Self (segment "Monster in the Mirror")
- Voices That Care (1991) as Self - Choir Member
- The Massachusetts 54th Colored Infantry (1991) as Self
- Memorial: Letters from American Soldiers (1991) as Reader
- The Word (1990)
- Murder in Mississippi (1990) as James Chaney
- Heat Wave (1990) as Bob Richardson
- The Cover Girl and the Cop (1989) as Horace Bouchet
- LIVE with Kelly and Mark (1988) as Self
- LIVE with Kelly and Mark (1988) as Self - Guest
- Mickey's 60th Birthday (1988) as Jonathan Rollins
- 21 Jump Street (1987) as Reginald Brooks
- A Different World (1987) as Zelmer Collier
- L.A. Law (1986) as Jonathan Rollins
- Downtown (1986) as Terry Corsaro
- Krush Groove (1985) as Russell Walker
- The Cosby Show (1984) as Mark
- Aspel & Company (1984)
- Scarecrow and Mrs. King (1983)
- Knight Rider (1982) as Potts
- Tony Awards (1956) as Self - Presenter
- Golden Globe Awards (1944) as Self - Nominee
- Golden Globe Awards (1944) as Self - Audience Member
- Viral
- Viral Director
- Company Town as Tom Wilson
- Don't Ever Wonder
- The Listeners as Dr. Thomas Hale
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Blair Underwood best known for?
Blair Underwood is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Elsbeth (2024), Longlegs (2024), The Jennifer Hudson Show (2022), Your Honor (2020).
When and where was Blair Underwood born?
Blair Underwood was born on August 25, 1964 in Tacoma, Washington, USA.
How many credits does Blair Underwood have?
Blair Underwood has accumulated over 124 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1944 to 2026.
What is Blair Underwood's background in cinema and television?
Blair Underwood is an American television and film actor born on August 25, 1964, in Tacoma, Washington. He is perhaps best known for his role as headstrong attorney Jonathan Rollins in the NBC legal drama L.A. Law, a character he played for seven years from 1987 to 1994. Throughout his career, he has received numerous...