Richard Roundtree
Acting • Born 1942-07-09 – Died 2023-10-24
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.
Filmography
152 credits
Shaft
Movie • 2000
"Uncle" John Shaft
Shaft
Movie • 1971
John Shaft
Shaft in Africa
Movie • 1973
John Shaft
Shaft's Big Score!
Movie • 1972
John Shaft
Wild Seven
Movie • 2006
Lee Marvin / Cleetus Woods
Se7en
Movie • 1995
Talbot
George of the Jungle
Movie • 1997
Kwame
Earthquake
Movie • 1974
Miles Quade
Al's Lads
Movie • 2002
Boom-Boom
Young Warriors
Movie • 1983
Sergeant John Austin
Speed Racer
Movie • 2008
Ben Burns
Steel
Movie • 1997
Uncle Joe
Amityville: A New Generation
Movie • 1993
Pauli
Brick
Movie • 2006
Assistant V.P. Trueman
Antitrust
Movie • 2001
Lyle Barton
The Banker
Movie • 1989
Lloyd
Q
Movie • 1982
Powell
Opposing Force
Movie • 1986
Stafford
Escape to Athena
Movie • 1979
Nat Judson
Theodore Rex
Movie • 1995
Commissioner Lynch
Maniac Cop
Movie • 1988
Commissioner Pike
An Eye for an Eye
Movie • 1981
Capt. Stevens
The Confidant
Movie • 2010
Claude
City Heat
Movie • 1984
Dehl Swift
Ladies of the House
Movie • 2008
Stan
BaadAsssss Cinema
Movie • 2002
Self
Corky Romano
Movie • 2001
Howard Shuster
Angel III: The Final Chapter
Movie • 1988
Lt. Doniger
Jocks
Movie • 1986
Chip
Crack House
Movie • 1989
Lt. Johnson
The Baron and the Kid
Movie • 1984
Frosty
Hawaiian Gardens
Movie • 2001
M.O.
Portrait of a Hitman
Movie • 1979
Coco Morrell
Painkiller Jane
Movie • 2005
Colonel Watts
Charley One-Eye
Movie • 1973
The Black Man
A Time to Die
Movie • 1991
Captain Ralph Phipps
Man Friday
Movie • 1975
Friday
Christmas in Connecticut
Movie • 1992
Prescott
Bloodfist III: Forced to Fight
Movie • 1992
Samuel Stark
One Down, Two to Go
Movie • 1982
Ralph
Night Visitor
Movie • 1989
Captain Crane
The Big Score
Movie • 1983
Gordon
Diamonds
Movie • 1975
Archie
Men Cry in the Dark
Movie • 2003
Party Line
Movie • 1988
Captain Barnes
Bad Jim
Movie • 1990
July
Getting Even
Movie • 1988
Dundee
Moving On
Movie • 2023
Ralph
Joe and Max
Movie • 2002
Jack Blackburn
Inchon
Movie • 1981
Sgt. Augustus Henderson
The Fifth Missile
Movie • 1986
Cmdr. Frederick Bryce
Set Apart
Movie • 2009
J.T.
Sins of the Night
Movie • 1993
Les
Gypsy Angels
Movie • 1990
Dr. Carlson
Day of the Assassin
Movie • 1979
Fessler
Game for Vultures
Movie • 1979
Gideon Marunga
Any Place But Home
Movie • 1997
Gil Oberman
Undercover Brother
Movie • 2002
John Shaft (archive footage) (uncredited)
Killpoint
Movie • 1984
Agent Bill Bryant
Blind Man's Bluff
Movie • 1994
Gray
Deadly Rivals
Movie • 1993
Agent Peterson
What Do You Say to a Naked Lady?
Movie • 1970
Interracial Couple
Original Gangstas
Movie • 1996
Slick
All The Days Before Tomorrow
Movie • 2007
El Doctor
Whatever She Wants
Movie • 2010
Theodore Wolf
Thelma
Movie • 2024
Ben
Max Havoc: Curse Of The Dragon
Movie • 2004
Tahsi
Embassy
Movie • 1972
Dick Shannon
Once Upon a Time... When We Were Colored
Movie • 1996
Cleve
Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years
Movie • 1999
Booker T. Washington
Body of Influence
Movie • 1994
Harry Reams
Harlem to Hollywood
Movie • 2019
Self
Boat Trip
Movie • 2002
Felicia's Dad
Retreat!
