Newspapers / The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, … / Dec. 17, 1987, edition 1 / Page 18
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TuA. Law s Newest Sensation Is Anything But Ordinary Stripped of his $800 suits. $500 shoes, gold Roliex. and sptt shined wing tips. Blair Under wood comes across as an ordi nary, albeit good-looking guy. But Blair Is anything but ordi nary. At 23-year*-of-age he Is one of the fastest rising actors in Hollywood. In the three short years since this aspiring theater student left college to seek his fortune in New York (the city of dreams), Blair has appeared In one feature film, guest starred on four T.V. series, and spent three months as an afternoon hearth rob on the soap opera, “One Life TO Live." Some say Is was the role of Bobby Blue---a thug with a heart — on “Life" that catapulted Blair from obscurity to Making It In T.V. Now his role as the slick, am bitious, Harvard-educated, en- ' tertalnment lawyer, Jonathan Rollins, on the award-winning, prime time series. "LA. Law" promises to lift him straight to the top. How's Blair handling this suc cess. "Just to have a Job as an ac tor Is exciting,- he says. Modest is an appropriate ad r Jective to describe Blair who was in Charlotte recently to lend his j name to the WPCQ Christmas Miracle Telethon. Wearing a sweatshirt and corduroys, he had left all traces of Jonathan Rollins in LA Yet WPCQ. the lo cal NBC affiliate, accomplished , quite a coup when they got Blair to be the sepdal guest at a ban ! quet for the children's charity. "After we announced that Blair was coming, we sold out in two days," revealed Sharon Crews, ■* WPCQ-TV Public Affairs Direc tor. About h|a assisting with the | fund raiser, Blair remarked. "I think It'S a responsibility, if you , have half a conscience. When people are Interested in seeing , you. you can bring that vlslblli f ty to a cause." i And who wouldn't be interest ed In seeing Blair. a.k.a Jona than Rollins, alias Bobby Blue. Hard to believe there was a time, however, when no one knew about Blair. In January 1985, he arrived In New York, one of eight million people, one of about a million actors. "The second day I arrived In New York 1 got a walk-on on the Cosby Show. 1 came to New York expecting to be looking for a waiter's Job but I got a meeting with Bill Ooeby. "It all happened so fast," Blair says, "I didn't even have a re sume.” „• After the "Incredible high" of being on "Cosby," Blair says he asked himself. "What do 1 do now?" T began knocking on doors." he says. Casting agents must have found Blair's clean-cut good looks and versatile acting abili ties attractive (he was a musical, theater, voice and dance student) because Dobs” started coming In. Blair appeared In the street beat, rap movie "Krush Groove" with Sheila E.. Kurds Blow and other popular rap groups. Then came guests spots on "Scarecrow and Mrs. King," "21 Jump Street." and "Knight Rider." •Then, in 1986, an audition landed Blair a role on the popu lar soap opera "One Life To live:” . Leather-Jacket dad, street kid, Bobby Blue sweeps Into the Itfe of beautfuL *good girl" Lisa’s life and pretty soon she has fal len for his tough, mlsunder-. stood, sweet guy charms—aO under the disapproving eyes of Born of Color -by Robert E. Martin i: Y& ': ' ’ ’* ' * ’• . <! tF/fyk r * f (Genesis 2:13) And the name of the sec ond river Is Glhon, the same Is It that compasseth the whole land of E-thl-o-pl a, g&:. v^v )/;[■ • >1 ,, i A land that has suffered for so long un tU now, for so long no one spoke of. I hnow yon are not to add on to the words of the scriptures and that snrely Is not my Intent. It’s only to ash yon people who 1 truly lave so dear that there Is a loving spe cialness In the color of our shin.? For we are a people who are highly spohen of. *; ,-V. . * '•Vf,'* .tfs-flH'lR1,!’ .* 7 a,,1 Jj For we ore the people bora of color. ,• ■& T _,i h, $ \(j fj 1 oak you to listen: (Genesis 2:8) And the Lord planted a garden eastward In Eden. That Is a garden Lord knows I'm seek ing. I__. L. jf-7— — v-*-.- - mir*' - -or y'*i>4 i* -fV » ^ ' * A-•* * ’ * • fX.‘\ u. /..*£*y i 'Xjnj And may 1 go on: (Genesis 2:8) And there He pnt the man whom He formed. Can It he that this place had climate that’s always warm. If 1 hod one wish my wish wonld he In- ' deed to he the man I trnly lack, man of ! "“I BWI• £ t •'* .'v j Hat 1 know that my God still loves me I and I know He loves as. For I was horn a man child, horn of col or. BUir Underwood her sternJ —* But It are heating up between 1 m ' 'a £53r2E.„„. Women across America where asking what happened to Bobby Blue? Blair says his contract ran out —. 