Biography
Handsome actor Blair Underwood was born into a military family and studied at Carnegie-Mellon University before moving to New York to pursue his career. Guest-starring work on
The Cosby Show earned him a part on the ABC soap opera
One Life to Live, followed by a reoccurring role on the short-lived series
Downtown. In 1985 he made his film debut as a record producer in the rap comedy
Krush Groove. This was followed by the successful TV docudramas
Heat Wave and
Murder in Mississippi. His breakthrough finally came about on L.A. Law, playing attorney Jonathan Rollins from 1987 to 1994. Supporting roles followed, as an accused rapist in
Just Cause, a well-to-do love interest in
Set It Off, and baseball legend Jackie Robinson in the HBO original movie
Soul of the Game. Also during the '90s, he tried his hand at screenwriting and producing with the short film
Second Coming, a contemporary take on Christ's second coming starring himself as a dread-locked Jesus accused of insanity. In 2000, he starred in the CBS medical drama
City of Angels, followed by supporting roles in the military courtroom drama
Rules of Engagement, as well as
Steven Soderbergh's
Full Frontal, and the teen movie
Malibu's Most Wanted. He and wife Desiree DaCosta (two-time executive assistant to
Eddie Murphy) have three children. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide