Richard Roundtree
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- Jul 9, 1942
- Died
- Oct 24, 2023 (aged 81)
- Place of birth
- New Rochelle, New York, USA
- Credits
- 152
Richard Arnold 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.
Roundtree died of pancreatic cancer at his home in Los Angeles. He was cremated at Chapel of the Pines Crematory. His family hosted a memorial service for him at Saint Catherine African Methodist Episcopal Church in New Rochelle, New York on February 17, 2024.
Known for
Filmography
Breakdown: 1975
2025Movie
Self (Shaft- archive footage)
Thelma
2024Movie
Ben
Moving On
2023Movie
Ralph
A Choice of Weapons: Inspired by Gordon Parks
2021Movie
Self
Haunting of the Mary Celeste
2020Movie
Tulls
GAME ON: A Comedy Crossover Event
2020TV
Grandpa
A Family Reunion Christmas
2019Movie
Jebidiah McKellan
Family Reunion
2019TV
Grandpa
Harlem to Hollywood
2019Movie
Self
Shaft
2019Movie
John Shaft, Sr.
What Men Want
2019Movie
Skip Davis
Star
2016TV
Charles Floyd
Lethal Weapon
2016TV
Don Bennett
The Player
2015TV
Samuel Letts
Collar
2015Movie
Alonzo Sparks
Being Mary Jane
2013TV
Paul Patterson, Sr.
Chicago Fire
2012TV
Wallace Boden, Sr.
Retreat!
2012Movie
Henshaw
The Confidant
2010Movie
Claude
Whatever She Wants
2010Movie
Theodore Wolf
Diary of a Single Mom
2009Movie
Lou Bailey
Set Apart
2009Movie
J.T.
Ladies of the House
2008Movie
Stan
The Mentalist
2008TV
Floyd Benton
Final Approach
2008Movie
Gary Markash
Speed Racer
2008Movie
Ben Burns
Speed Racer: Wonderful World of Racing - The Amazing Racer Family
2008Movie
Ben Burns
Point of Entry
2007Movie
Miles Porter
Private Practice
2007TV
Raymond McCray
All The Days Before Tomorrow
2007Movie
El Doctor
Lincoln Heights
2007TV
Heroes
2006TV
Charles Deveaux
Blade: The Series
2006TV
Brick
2006Movie
Assistant V.P. Trueman
Wild Seven
2006Movie
Lee Marvin / Cleetus Woods
Painkiller Jane
2005Movie
Colonel Watts
Close to Home
2005TV
Cyrus Carter
The Closer
2005TV
Col. D.B. Walter
Grey's Anatomy
2005TV
Donald Burke
Max Havoc: Curse Of The Dragon
2004Movie
Tahsi
Desperate Housewives
2004TV
Mr. Shaw
Vegas Vampires
2003Movie
Rick Apping
Men Cry in the Dark
2003Movie
Boat Trip
2002Movie
Felicia's Dad
The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow
2002TV
Self - Narrator (voice)
BaadAsssss Cinema
2002Movie
Self
Al's Lads
2002Movie
Boom-Boom
Undercover Brother
2002Movie
John Shaft (archive footage) (uncredited)
Joe and Max
2002Movie
Jack Blackburn
Hawaiian Gardens
2001Movie
M.O.
Corky Romano
2001Movie
Howard Shuster
Alias
2001TV
Brill
Antitrust
2001Movie
Lyle Barton
Soul Food
2000TV
Hardy Lester
Shaft
2000Movie
"Uncle" John Shaft
Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years
1999Movie
Booker T. Washington
Rescue 77
1999TV
Captain Durfee
413 Hope St.
1997TV
Phil Thomas
Steel
1997Movie
Uncle Joe
George of the Jungle
1997Movie
Kwame
Any Place But Home
1997Movie
Gil Oberman
Profiler
1996TV
Det. James Henegar
Original Gangstas
1996Movie
Slick
Buddies
1996TV
Henry Carlisle
Once Upon a Time... When We Were Colored
1996Movie
Cleve
Theodore Rex
1995Movie
Commissioner Lynch
Se7en
1995Movie
Talbot
Ballistic
1995Movie
Harold
Bonanza: Under Attack
1995Movie
Jacob
The Wayans Bros.
