Richard Roundtree

Personal Info

Birthday

July 9, 1942

Day of Death

2023-10-24

(81 years old)

Place of Birth

New Rochelle, New York, USA

Richard Roundtree

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

Grey's Anatomy

The Mentalist

Chicago Fire

Desperate Housewives

Murder, She Wrote

The Love Boat

MacGyver

Heroes

Filmography

2024
Thelma
as Ben
2023
Moving On
as Ralph
2021
A Choice of Weapons: Inspired by Gordon Parks
as Self
2020
Haunting of the Mary Celeste
as Tulls
2019
A Family Reunion Christmas
as Jebidiah McKellan
Harlem to Hollywood
as Self
What Men Want
as Skip Davis
2015
Collar
as Alonzo Sparks
2012
Retreat!
as Henshaw
2010
The Confidant
as Claude
Whatever She Wants
as Theodore Wolf
2009
Diary of a Single Mom
as Lou Bailey
Set Apart
as J.T.
2008
Ladies of the House
as Stan
Final Approach
as Gary Markash
Speed Racer
as Ben Burns
2007
Point of Entry
as Miles Porter
All The Days Before Tomorrow
as El Doctor
2006
Brick
as Assistant V.P. Trueman
Wild Seven
as Lee Marvin / Cleetus Woods
2005
Painkiller Jane
as Colonel Watts
2004
Max Havoc: Curse Of The Dragon
as Tahsi
2003
Vegas Vampires
as Rick Apping
2002
Boat Trip
as Felicia's Dad
BaadAsssss Cinema
as Self
Al's Lads
as Boom-Boom
Undercover Brother
as John Shaft (archive footage) (uncredited)
Joe and Max
as Jack Blackburn
2001
Hawaiian Gardens
as M.O.
Corky Romano
as Howard Shuster
Antitrust
as Lyle Barton
2000
Shaft
as "Uncle" John Shaft
1999
Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years
as Booker T. Washington
1997
Steel
as Uncle Joe
George of the Jungle
as Kwame
Any Place But Home
as Gil Oberman
1996
Original Gangstas
as Slick
Once Upon a Time... When We Were Colored
as Cleve
1995
Theodore Rex
as Commissioner Lynch
Se7en
as Talbot
Ballistic
as Harold
Bonanza: Under Attack
as Jacob
1994
Shadows of Desire
as Dunc
Blind Man's Bluff
as Gray
Mind Twister
as Frank Webb
Black as the Heart
as Rod
1993
Sins of the Night
as Les
Bonanza: The Return
as Jacob Briscoe
Amityville: A New Generation
as Pauli
Deadly Rivals
as Agent Peterson
Body of Influence
as Harry Reams
1992
Christmas in Connecticut
as Prescott
Bloodfist III: Forced to Fight
as Samuel Stark
1991
A Time to Die
as Captain Ralph Phipps
1990
Gypsy Angels
as Dr. Carlson
Bad Jim
as July
1989
The Banker
as Lloyd
Crack House
as Lt. Johnson
Night Visitor
as Captain Crane
Miami Cops
as Gamble
1988
Angel III: The Final Chapter
as Lt. Doniger
Party Line
as Captain Barnes
Getting Even
as Dundee
Maniac Cop
as Commissioner Pike
Daddy Can't Read
as Jason Ruigh
1986
Jocks
as Chip
Opposing Force
as Stafford
The Fifth Missile
as Cmdr. Frederick Bryce
1984
City Heat
as Dehl Swift
The Baron and the Kid
as Frosty
Killpoint
as Agent Bill Bryant
1983
Young Warriors
as Sergeant John Austin
The Big Score
as Gordon
1982
One Down, Two to Go
as Ralph
Q
as Powell
1981
An Eye for an Eye
as Capt. Stevens
Inchon
as Sgt. Augustus Henderson
1979
Day of the Assassin
as Fessler
Game for Vultures
as Gideon Marunga
Escape to Athena
as Nat Judson
Portrait of a Hitman
as Coco Morrell
1975
Diamonds
as Archie
Man Friday
as Friday
1974
Earthquake
as Miles Quade
1973
Shaft in Africa
as John Shaft
Charley-One-Eye
as The Black Man
Firehouse
as Shelly Forsythe
1972
Nationtime
as Self
Shaft's Big Score!
as John Shaft
Embassy
as Dick Shannon
1971
Soul in Cinema: Filming 'Shaft' on Location
as Self
1970
What Do You Say to a Naked Lady
as Interracial Couple