Blair Underwood
Blair Erwin Underwood[1] (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.
Blair Underwood | |
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.jpg){kind=icon} Underwood in February 2015 | |
| Born | Blair Erwin Underwood August 25, 1964 Tacoma, Washington, U.S. |
| Education | Carnegie Mellon University (BFA) |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1985–present |
| Spouse(s) | Desiree DaCosta ( m. 1994) |
| Children | 3 |
| Website | www.blairunderwood.com |
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), and Juanita (2019). On television, he played a leading role in the 2000 medical drama City of Angels, and the following years had regular roles in 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, 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.[2][3][4] Owing to his father's military career, Underwood lived on bases and Army Posts in the United States and Stuttgart, Germany during his childhood.[5] 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.[6] 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.[7] 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' 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.[8]
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".[9] In 2003, he guest starred in four episodes[5] 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.[10] 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.[11] 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.[12] 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.[13][14] 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.[15]
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.[16] The show was cancelled after three episodes.[17][18] 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.[19] The series was canceled after three seasons in 2018.
In 2019, Underwood played attorney Bobby Burns in the Netflix miniseries When They See Us.[20] The following year, he co-starred opposite Octavia Spencer in the Netflix miniseries Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker.[21]
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.[22]
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.[23]
Underwood also appeared in a 2004 public service announcement for The Fulfillment Fund.[24] 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 Obama. Underwood got to know Obama while researching his L.A. Law role at Harvard Law School, while Obama was president of the Harvard Law Review.[25]
Underwood's DNA test showed that he is a descendant of the Babungo people of Cameroon.[26] Additional DNA testing and genealogical research revealed that his African ancestry comes from the Bamum, Brong and lgbo ethnic groups of Western Africa.[27] The DNA test also connected Blair to a distant cousin in Babungo, Cameroon.[27]
On September 17, 1994, he married Desiree DaCosta, with whom he has three children, Paris, Brielle and Blake.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Krush Groove | Russell Walker | |
| 1988 | Mickey's 60th Birthday | Jonathan Rollins | Television film |
| 1989 | The Cover Girl and the Cop | Horace Bouchet | Television film |
| 1990 | Murder in Mississippi | James Chaney | Television film NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special |
| 1990 | Heat Wave | Robert Richardson | Television film |
| 1992 | The Second Coming | Jesus | Short film |
| 1993 | Posse | Carver | |
| 1993 | Father & Son: Dangerous Relations | Jared Williams | Television film |
| 1995 | Just Cause | Bobby Earl | |
| 1996 | Soul of the Game | Jackie Robinson | Television film Nominated —NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special |
| 1996 | Mistrial | Lieutenant C. Hodges | Television film |
| 1996 | Set It Off | Keith Weston | Nominated—NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture |
| 1997 | Gattaca | Geneticist | |
| 1998 | Asunder | Chance Williams | |
| 1998 | Deep Impact | Mark Simon | |
| 1998 | Mama Flora's Family | Willie | Television film NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special |
| 1999 | The Wishing Tree | Magic Man | |
| 2000 | Rules of Engagement | Capt. Lee | NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture |
| 2002 | Truth Be Told | Det. Harris | |
| 2002 | G | Chip Hightower | |
| 2002 | Full Frontal | Nicholas/Calvin | |
| 2003 | Malibu's Most Wanted | Tom Gibbons | |
| 2004 | Fronterz | (unknown role) | |
| 2004 | Do Geese See God? | Man | |
| 2005 | Straight Out of Compton 2 | Hen | Also producer |
| 2005 | The Golden Blaze | Gregory Fletcher/The Golden Blaze | Animated |
| 2006 | Something New | Mark Harper | |
| 2006 | Madea's Family Reunion | Carlos | |
| 2006 | Covert One: The Hades Factor | Palmer Addison | Television film |
| 2007 | Operation Homecoming | Voice role | |
| 2007 | The Hit | Hen | |
| 2009 | The Bridge to Nowhere | Director | |
| 2011 | The Art of Getting By | Principal Bill Martinson | |
| 2011 | I Will Follow | Evan | |
| 2012 | Woman Thou Art Loosed: On the 7th Day | David Ames | |
| 2012 | The True Friendship or Not?.. | Principal Bramble | |
| 2014 | The Trip to Bountiful | Ludie Watts | Television film NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special Nominated—Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Movie/Miniseries |
| 2018 | The After Party | Sgt. Ellison | |
| 2019 | Juanita | Blair Underwood | |
| 2020 | Bad Hair | Amos Bludso |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Knight Rider | Potts | Episode: "Knight of the Juggernaut: Part 1" |
| 1985 | The Cosby Show | Robert (Denise's Friend) | Episode: "Jitterbug Break" |
| 1985 | The Cosby Show | Mark | Episode: "Theo and the Other Woman" |
| 1985–1986 | One Life to Live | Bobby Blue | Unknown episodes |
| 1986–1987 | Downtown | Terry Corsaro | 14 episodes |
| 1987 | Scarecrow and Mrs. King | Stillman | Episode: "All That Glitters" |
