Blair Underwood is scrubbing in at Fox. The veteran actor has joined the network’s hit medical drama Doc as a series regular, with the casting announcement arriving alongside news that the series has officially been renewed for a third season.
Underwood will first appear as a guest star in the Season 2 finale, airing April 14, before transitioning into a full-time role in Season 3.
He will portray Dr. Ben Grant, a highly skilled trauma and cardiothoracic surgeon whose reputation is nearly as big as his personality. According to the official character description, Dr. Grant is “a world-class trauma and cardiothoracic surgeon with an ego that somehow outpaces even his resume. A once-in-a-generation talent with the swagger to match, he doesn’t just save lives — he owns the OR.”
The character is expected to shake things up at Westside Hospital, particularly when he crosses paths with Dr. Amy Larsen, played by series lead Molly Parker. Their first interactions promise plenty of friction.
“Impossibly magnetic and even more confident, he’s never not been the smartest person in the room… until he meets Dr. Amy Larsen,” the description continues. “Almost instantly, their approaches clash, egos collide, and sparks fly like Westside has never seen. Together, their brilliance is unmatched — as long as they can survive each other.”
Based on the Italian drama Doc – Nelle tue mani, the series centers on Parker’s Dr. Amy Larsen, a physician rebuilding her career and personal life after a devastating car accident erased eight years of her memory.
Season 2’s ensemble includes Omar Metwally, Amirah Vann, Jon Ecker, Anya Banerjee, Patrick Walker, Charlotte Fountain-Jardim, and Felicity Huffman, with Scott Wolf appearing in a recurring role.
The series comes from Sony Pictures Television and Fox Entertainment. Barbie Kligman and Hank Steinberg serve as co-showrunners and executive producers alongside Erwin Stoff, Russell Fine, John Weber, Frank Siracusa, Carol Barbee, and David Foster.
Underwood continues to maintain a steady presence across television and film. His recent TV appearances include Elsbeth, Three Women, Smothered, Impeachment: American Crime Story, Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker, Dear White People, and When They See Us. Earlier in his career, he was a series regular on shows including Quantico, Dirty Sexy Money, The New Adventures of Old Christine, The Event, and L.A. Law.
On the film side, Underwood’s credits include Youngblood and the upcoming titles One Spoon of Chocolate and Don’t Ever Wonder. His recent work also includes Longlegs, Origin, and Viral, which he directed and produced in addition to starring. His earlier film roles include Deep Impact, Set It Off, Rules of Engagement, Just Cause, Madea’s Family Reunion, and Full Frontal.
Beyond acting, Underwood has executive produced and narrated documentary features including Mr. SOUL! and Olympic Pride, American Prejudice.
The Emmy winner has also earned eight NAACP Image Awards throughout his career and a Grammy as co-narrator of Al Gore’s audiobook An Inconvenient Truth.