Richard Roundtree
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.
Photos
Movies (99)
Breakdown: 1975
2025 · (archive footage)
Thelma: Una abuela en acción
2024 · Ben, In Memory Of
Volver a empezar
2023 · Ralph
Una Elección De Armas: Inspirados Por Gordon Parks
2021 · Self
La maldición del Mary Celeste
2020 · Tulls
Reunión familiar navideña
2019 · Jebidiah McKellan
Harlem to Hollywood
2019 · Self
Shaft
2019 · John Shaft, Sr.
Lo que ellos quieren
2019 · Skip Davis
Collar
2015 · Alonzo Sparks
Django sin Cadenas
2012 · Thanks
Retreat!
2012 · Henshaw
El Confidente
2010 · Claude
Whatever She Wants
2010 · Theodore Wolf
Diary of a Single Mom
2009 · Lou Bailey
Set Apart
2009 · J.T.
Ladies of the House
2008 · Stan
Final Approach
2008 · Gary Markash
Meteoro: La película
2008 · Ben Burns
Speed Racer: Wonderful World of Racing - The Amazing Racer Family
2008 · Ben Burns
Point of Entry
2007 · Miles Porter
All The Days Before Tomorrow
2007 · El Doctor
Brick
2006 · Assistant V.P. Trueman
Wild Seven
2006 · Lee Marvin / Cleetus Woods
Painkiller Jane
2005 · Colonel Watts
Max Havoc: Curse Of The Dragon
2004 · Tahsi
Vegas Vampires
2003 · Rick Apping
Men Cry in the Dark
2003
El crucero de las locas
2002 · Felicia's Dad
BaadAsssss Cinema
2002 · Self
Al's Lads
2002 · Boom-Boom
Un héroe encubierto
2002 · John Shaft (archive footage) (uncredited)
Joe and Max
2002 · Jack Blackburn
Hawaiian Gardens
2001 · M.O.
Corky Romano
2001 · Howard Shuster
Amenaza Virtual
2001 · Lyle Barton
Shaft
2000 · "Uncle" John Shaft
Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years
1999 · Booker T. