FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Junely 3, 2022
Media Contact:
Bryan Kelley, Vice President
bkelley@indianablackexpo.com
(317) 925-2702
Actor and Director Blair Underwood Announced as
Recipient of Lifetime Screen Image Award
Indianapolis, IN – Today, Indiana Black Expo announced that it will honor Blair Underwood with the Lifetime Screen Image Award at the Pacers Sports & Entertainment Corporate Luncheon presented by Indiana University. The luncheon will take place on Friday, July 15 at 11:00 AM in the Sagamore Ballroom at the Indiana Convention Center. Doors open at 10:00 AM.
The Lifetime Screen Image Award is presented to celebrate an artist who has made historic contributions to the film and television industry. It also recognizes exceptional performances and achievements in the arts by people of color.
Blair Underwood currently filmed a starring role in the new Showtime series, Three Women, alongside Shailene Woodley, DeWanda Wise and Betty Gilpin.
Underwood recently directed Viral, a feature in which he will also play the lead, opposite Sarah Silverman and Alfre Woodard. He can currently be seen playing Vernon Jordan, opposite Clive Owen, Edie Falco and Beanie Feldstein, in megaproducer Ryan Murphy’s Impeachment for FX, as well as the role of William Jackson Harper’s father in the second season of Love Life on HBO Max. Underwood co-starred in the Netflix limited series, Self-Made, opposite Octavia Spencer. His performance earned a nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Limited Series for the NAACP Image Awards, as well as a Black Reel Award. While audiences were streaming that performance, Underwood was onstage, starring on Broadway opposite David Allen Grier in the Roundabout Theatre revival of A Soldier’s Play at the American Airlines Theater. His performance garnered accolades and was recently nominated for a Tony Award, as well as a Drama League Distinguished Performance Award.
In 2019 he recurred on the Netflix comedy series, Dear White People, and in Clark Johnson’s Juanita, opposite Alfred Woodard, also for Netflix. He spent two years as a series regular on the ABC drama series, Quantico, while also recurring on another hit ABC drama, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. He also had a co-starring role in The After Party, from writer/director Ian Edelman, which Netflix released late in 2018. He can be seen co-starring in Justin Simien’s horror comedy, Bad Hair, which premiered on Hulu in October 2020.
Past television credits include series regular roles on Dirty Sexy Money, The New Adventures of Old Christine, In Treatment, L.A. Law and The Event. Film credits include Rules of Engagement, Madea’s Family Reunion and Full Frontal, for director Steven Soderbergh. Underwood co-starred opposite the late Cicely Tyson in the Lifetime telefilm, A Trip To Bountiful, based on the Tony Award-winning play. In 2012 he made his acclaimed Broadway debut in the iconic role of “Stanley” in Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire, for which he earned a Drama League Distinguished Performance Award nomination.
“We look forward to honoring Mr. Underwood for his dynamic performances and work in the television, film and theater throughout his decades-long career, said IBE President Tanya Mckinzie. “In addition to his work on the screen, Mr. Underwood has also used his platform to advocate for civil rights and advance our communities,” added Mckinzie.
To purchase tickets for the luncheon, visit indianablackexpo.com.
About Indiana Black Expo, Inc.
Indiana Black Expo, Inc. is a nonprofit 501(c) (3) statewide organization with 12-chapter affiliates. The mission of IBE is to serve as an effective voice and vehicle for the social and economic advancement of African-Americans. IBE is known for its two major events, Summer Celebration and Circle City Classic® and provides year-round youth and family initiatives, including its Education Conference, recent Black Business Training Institute, Performing Arts Academy, Community Learning Hub, Education Day (college fair), Summer Internship Program, Scholarship Fund, Statewide Anti-Tobacco Initiative, Youth Leadership Summit, Employment Opportunity Fair, and Business Series and Conference.