1995TV
Dr. Saunders
Touched by an Angel
1994TV
Murray
Shadows of Desire
1994Movie
Dunc
Moscacieca
1994TV
Gray
Body of Influence
1994Movie
Harry Reams
Mind Twister
1994Movie
Frank Webb
Black as the Heart
1994Movie
Rod
Sins of the Night
1993Movie
Les
Bonanza: The Return
1993Movie
Jacob Briscoe
Amityville: A New Generation
1993Movie
Pauli
Deadly Rivals
1993Movie
Agent Peterson
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman
1993TV
'Barracuda' Jim Barnes
Christmas in Connecticut
1992Movie
Prescott
Hangin' with Mr. Cooper
1992TV
General (uncredited), Chester Cooper
Renegade
1992TV
Vicki!
1992TV
Self
Bloodfist III: Forced to Fight
1992Movie
Samuel Stark
A Time to Die
1991Movie
Captain Ralph Phipps
Roc
1991TV
Russell Emerson
Beverly Hills, 90210
1990TV
Robinson Ashe Jr.
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
1990TV
Dr. Mumford
Dream On
1990TV
Dr. Charles
Gypsy Angels
1990Movie
Dr. Carlson
Bad Jim
1990Movie
July
The Banker
1990Movie
Lloyd
Crack House
1989Movie
Lt. Johnson
Night Visitor
1989Movie
Captain Crane
Miami Cops
1989Movie
Gamble
Angel III: The Final Chapter
1988Movie
Lt. Doniger
Party Line
1988Movie
Captain Barnes
Getting Even
1988Movie
Dundee
Maniac Cop
1988Movie
Commissioner Pike
Daddy Can't Read
1988Movie
Jason Ruigh
Beauty and the Beast
1987TV
Cleon Manning
A Different World
1987TV
Clinton Reese
21 Jump Street
1987TV
Ben Halley
Outlaws
1986TV
Isaiah 'Ice' McAdams
Jocks
1986Movie
Chip
Amen
1986TV
L.A. Law
1986TV
Judge Ira Menday
Opposing Force
1986Movie
Stafford
The Fifth Missile
1986Movie
Cmdr. Frederick Bryce
MacGyver
1985TV
R.T. Hines
Hollywood Beat
1985TV
A.D.
1985TV
Serpenius
City Heat
1984Movie
Dehl Swift
The Baron and the Kid
1984Movie
Frosty
Murder, She Wrote
1984TV
Kevin Cooper
Killpoint
1984Movie
Agent Bill Bryant
Masquerade
1983TV
Mean Willy
Young Warriors
1983Movie
Sergeant John Austin
Just an Overnight Guest
1983Movie
The Big Score
1983Movie
Gordon
One Down, Two to Go
1982Movie
Ralph
Q
1982Movie
Powell
An Eye for an Eye
1981Movie
Capt. Stevens
Inchon
1981Movie
Sgt. Augustus Henderson
Magnum, P.I.
1980TV
Peter Jordan
Day of the Assassin
1979Movie
Fessler
Game for Vultures
1979Movie
Gideon Marunga
Escape to Athena
1979Movie
Nat Judson
Portrait of a Hitman
1979Movie
Coco Morrell
The Love Boat
1977TV
Dave Wilbur
CHiPs
1977TV
Sgt. Aikens
Roots
1977TV
Sam Bennett
Diamonds
1975Movie
Archie
Man Friday
1975Movie
Friday
Earthquake
1974Movie
Miles Quade
Dinah!
1974TV
Self
Shaft
1973TV
John Shaft
The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts
1973TV
Self
Shaft in Africa
1973Movie
John Shaft
Charley-One-Eye
1973Movie
The Black Man
Listen to a Stranger: An Interview with Gordon Parks
1973Movie
Self / Shaft (archive footage)
Firehouse
1973Movie
Shelly Forsythe
Nationtime: Gary
1972Movie
Self
Shaft's Big Score!
1972Movie
John Shaft
Embassy
1972Movie
Dick Shannon
Shaft
1971Movie
John Shaft
Soul in Cinema: Filming 'Shaft' on Location
1971Movie
Self
What Do You Say to a Naked Lady?
1970Movie
Interracial Couple
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962TV
Self
The Mike Douglas Show
1961TV
Self