1 didn't renew (the contract),* he explains. T knew pilot season was coming up and I really wanted to be on prime time night time T.V." Saying he was brought on "Life" to "create a love triangle;* Blair explains, "I really enjoyed myself (especially being the love Interest of lovely, Laura Car rington). "I didn't expect to become popu lar in the role," says Blair, who left the show to escape the possi bility of being typecast. Ironically, his next role was as another "street kid." This time Blair was to be a parolee playing opposite Michael Nouri on CBS’ "Downtown." "Downtown" went down under after a short time. But it turned out to be a blessing for Blair. For "Downtown, he had moved, from New York to L.A. and he was looking for work when he learned that "LA Law” was cast ing for a "young, black actor." "It's timing." demures Blair new that he's landed the plumb role of Jonathan Rollins, the first black regular on the criti cally acclaimed "LA Law." The show recently won an Emmy for being "Best Dramatic Series." Blair has moved considerably upscale in this new role as a law yer with the prestigious law firm of McKenzie, Brackman. But like Bobby Blue. Jonathan Rollins is brazen—in a more refined way. "He's extremely aggressive, young and naive," ctescribes Blair about Rollins. He talks a lot of mess and makes alot of mistakes and thinks he can do everything on his own." Blair is excited about an up coming episode on "Law" during which Rollins will get his. "The other characters will play a trick on Rollins' to knock him down a peg" smiles Blair, who further explains that the trick will be done in fun but Rollins will learn an important lesson from It. ‘ Rollins is on the fast track with many lessons to le*m and "Law" watchers are looking for ward to seeing how his character develops. On the other hand. Blair Un derwood watchers are Just as anxious to see how he’ll handle the success that’s sure to come his way. May I be the first to say. I doubt that success will spoil Blair Un derwood. For one, he points out that "L.A. Law" producer-writer, Steve Bocho, doesn't allow "egos" on the set or the press which he feels is responsible for inflating egos. "All the actors are down to earth." says Blair. , Secondly. Blair admits his own maturity and levelheaded ness Is due to parental Influence. He comes from a tight knit fami ly. His parents. Frank .and Mari lyn and his older brother and two younger sisters live In Pe tersburg, Va. His parents are his managers and Blair says. "We all work together to create my ca- ' reer." Blair's hopeful his caress will : In time include more films and he writes In his spare time with his eye on producing. "I'd like to produce films for television," he explains. "The roles aren't there for black actors; so we have to create them for ourselves. "Many actors produce projects for themselves. And, we cant af ford not to.” he states matter of factly. "Believing In yourself," Record ing to Blair, 1s the key to success. On his climb to more success, this young man assures that his self confidence will not let him stumble on the trappings of ce Arthur Mitche 1 Dance Theatre _■ Giselle" at the Metropolitan Op era In New York, the Kennedy Center In Washington, and In Los Angeles, Chicago and Phila delphia. AT&T’s sponsorship ! of the production Is part of the compa ny's ongoing relationship with ethnic performing arts- organi zations. Commenting on the se lection of "Creole Otaelle," R.Z. Manna, AT&T Corporate Adver tising Manager and Director of Corporate Underwriting and Arts Sponsorships, said, "We look for groups whoss risk taking, and Innovation parallel AT&Ts leadership In the field of communications. The Interna tionally recognized Dance Thea tre of Harlem has developed a unique cultural art form which has mass audience appeal." Pounded by Arthur Mitchell In 1068, the award-whintng Dance Theatre of Harlem will tour the Soviet Union next year, where they will visit Moscow. Tbilisi and Leningrad. The Dec. 27 NBC special will showcase Virginia Johnson aa OlaeDe. Eddie J. SheOman aa her lovsr. Albert, and Lorraine Graves as Myrtha. Queen of the --. uftXBWU £5 'Cel if ill' lAu M w » w ^^p1—.. UO:- I TA&nr. | lebrtty. “I've spent the last two and a half years preparing for celebrl ty." Blair laittb*. I've seen ho* it come* and how It goes and IVe learned not to trip on It* ---r - BH Suit* 603,401 S. tnctopMctonc* Btat, Char***, NC 28204 Ifeft 79* W-MM/WW ♦ Rw, VHW_J We're Now On The Road! Just Call: 554-1162 For Gomenbnt Delivery... Ottos* RIB* Gospel* Pop . Rock* You Nm» It Wei Denver it X Coupon Must Accompany Order $3. Minimum After Discount 20^ Pick Up Your Dry Cleaning Til 11 pjn. Daily! OWSNT'DAYSAWEK . . * '[■ " 481E. 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The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.)
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Dec. 17, 1987, edition 1
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