| 1987 | 21 Jump Street | Reginald Brooks | Episode: "Gotta Finish the Riff" |
| 1987–1994 | L.A. Law | Jonathan Rollins | 149 episodes NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film |
| 1991 | A Different World | Zelmer Collier | Episode: "War and Peace" |
| 1996–1997 | High Incident | Officer Michael Rhoades | 22 episodes |
| 2000 | City of Angels | Dr. Ben Turner | 24 episodes NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series |
| 2003–2004 | Sex and the City | Dr. Robert Leeds | 5 episodes Nominated—NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series (2004–05) |
| 2004–2005 | Fatherhood | Dr. Arthur Bindlebeep | 24 episodes |
| 2004–2005 | LAX | Roger De Souza | 13 episodes |
| 2006–2010 | The New Adventures of Old Christine | Mr. Harris | 9 episodes Nominated—NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series (2008–09) |
| 2007 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Miles Sennett | Episode: "Burned" |
| 2007–2009 | Dirty Sexy Money | Simon Elder | 20 episodes Nominated—NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (2008–09) |
| 2008 | In Treatment | Alex | 9 episodes Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film Nominated—NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series |
| 2010–2011 | The Event | President Elias Martinez | 22 episodes Nominated — NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series |
| 2012 | Superman of Tokyo | Superman of Tokyo | 2 episodes |
| 2013 | Thunder and Lightning | Black Lightning | 2 episodes |
| 2013 | Ironside | Robert Ironside | 9 episodes |
| 2015–2016 | Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. | Andrew Garner | 10 episodes |
| 2016–present | The Lion Guard | Makuu (voice) | 11 episodes |
| 2016 | The Good Wife | Harry Dargis | Episode: "Shoot" |
| 2016–2018 | Quantico | Owen Hall | 22 episodes |
| 2019 | When They See Us | Bobby Burns | Miniseries |
| 2019 | Dear White People | Prof. Moses Brown | Comedy-Drama series |
| 2020 | Self Made | Charles James Walker | Netflix miniseries |
Video games
Bibliography
- Before I Got Here: The Wondrous Things We Hear When We Listen to the Souls of Our Children (2005; editor, with Donyell Kennedy-McCullough (photographer))
- The Tennyson Hardwick Novels:
- Casanegra[28] (2007; with Tananarive Due and Steven Barnes)
- In the Night of the Heat (2008; with Tananarive Due and Steven Barnes)
- From Cape Town with Love (2010; with Tananarive Due and Steven Barnes)
- South by Southeast (scheduled for September 2012; with Tananarive Due and Steven Barnes)
Awards and nominations
References
- The second coming. Artist: Jerry LaCroix, sound recording by Phonogram, Inc, The grains of paradise. Faqs.org. Retrieved on August 25, 2013.
- Blair Underwood Biography (1964–). Filmreference.com. Retrieved on August 25, 2013.
- Brennan, Patricia (August 6, 1989). "Blair Underwood; 'Common Sense' Career Moves".
- Stated on Who Do You Think You Are?, February 24, 2012
- "NPR". A Conversation with Blair Underwood. Retrieved January 7, 2007.
- "Blair Underwood thanks OLTL's Erika Slezak for his primetime career". soapcentral.com.
- Roots, Kimberly (January 19, 2017). "Blair Underwood Recalls L.A. Law EP's Prediction on His First Day on the Job".
- Pelley, Rich (October 15, 2010). "One last thing... Blair Underwood" – via www.theguardian.com.
- "imdb.com". Biography for Blair Underwood. Retrieved January 7, 2007.
- "Yahoo Movies". Blair Underwood Biography. Archived from the original on May 16, 2006. Retrieved January 7, 2007.
- "MovieWeb". NBC's Law & Order: Special Victims Unit January Guest Star Appearances. Archived from the original on January 9, 2007. Retrieved January 7, 2007.
- "TV's 'Treatment' up for 5 Golden Globes". Retrieved July 9, 2017.
- "NBC Picks Up Three New Series for 2010–11 Season with 'The Event', 'Outsourced' and 'Love Bites'". The Futon Critic. May 7, 2010. Retrieved May 16, 2010.
- Hibberd, James (May 16, 2010). "NBC's fall schedule, upfront revealed". The Hollywood Reporter. The Live Feed. Archived from the original on May 18, 2010. Retrieved May 16, 2010.
- Hetrick, Adam. "A Streetcar Named Desire, With Blair Underwood and Nicole Ari Parker, Extends Broadway Run". Archived from the original on October 20, 2013. Retrieved 26 August 2013.
- Harnick, Chris (May 13, 2013). "'Ironside': Blair Underwood Says Don't Call It A Remake". The Huffington Post. Retrieved August 26, 2013.
- http://insidetv.ew.com/2013/10/03/ironside-nbc-ratings/. Missing or empty
|title=(help) - Levin, Gary (October 18, 2013). "NBC yanks 'Ironside,' sets 'Community' return". USA Today.
- Ausiello, Michael (July 5, 2016). "Quantico: Blair Underwood Joins Season 2 Cast as Series Regular". Retrieved July 9, 2017.
- Grant, Andre (May 31, 2019). "Cassius Chats: Blair Underwood believes there is hope for us yet". Cassius Life. Retrieved June 5, 2019.
- "The Real Story Of Madam C.J. Walker's Marriage Is So Much Juicier Than In 'Self Made'". Bustle.
- Stasio, Marilyn. "'A Soldier's Play': Theater Review". Variety. Variety Media, LLC, a subsidiary of Penske Business Media, LLC. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
- "AIDS Healthcare Foundation". aidshealth.org. Archived from the original on February 23, 2013.
- "blairunderwood.com". Difference. Archived from the original on March 19, 2006. Retrieved January 7, 2007.
- Kantor, Jodi (January 28, 2007). "In Law School, Obama Found Political Voice". The New York Times. Retrieved December 28, 2008.
- Underwood, Blair. "Testimonials:A welcome surprise that my people are from Nigeria & Ibo people". Africanancestry.com. Archived from the original on December 19, 2008. Retrieved November 23, 2008.
- Preview Blair Underwood. nbc.com
- ''Casanegra'' Archived February 8, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. Bookvideos.tv. August 2007.
External links
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