If you grew up in the late 1980s, you knew Jay Underwood. You probably had his face pinned to your bedroom wall or saw him every time you popped a VHS tape into the player. He was the kid who could fly. He was the lovable android. He was even Sonny Bono for a minute. But then, it feels like he just... disappeared.
Honestly, the "disappearance" is the most interesting part of the story. Most child stars end up in a spiral or a reality TV reboot. Underwood? He became a pastor.
But before he was delivering sermons in Burbank, he was a staple of our living rooms. If you’re looking for tv shows with jay underwood, you aren't just looking for a list of credits. You’re looking for that specific brand of wholesome, slightly sci-fi, 80s and 90s nostalgia that he basically pioneered.
The Android That Started It All: Not Quite Human
You can't talk about Jay Underwood on television without starting with Chip Carson.
In 1987, the Disney Channel wasn't the juggernaut it is today. It was still finding its feet with original movies and series. Then came Not Quite Human. Underwood played Chip, an android created by a scientist (Alan Thicke) to look and act like a normal teenager.
It was a total hit.
The show—which functioned as a series of TV movies—became a trilogy.
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- Not Quite Human (1987)
- Not Quite Human II (1989)
- Still Not Quite Human (1992)
Watching Underwood navigate high school as a robot was comedy gold for a ten-year-old. He had this stiff, wide-eyed sincerity that made the character work. He wasn't just "the robot kid"; he was the heart of the show. It’s arguably the most iconic work of his television career.
From Young Indy to Sonny Bono: The 90s Range
By the early 90s, Underwood was trying to shed the "teen idol" skin. He did it by playing real people. Iconic ones.
In The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, he took on the role of a young Ernest Hemingway. This wasn't just a guest spot; he appeared in multiple episodes, including the fan-favorite "Tales of Innocence." Seeing "Chip" from the Disney movies playing a brooding, literary giant-in-the-making was a trip. He actually pulled it off, bringing a certain intensity that the show needed.
Then there was the 1999 biopic And the Beat Goes On: The Sonny and Cher Story.
Underwood played Sonny Bono. It’s one of those performances people forget until they see a clip and go, "Wait, that's the guy from The Boy Who Could Fly!" He nailed the voice and that specific 60s energy. It showed he had a lot more range than the "boy next door" roles he was constantly offered.
Guest Spots You Probably Missed
If you’re a deep-diver, you’ve probably spotted him in the background of some of the biggest shows of the era. He didn't just stick to movies-of-the-week.
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- The West Wing: He popped up in the first season (the episode "Five Votes Down") as a staffer.
- The X-Files: In the episode "Empedocles," he played a character named Jeb Dukes. It was a far cry from his Disney days—dark, gritty, and weird.
- ER: A quick guest spot in the mid-90s when the show was at its peak.
- Star Trek: Voyager: He donned the prosthetics for the episode "Virtuoso," playing a member of the Qomar.
The "Lost" Marvel Moment
We have to talk about the 1994 Fantastic Four movie. Technically, it was a film, but it was produced by Roger Corman and never officially released. It has lived on through bootleg tapes and YouTube uploads for decades.
Underwood played Johnny Storm, the Human Torch.
It’s legendary in the nerd community because the cast didn't know the movie was never meant to be seen. They thought they were making the next big blockbuster. Underwood’s performance is actually quite charming—he had the cocky, "hot-head" vibe down perfectly. Even though it never hit theaters, it remains a massive part of his cult-classic legacy.
Why He Left the Limelight
By the early 2000s, the roles started to shift. Underwood was still working—appearing in things like Miracles and Philly—but his heart was moving elsewhere.
In 2003, he made the call. He decided to leave the industry to pursue full-time ministry.
He didn't just quit and vanish; he went to seminary. He earned a Diploma of Theology from The Master’s Seminary in 2007 and became a pastor at Calvary Bible Church in Burbank. It’s a wild irony—the guy who grew up in the heart of Hollywood is now pastoring a church right down the street from the major studios.
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The Legacy of Jay Underwood's Career
When you look back at tv shows with jay underwood, you’re looking at a time capsule of a specific era of entertainment. He represented a bridge between the classic child stars of the 70s and the modern teen idols of the 2000s.
He was reliable. He was clean-cut. He was talented.
But he was also someone who clearly wasn't defined by the fame. You don't walk away from a 20-year acting career to become a junior high pastor unless you've got your priorities straight.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
If you're looking to revisit his work today, here's how to do it:
- Check Disney+: They occasionally rotate the Not Quite Human movies, though licensing can be tricky.
- The Boy Who Could Fly: This is his masterpiece. If you haven't seen it since 1986, watch it as an adult. It handles themes of autism and grief with a sensitivity that was way ahead of its time.
- YouTube: Search for the 1994 Fantastic Four. It’s a piece of cinematic history that every Marvel fan needs to see at least once.
- The Ministry: Underwood is still active as a pastor. If you're interested in his current life, his sermons are often available through the Calvary Bible Church website.
Jay Underwood might not be on the cover of magazines anymore, but his footprint on 80s and 90s TV is permanent. He gave us the "boy who could fly," and then he found a way to stay grounded himself.