Movie • 2012
Henshaw
Daddy Can't Read
Movie • 1988
Jason Ruigh
Mind Twister
Movie • 1994
Frank Webb
Point of Entry
Movie • 2007
Miles Porter
Just an Overnight Guest
Movie • 1983
Soul in Cinema: Filming 'Shaft' on Location
Movie • 1971
Self
Firehouse
Movie • 1973
Shelly Forsythe
Shadows of Desire
Movie • 1994
Dunc
Shaft
Movie • 2019
John Shaft, Sr.
Miami Cops
Movie • 1989
Gamble
Bonanza: The Return
Movie • 1993
Jacob Briscoe
Bonanza: Under Attack
Movie • 1995
Jacob
Collar
Movie • 2015
Alonzo Sparks
Black as the Heart
Movie • 1994
Rod
What Men Want
Movie • 2019
Skip Davis
A Family Reunion Christmas
Movie • 2019
Jebidiah McKellan
Diary of a Single Mom
Movie • 2009
Lou Bailey
Nationtime
Movie • 1972
Self
Haunting of the Mary Celeste
Movie • 2020
Tulls
Final Approach
Movie • 2008
Gary Markash
Vegas Vampires
Movie • 2003
Rick Apping
A Choice of Weapons: Inspired by Gordon Parks
Movie • 2021
Self
Ballistic
Movie • 1995
Harold
Speed Racer: Wonderful World of Racing - The Amazing Racer Family
Movie • 2008
Ben Burns
Listen to a Stranger: An Interview with Gordon Parks
Movie • 1973
Self / Shaft (archive footage)
Murder, She Wrote
TV • 1984
Major Kevin Cooper
A Different World
TV • 1987
Clinton Reese
Magnum, P.I.
TV • 1980
Peter Jordan
CHiPs
TV • 1977
Sgt. Aikens
Rescue 77
TV • 1999
Captain Durfee
Lincoln Heights
TV • 2007
The Closer
TV • 2005
Col. D.B. Walter
Desperate Housewives
TV • 2004
Mr. Shaw
L.A. Law
TV • 1986
Judge Ira Menday
Beverly Hills, 90210
TV • 1990
Robinson Ashe Jr.
Heroes
TV • 2006
Charles Deveaux
Alias
TV • 2001
Brill
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
TV • 1990
Dr. Mumford
The Wayans Bros.
TV • 1995
Dr. Saunders
Beauty and the Beast
TV • 1987
Family Reunion
TV • 2019
Grandpa
Soul Food
TV • 2000
Hardy Lester
MacGyver
TV • 1985
R.T. Hines
Profiler
TV • 1996
Det. James Henegar
Outlaws
TV • 1986
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman
TV • 1993
'Barracuda' Jim Barnes
Blade: The Series
TV • 2006
Close to Home
TV • 2005
Cyrus Carter
Shaft
TV • 1973
John Shaft
Amen
TV • 1986
Buddies
TV • 1996
Henry Carlisle
Hollywood Beat
TV • 1985
413 Hope St.
TV • 1997
Phil Thomas
Renegade
TV • 1992
Masquerade
TV • 1983
Mean Willy
Being Mary Jane
TV • 2013
Paul Patterson, Sr.
Grey's Anatomy
TV • 2005
Donald Burke
The Mentalist
TV • 2008
Floyd Benton
The Player
TV • 2015
Samuel Letts
Chicago Fire
TV • 2012
Wallace Boden, Sr.
Private Practice
TV • 2007
Raymond McCray
The Mike Douglas Show
TV • 1961
Self
Vicki!
TV • 1992
Self
Dinah!
TV • 1974
Self
Roots
TV • 1977
Sam Bennett
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
TV • 1962
Self
Roc
TV • 1991
Russell Emerson
A.D.
TV • 1985
Serpenius
Hangin' with Mr. Cooper
TV • 1992
General (uncredited)
Lethal Weapon
TV • 2016
Don Bennett
Touched by an Angel
TV • 1994
Murray
The Love Boat
TV • 1977
Dave Wilbur
Star
TV • 2016
Charles Floyd
Dream On
TV • 1990
Dr. Charles
GAME ON: A Comedy Crossover Event
TV • 2020
Grandpa
The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts
TV • 1973
Self
21 Jump Street
TV • 1987
Ben Halley
The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow
TV • 2002
Self - Narrator (voice)
Hangin' with Mr. Cooper
TV • 1992
Chester Cooper