Blair Underwood has distinguished himself as an award-winning actor
who is currently showcasing his multitude of talents in film,
television and theatre.
He will next be seen on-stage in a revival of the award-winning
musical, “Purlie.” The play is part of New York City Center’s
famed Encores! series (March 31-April 3). Written by Ossie Davis,
the show is a fusion of pop, rhythm and blues and Broadway music.
Underwood also voices the lead character, Dr. Bindlebeep, in
Bill Cosby's hit animated series for Nick at Nite -- "Fatherhood."
In five episodes of the last season of HBO’s hit series "Sex & the City,"
Underwood played Robert Leeds, the NY Knicks team doctor who romanced his
neighbor Miranda. His portrayal earned him two NAACP Image Award nominations
for Outstanding Supporting Actor.
Underwood recently starred in and produced the independent drama "How Did It Feel?"
The film is a character-driven drama based on the award-winning play of the same name.
Underwood plays a working-class intellectual whose life is rocked when his wife's
younger sister comes to live with them. He also stars in the upcoming independent
films “G,” “Hit Man” and “Turn Around.” Additionally, Underwood is in pre-production
on “My Soul To Keep," a supernatural thriller based on the novel by Tananarive Due
(Fox Searchlight), that he will star in and produce. He also starred in amazon.com’s
short film “Do Geese See God.”
Underwood recently completed a brief workshop/tour of his one-main show
"IM4: From the Mountaintop to Hip Hop." The play, created and conceived
by Underwood and written by his brother, is the story of a rap mogul
who gets gunned down. During his heavenly journey, the mogul meets
the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Underwood plays eight characters in all.
He co-starred in the Warner Bros. comedy "Malibu's Most Wanted" and was the male
lead opposite Julia Roberts in Steven Soderbergh's "Full Frontal." Underwood starred as a
Marine captain in William Friedkin's "Rules of Engagement," for which he won the NAACP
Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Film. That same year he won the NAACP
Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series for his starring role in Steven Bochco's
"City of Angels." In 2000, People magazine named him one of its “50 Most Beautiful People.”
Underwood's other film credits include his portrayals of a space shuttle flight
navigator in the Paramount/DreamWorks hit “Deep Impact,” a death row inmate in Warner Bros.'
“Just Cause,” a geneticist in Columbia’s “Gattaca,” a sheriff in “Posse,” and a corporate
banker in New Line’s “Set It Off.” He received an NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding
Supporting Actor in a motion picture for the latter role.
Underwood's
other film credits include his portrayals of a space shuttle flight
navigator in the Paramount/DreamWorks hit “Deep Impact,” a death row
inmate in Warner Bros.' “Just Cause,” a geneticist in Columbia’s “Gattaca,”
a sheriff in “Posse,” and a corporate banker in New Line’s “Set It Off.”
He received an NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting
Actor in a motion picture for the latter role.
As director, executive producer, writer and star of the dramatic short “The Second Coming,”
Underwood played Jesus Christ returning to earth. In addition, he produced and starred
in the independent thriller “Asunder” and the short film “Sister, I’m Sorry.”
He also has five music videos to his directing credit.
Underwood grew up an “Army brat,” living in cities all over the world, but he calls
Virginia his home. He burst into the national spotlight with his confident
and passionate portrayal of lawyer Jonathan Rollins in the NBC hit series “L.A. Law.”
The role also earned him a Golden Globe nomination. Additionally, TV Guide singled
him out as one of “The Top Stars of the 90s.”
Underwood starred in CBS’ top-rated 1998 dramatic miniseries, “Mama Flora’s Family,”
which was based on Alex Haley’s last book. The performance earned him an NAACP Image
Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Television Movie/Miniseries. Underwood won the
NAACP Image Award for Best Actor in a Television Movie for NBC's "Murder in Mississippi" and
starred as Jackie Robinson in HBO’s “Soul of the Game,” for which he received another NAACP
Image Award nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie/Miniseries.
Underwood also starred in Showtime's "The Wishing Tree" and TNT’s award-winning “Heat Wave.”
He most recently starred opposite Heather Locklear in the NBC drama “LAX.”
His theater credits include “Measure for Measure,” at the 1993 New York Shakespeare
Festival, “El Negro en Peru,” “The Game of Love and Chance,” and “Love Letters” opposite Alfre Woodard.
Underwood is involved in numerous charitable organizations.
His dedicated support of the Muscular Dystrophy Association won
him the 1993 Humanitarian Award, presented by the Los Angeles Chapter of MDA.
In 2003 Underwood, along with Ashley Judd, served as the spokesperson for
YouthAIDS and in 2004 he appeared in a public service announcement for The
Fulfillment Fund. He is also co-founder of Artists for a New South Africa (ANSA).
Founded in 1989 with Alfre Woodard, Danny Glover, Mary Steenburgen, CCH Pounder
and other friends in the arts and entertainment community, ANSA supports a
democratic South Africa with equal rights and opportunities for all citizens.
In fall 2005, Underwood will publish a non-fiction book called
“Before I Got Here” (Atria Books/Simon & Schuster, Inc.).
The book is a collection of stories and anecdotes from parents
that speak to the existence of a child’s soul prior to birth.
©
2004 Blair Underwood. All Rights Reserved.
