L.A. Law’s Blair Underwood talked about his early Hollywood career as a Black actor and meeting Sidney Poitier.

Film

L.A. Law alum Blair Underwood has been a Hollywood staple for over four decades. Having started his career in the 1980s, Underwood has experienced distinct phases as a Black actor. The TV and film star opened up about his early Hollywood career and meeting Oscar winner Sidney Poitier.

Many know Underwood for his memorable role as the smooth-talking Jonathan Rollins on seven seasons of L.A. Law. However, before that role, he made his Hollywood debut in the cult classic Krush Groove. While his early roles were positive examples of Black representation, the Emmy winner opened up to the Jemele Hill Is Unbothered podcast about the limited roles Black actors (outside of Denzel Washington and Eddie Murphy) were offered during the 1980s. Underwood said:

You know Denzel [Washington] was doing his thing on the big screen. [In the] mid-80s, when I first did Krush Groove. It was very rare to see any of us on the big screen, and if you did see us, you know it was usually, we’re pimps or thugs or just, you know, from the street culture, which is a part of our culture. That’s all Hollywood wanted to promote and project. So, man, I’m talking about the 1980s, not that far from when I grew up in the 70s. seeing a brother or sister on TV and everybody run [into] the room and saying, ‘someone Black’s on TV.’ So, we weren’t far removed from that at all.

Originally Posted Here

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