Richard Roundtree

Richard Roundtree

Known for Acting · 151 credits

Born
1942-07-09
Died
2023-10-24
Place of birth
New Rochelle, New York, USA

Biography

Richard Roundtree (July 9, 1942 – October 24, 2023) was an American actor. He is noted as being "the first black action hero" for his portrayal of private detective John Shaft in the 1971 film Shaft, and its four sequels, released between 1972 and 2019. For his performance in the original film, he was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year – Actor in 1972.

He reprised the role of Shaft in the movie Shaft (2019), starring Samuel L. Jackson.

Known For

TV Shows (53)

Grey's Anatomy
TV

Grey's Anatomy

2005

as Donald Burke

The Mentalist
TV

The Mentalist

2008

as Floyd Benton

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
TV

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

1962

as Self

Chicago Fire
TV

Chicago Fire

2012

as Wallace Boden, Sr.

Desperate Housewives
TV

Desperate Housewives

2004

as Mr. Shaw

The Mike Douglas Show
TV

The Mike Douglas Show

1961

as Self

Beverly Hills, 90210
TV

Beverly Hills, 90210

1990

as Robinson Ashe Jr.

The Closer
TV

The Closer

2005

as Col. D.B. Walter

Murder, She Wrote
TV

Murder, She Wrote

1984

as Kevin Cooper

MacGyver
TV

MacGyver

1985

as R.T. Hines

The Love Boat
TV

The Love Boat

1977

as Dave Wilbur

Magnum, P.I.
TV

Magnum, P.I.

1980

as Peter Jordan

Heroes
TV

Heroes

2006

as Charles Deveaux

Private Practice
TV

Private Practice

2007

as Raymond McCray

Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman
TV

Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman

1993

as 'Barracuda' Jim Barnes

L.A. Law
TV

L.A. Law

1986

as Judge Ira Menday

21 Jump Street
TV

21 Jump Street

1987

as Ben Halley

Touched by an Angel
TV

Touched by an Angel

1994

as Murray

Renegade
TV

Renegade

1992

Lethal Weapon
TV

Lethal Weapon

2016

as Don Bennett

A Different World
TV

A Different World

1987

as Clinton Reese

Profiler
TV

Profiler

1996

as Det. James Henegar

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
TV

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

1990

as Dr. Mumford

Close to Home
TV

Close to Home

2005

as Cyrus Carter

Dinah!
TV

Dinah!

1974

as Self

Hangin' with Mr. Cooper
TV

Hangin' with Mr. Cooper

1992

as General (uncredited) / Chester Cooper

Star
TV

Star

2016

as Charles Floyd

The Wayans Bros.
TV

The Wayans Bros.

1995

as Dr. Saunders

CHiPs
TV

CHiPs

1977

as Sgt. Aikens

Dream On
TV

Dream On

1990

as Dr. Charles

Roots
TV

Roots

1977

as Sam Bennett

Amen
TV

Amen

1986

Family Reunion
TV

Family Reunion

2019

as Grandpa

Vicki!
TV

Vicki!

1992

as Self

Alias
TV

Alias

2001

as Brill

Lincoln Heights
TV

Lincoln Heights

2007

The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts
TV

The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts

1973

as Self

Blade: The Series
TV

Blade: The Series

2006

Being Mary Jane
TV

Being Mary Jane

2013

as Paul Patterson, Sr.

Soul Food
TV

Soul Food

2000

as Hardy Lester

The Player
TV

The Player

2015

as Samuel Letts

Roc
TV

Roc

1991

as Russell Emerson

A.D.
TV

A.D.

1985

as Serpenius

Masquerade
TV

Masquerade

1983

as Mean Willy

Hollywood Beat
TV

Hollywood Beat

1985

GAME ON: A Comedy Crossover Event
TV

GAME ON: A Comedy Crossover Event

2020

as Grandpa

Outlaws
TV

Outlaws

1986

as Isaiah 'Ice' McAdams

Buddies
TV

Buddies

1996

as Henry Carlisle

Rescue 77
TV

Rescue 77

1999

as Captain Durfee

413 Hope St.
TV

413 Hope St.

1997

as Phil Thomas

Shaft
TV

Shaft

1973

as John Shaft

Beauty and the Beast
TV

Beauty and the Beast

1987

as Cleon Manning

The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow
TV

The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow

2002

as Self - Narrator (voice)

Movies (98)

Se7en
Movie

Se7en

1995

as Talbot

Speed Racer
Movie

Speed Racer

2008

as Ben Burns

George of the Jungle
Movie

George of the Jungle

1997

as Kwame

Shaft
Movie

Shaft

2000

as "Uncle" John Shaft

Thelma
Movie

Thelma

2024

as Ben

What Men Want
Movie

What Men Want

2019

as Skip Davis

Earthquake
Movie

Earthquake

1974

as Miles Quade

Shaft
Movie

Shaft

2019

as John Shaft, Sr.

