Blair Underwood
A charismatic actor who broke ground as one of television's first Black leading men in a primetime drama, embodying polished ambition for a generation.
Born 1964 (age 62)·American actor·Birthday: August 25·Baby Boomers
Biography
Blair Underwood arrived on screen with a magnetism that made him a natural for roles of authority and charm. His career-defining turn as idealistic attorney Jonathan Rollins on 'L.A. Law' wasn't just a breakout part; it was a cultural moment, presenting a young, handsome, and professionally ambitious Black man as a central figure in mainstream 1980s television. That role established a template of dignified leading men he would explore for decades, from the White House aide in 'The Event' to a doctor in 'Sex and the City.' Underwood has never shied from complexity, taking on darker roles in projects like 'Set It Off' and 'American Crime Story,' demonstrating a range that goes beyond the polished exterior. His steady presence across film, television, and stage has made him a respected and enduring figure in the industry.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Blair was born in 1964, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Blair Was Born
The biggest hits of 1964
#1 Movie
Mary Poppins
Best Picture
My Fair Lady
#1 TV Show
Bonanza
Blair's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1964Born
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1969Started school
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1977Became a teenager
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1980Could drive
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1982Could vote
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1985Turned 21
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1994Turned 30
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2004Turned 40
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2014Turned 50
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2024Turned 60
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 62 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- He starred as attorney Jonathan Rollins for seven seasons on the landmark NBC drama 'L.A. Law.'
- He won a NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie for his role in 'Mama Flora's Family.'
- He originated the role of Stanley in the 2012 Broadway revival of 'A Streetcar Named Desire.'
- He played a recurring role as a political advisor in the final season of HBO's 'Sex and the City.'
Did You Know?
He is a graduate of the Carnegie Mellon School of Drama.
He provided the voice for the character of Doc Louis in the 'Punch-Out!!' video game series for Nintendo.
He is a trained martial artist and holds a black belt in karate.
He directed and starred in the film 'The Bridge to Nowhere,' which premiered at the American Black Film Festival.
““The roles that scare me are the ones that I’m attracted to, because that’s where the growth is.””
