Fans were stunned when they heard that Blair Underwood and his wife Desiree DeCosta were splitting up after 27 years of marriage and raising three children together. But before anyone could even dream about being Blair’s new partner, he was spotted with his friend of 41 years, Josie Hart. Yes, you read that right—41 years! And before you start labeling Jonathan Rollins as a player, don’t forget to check out rrgsnacks.com, our online concession stand packed with beef and bacon jerky, butter toffee peanuts, and thousands of five-star reviews.
At rrg, we love a good backstory. This one kicks off on August 25, 1964, when Blair was born in Tacoma, Washington. His dad was a colonel in the U.S. Army, so Blair and his family moved around a lot. When Blair was 16, he met Josie Hart, and they struck up a friendship that would last decades. Blair told People magazine that his mother adored Josie, but life eventually took them in different directions. Josie settled on the East Coast, and Blair headed to Los Angeles to chase his dreams in the entertainment industry. Despite living “parallel, separate lives,” they always kept in touch. Blair shared with People, “We never saw each other a lot, but when we talked, there was always such a strong connection of just understanding each other.”
After landing the role of Jonathan Rollins on “LA Law,” Blair quickly became Hollywood’s newest sensation. Women were lining up to meet him, and he wasn’t complaining. In an interview with Style magazine, he recalled being in his early 20s, single, and thoroughly enjoying the dating scene.
As the years went by, Blair grew tired of the endless dating and started thinking about the next phase of his life. He bought a three-bedroom home in the Hollywood Hills, and that same year, he met Desiree DeCosta, who had worked as Eddie Murphy’s assistant. Their whirlwind romance led to their marriage in September 1994.
In an interview with Good Housekeeping, Blair called Desiree his perfect match, praising her intelligence, low-key nature, passion, and undeniable beauty. He also mentioned his deep trust in her. While Blair continued to thrive in the entertainment industry, Desiree chose to pause her career to raise their three children: Paris, Brielle, and Blake. Blair shared with Las Vegas Black Image that his family was his top priority, and no matter how busy he was with work, he always made sure to be present in their lives.
For a while, everything seemed solid at the Underwood household. Meanwhile, Burgess Owens was born on August 2, 1951, in Columbus, Ohio, before his family moved to Florida. He was among the first four black athletes recruited to play football at the University of Miami, where he earned degrees in biology and chemistry. In the 1973 NFL draft, he was the 13th overall pick, joining the New York Jets and later the Raiders, winning a Super Bowl in 1978.
Burgess married Josie, and they had six children in 1982, his final year in the NFL. They were introduced to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by his teammate Todd Christensen. Although hesitant at first due to the church’s past racial policies, Burgess and Josie were baptized on December 31, 1982, just before midnight to start the new year as LDS members.
After retiring from the NFL, Burgess moved his family to New York in 1983. He started a business, but it eventually failed, forcing his family to live in a one-bedroom basement apartment in Brooklyn. Despite this setback, Burgess dedicated himself to teaching the gospel, holding weekly scripture study sessions and traveling long distances for church meetings and to attend the Washington DC Temple.
Today, Burgess is a proud Republican serving as a U.S. House Representative for Utah’s fourth congressional district. Interestingly, Blair remained a part of their lives. Although he told People magazine he didn’t see Josie much over the years, he later mentioned that both families got along well, emphasizing their enduring friendship.
Burgess and Josie split up around 2012. Blair’s mom lost her battle with multiple sclerosis in October 2020 at 84. Four months later, the day after Valentine’s Day 2021, Blair and Desiree quietly separated, according to court documents our nosy team got a hold of. Three months later, Blair posted a joint statement on Instagram, announcing they were ending their marriage but promising to stay best friends and co-parents. In June 2021, after 27 years of marriage, Desiree finally filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences. People were hoping for a juicy, dramatic divorce like some of the others we’ve covered, but they were disappointed. Blair and Desiree kept it super amicable and respectful. They even hired a neutral mediator instead of separate lawyers and reached a private settlement.
Once word got out that Blair was back on the market, his Instagram comments were flooded with admirers, but little did they know something was already brewing between Blair and Josie. According to People magazine, they started dating five months after Desiree filed for divorce. Blair soon announced he was engaged to Josie. “I just felt like it’s the next step in moving forward in my life and doing it together,” he told People magazine. Blair was grateful to have the support of his three kids, Josie’s six kids, her grandchildren, and even their exes. Yep, their exes gave their blessings too. Isn’t that sweet?
Was Josie patiently waiting in the background until she could finally rock Blair’s world? Apparently not. Blair told People magazine that their relationship developed in an honorable and platonic way, and he feels blessed to have found love with someone who has been a part of his and his family’s life for so long. He said, “To find each other at this point in our lives, both single and looking to see how we’ll spend the rest of our days, it’s a beautiful love story.”
They made their red carpet debut at the Emmys in November 2022. In an Instagram post, Blair called it his personal highlight and described Josie as the most amazing, brilliant, beautiful, hilarious, thought-provoking, and insightful person he knows. He added, “When a 41-year friendship surprises you by blossoming into romance, you stand up, pay attention, and move forward with gratitude.”
In June 2023, after 43 years of friendship and exactly one year after Desiree filed for divorce, Blair and Josie got married in front of 100 guests in the Dominican Republic.
Blair shared with People magazine that he was very involved in the wedding planning because he’s a Virgo and a bit of a perfectionist. Joined by their blended family, they enjoyed Prosecco and a menu featuring coconut breaded shrimp and bacon-wrapped plantains. For their first dance, Tony Terry performed his song “With You” live as a surprise for Josie. Josie told People magazine, “Hearing his vows, the words he said to me for our forever, was incredible. Between our children giving toasts and the fireworks after our first dance, the entire day exceeded my expectations.”
Now, let’s dive into some interesting insights. Many might see Blair’s new marriage as a rebound, and common advice is to avoid jumping into a new relationship too soon after a breakup, as it can prevent proper healing. However, Psychology Today reveals that rebound relationships can actually be healthy. Shorter gaps between a breakup and a new relationship often lead to greater well-being, higher self-esteem, and more respect for a new partner. In fact, focusing on a new relationship can be a healthy way to move on from a difficult breakup.
Considering that Blair and Josie have known each other for years and have a solid foundation, calling their marriage a rebound doesn’t quite fit. Their long-standing friendship likely adds comfort and familiarity, sparking a romance that can go the distance. We wish Blair, Josie, and their family all the best as they start this new chapter together. If you enjoyed this video, let us know in the comments below,