Boat Trip
Movie

Boat Trip

2002

as Felicia's Dad

Undercover Brother
Movie

Undercover Brother

2002

as John Shaft (archive footage) (uncredited)

Q: The Winged Serpent
Movie

Q: The Winged Serpent

1982

as Powell

Brick
Movie

Brick

2006

as Assistant V.P. Trueman

Shaft
Movie

Shaft

1971

as John Shaft

Steel
Movie

Steel

1997

as Uncle Joe

Maniac Cop
Movie

Maniac Cop

1988

as Commissioner Pike

Escape to Athena
Movie

Escape to Athena

1979

as Nat Judson

City Heat
Movie

City Heat

1984

as Dehl Swift

Ballistic
Movie

Ballistic

1995

as Harold

Corky Romano
Movie

Corky Romano

2001

as Howard Shuster

Embassy
Movie

Embassy

1972

as Dick Shannon

Man Friday
Movie

Man Friday

1975

as Friday

Antitrust
Movie

Antitrust

2001

as Lyle Barton

An Eye for an Eye
Movie

An Eye for an Eye

1981

as Capt. Stevens

Killpoint
Movie

Killpoint

1984

as Agent Bill Bryant

Nationtime
Movie

Nationtime

1972

as Self

Theodore Rex
Movie

Theodore Rex

1995

as Commissioner Lynch

Body of Influence
Movie

Body of Influence

1994

as Harry Reams

Inchon
Movie

Inchon

1981

as Sgt. Augustus Henderson

Original Gangstas
Movie

Original Gangstas

1996

as Slick

BaadAsssss Cinema
Movie

BaadAsssss Cinema

2002

as Self

Moving On
Movie

Moving On

2023

as Ralph

Angel III: The Final Chapter
Movie

Angel III: The Final Chapter

1988

as Lt. Doniger

Shaft's Big Score!
Movie

Shaft's Big Score!

1972

as John Shaft

Shaft in Africa
Movie

Shaft in Africa

1973

as John Shaft

The Banker
Movie

The Banker

1989

as Lloyd

Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years
Movie

Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years

1999

as Booker T. Washington

Amityville: A New Generation
Movie

Amityville: A New Generation

1993

as Pauli

Final Approach
Movie

Final Approach

2008

as Gary Markash

Diamonds
Movie

Diamonds

1975

as Archie

Sins of the Night
Movie

Sins of the Night

1993

as Les

Once Upon a Time... When We Were Colored
Movie

Once Upon a Time... When We Were Colored

1996

as Cleve

Opposing Force
Movie

Opposing Force

1986

as Stafford

Jocks
Movie

Jocks

1986

as Chip

Bonanza: The Return
Movie

Bonanza: The Return

1993

as Jacob Briscoe

A Family Reunion Christmas
Movie

A Family Reunion Christmas

2019

as Jebidiah McKellan

A Choice of Weapons: Inspired by Gordon Parks
Movie

A Choice of Weapons: Inspired by Gordon Parks

2021

as Self

Night Visitor
Movie

Night Visitor

1989

as Captain Crane

Point of Entry
Movie

Point of Entry

2007

as Miles Porter

Hawaiian Gardens
Movie

Hawaiian Gardens

2001

as M.O.

Max Havoc: Curse Of The Dragon
Movie

Max Havoc: Curse Of The Dragon

2004

as Tahsi

Firehouse
Movie

Firehouse

1973

as Shelly Forsythe

The Confidant
Movie

The Confidant

2010

as Claude

Haunting of the Mary Celeste
Movie

Haunting of the Mary Celeste

2020

as Tulls

Party Line
Movie

Party Line

1988

as Captain Barnes

A Time to Die
Movie

A Time to Die

1991

as Captain Ralph Phipps

Charley-One-Eye
Movie

Charley-One-Eye

1973

as The Black Man

Gypsy Angels
Movie

Gypsy Angels

1990

as Dr. Carlson

Harlem to Hollywood
Movie

Harlem to Hollywood

2019

as Self

Al's Lads
Movie

Al's Lads

2002

as Boom-Boom

Deadly Rivals
Movie

Deadly Rivals

1993

as Agent Peterson

Shadows of Desire
Movie

Shadows of Desire

1994

as Dunc

Ladies of the House
Movie

Ladies of the House

2008

as Stan

All The Days Before Tomorrow
Movie

All The Days Before Tomorrow

2007

as El Doctor

Painkiller Jane
Movie

Painkiller Jane

2005

as Colonel Watts

What Do You Say to a Naked Lady?
Movie

What Do You Say to a Naked Lady?

1970

as Interracial Couple

Wild Seven
Movie

Wild Seven

2006

as Lee Marvin / Cleetus Woods

Bloodfist III: Forced to Fight
Movie

Bloodfist III: Forced to Fight

1992

as Samuel Stark

The Fifth Missile
Movie

The Fifth Missile

1986

as Cmdr. Frederick Bryce

Crack House
Movie

Crack House

1989

as Lt. Johnson

Young Warriors
Movie

Young Warriors

1983

as Sergeant John Austin

Game for Vultures
Movie

Game for Vultures

1979

as Gideon Marunga

Christmas in Connecticut
Movie

Christmas in Connecticut

1992

as Prescott

Bonanza: Under Attack
Movie

Bonanza: Under Attack

1995

as Jacob

Bad Jim
Movie

Bad Jim

1990

as July

Joe and Max
Movie

Joe and Max

2002

as Jack Blackburn

Day of the Assassin
Movie

Day of the Assassin

1979

as Fessler

Retreat!
Movie

Retreat!

2012

as Henshaw

One Down, Two to Go
Movie

One Down, Two to Go

1982

as Ralph

Collar
Movie

Collar

2015

as Alonzo Sparks

The Baron and the Kid
Movie

The Baron and the Kid

1984

as Frosty

The Big Score
Movie

The Big Score

1983

as Gordon

Miami Cops
Movie

Miami Cops

1989

as Gamble

Blind Man's Bluff
Movie

Blind Man's Bluff

1994

as Gray

Mind Twister
Movie

Mind Twister

1994

as Frank Webb

Whatever She Wants
Movie

Whatever She Wants

2010

as Theodore Wolf

Any Place But Home
Movie

Any Place But Home

1997

as Gil Oberman

Diary of a Single Mom
Movie

Diary of a Single Mom

2009

as Lou Bailey

Daddy Can't Read
Movie

Daddy Can't Read

1988

as Jason Ruigh

Getting Even
Movie

Getting Even

1988

as Dundee

Speed Racer: Wonderful World of Racing - The Amazing Racer Family
Movie

Speed Racer: Wonderful World of Racing - The Amazing Racer Family

2008

as Ben Burns

Portrait of a Hitman
Movie

Portrait of a Hitman

1979

as Coco Morrell

Soul in Cinema: Filming 'Shaft' on Location
Movie

Soul in Cinema: Filming 'Shaft' on Location

1971

as Self

Men Cry in the Dark
Movie

Men Cry in the Dark

2003

Vegas Vampires
Movie

Vegas Vampires

2003

as Rick Apping

Just an Overnight Guest
Movie

Just an Overnight Guest

1983

Set Apart
Movie

Set Apart

2009

as J.T.

Black as the Heart
Movie

Black as the Heart

1994

as Rod

Listen to a Stranger: An Interview with Gordon Parks
Movie

Listen to a Stranger: An Interview with Gordon Parks

1973

as Self / Shaft (archive footage)

About Richard Roundtree

Richard Roundtree (July 9, 1942 – October 24, 2023) was an American actor. He is noted as being "the first black action hero" for his portrayal of private detective John Shaft in the 1971 film Shaft, and its four sequels, released between 1972 and 2019. For his performance in the original film, he was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year – Actor in 1972. He reprised the role of Shaft in the movie Shaft (2019), starring Samuel L. Jackson. With 151 credits spanning from 1961 to 2024, Richard Roundtree has appeared in 98 films and 53 TV shows.

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