Blair Underwood Bio
Blair Erwin Underwood (born August 25, 1964) is an American actor whose career in film and television has spanned four decades. He first gained attention with his debut in the 1985 musical film Krush Groove and went on to become a household name as attorney Jonathan Rollins on the NBC legal drama series L.A. Law from 1987 to 1994. Over the years, he has built a versatile résumé across network dramas, independent films, Broadway productions, and audio dramatizations.
Beyond his work on screen, Underwood has earned recognition for his humanitarian efforts, his collaborations on audio Bible projects, and his ventures into writing and business ownership. He is widely regarded as a steady presence in American entertainment, balancing leading roles in major network shows with notable supporting turns in feature films.
Early Life and Background
Blair Erwin Underwood was born on August 25, 1964, in Tacoma, Washington. He is the son of Marilyn Ann Scales, an interior decorator, and Frank Eugene Underwood Sr., a colonel in the United States Army. His father was an Army Ranger and paratrooper who was wounded during the Vietnam War. Because of his father’s military career, Underwood spent much of his childhood moving between Army posts in the United States and bases in Stuttgart, Germany.
He attended Petersburg High School in Petersburg, Virginia, where he completed his secondary education. Underwood later enrolled at the Carnegie Mellon School of Drama in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. He is also recognized as an honorary member of the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity.
Path to Acting
Underwood’s professional path began in the mid-1980s after he completed his training at Carnegie Mellon. His film debut in the 1985 musical Krush Groove introduced him to industry audiences, and a same-year appearance on The Cosby Show led to a short three-month stint on the ABC soap opera One Life to Live, where he played Bobby Blue. These early opportunities helped him transition from academic training to working television sets.
He built on that momentum with a co-starring role on the short-lived CBS crime drama Downtown from 1986 to 1987, followed by guest spots on Scarecrow and Mrs. King and 21 Jump Street. In 1987, at the age of 23, Underwood was cast as attorney Jonathan Rollins on L.A. Law, a role that quickly established him as a leading young actor in Hollywood.
Blair Underwood Career
Early Career (1985–1994)
Underwood’s first major role came on L.A. Law, where he played Jonathan Rollins for seven seasons. The performance earned him a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries, or Television Film in 1991. In 1990, he portrayed civil rights activist James Chaney in the NBC television film Murder in Mississippi, and in 1993 he co-starred in the western film Posse alongside Mario Van Peebles.
During these formative years, he also appeared on magazine covers and in popular culture, including a feature in the July 1996 issue of Playgirl. His work on L.A. Law cemented his reputation as a dependable leading man and opened the door to a wider range of film opportunities in the mid-1990s.
Breakthrough (1995–2009)
Following the end of L.A. Law, Underwood transitioned into a steady run of feature films. In 1995, he appeared in the legal thriller Just Cause, and the following year he played Jada Pinkett’s love interest in the heist film Set It Off. He took on supporting roles in the science-fiction film Gattaca (1997) and the disaster film Deep Impact (1998), and portrayed a Marine Captain in Rules of Engagement (2000).
On television, he returned to series work as the lead in the short-lived CBS medical drama City of Angels in 2000, a performance that led People magazine to name him one of its “50 Most Beautiful People” that same year. TV Guide later included him among its “Most Influential Faces of the 90s.” Additional highlights during this period included regular roles on High Incident (1996–97), LAX (2004–05), and Dirty Sexy Money (2007–09), along with a four-episode guest arc on HBO’s Sex and the City in 2003. In 2008, his turn on the HBO drama In Treatment brought him a second Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
Notable Works and Milestones
Across his career, Underwood has been part of several defining television moments, including the NBC drama The Event (2010–11), where he played United States President Elias Martinez, and the 2013 remake of Ironside. In 2012, he took on the lead role of Stanley in the Broadway revival of A Streetcar Named Desire, demonstrating his range on stage. In January 2020, he appeared in the Roundabout Theatre Company’s Broadway revival of A Soldier’s Play, playing Captain Richard Davenport opposite a celebrated ensemble cast.
Blair Underwood Award Nominations
Blair Underwood has received multiple prestigious nominations across his career. He earned two Golden Globe Award nominations for Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries, or Television Film, first for L.A. Law in 1991 and again for In Treatment in 2009. He has also received a Tony Award nomination and a Daytime Emmy Award nomination, reflecting his range across television, film, and stage.
Blair Underwood Awards Won
Underwood has been recognized with five NAACP Image Awards, a Daytime Emmy Award, and a Grammy Award. In 1993, he received the Humanitarian Award from the Los Angeles chapter of the Muscular Dystrophy Association for his charitable work.
Blair Underwood Family
Underwood was raised in a military family as the son of Frank Eugene Underwood Sr., a colonel in the United States Army, and Marilyn Ann Scales, an interior decorator. His father’s service took the family to various Army posts in the United States and abroad, shaping a childhood defined by movement and discipline.
Personal Life
Underwood married Desiree DaCosta in 1994, and the couple separated in 2021 after 27 years of marriage. On June 24, 2023, he married his longtime friend, Josie Hart. In 2025, Underwood became a part-owner of the Oakland Ballers, a team in the Pioneer League, an independent baseball league.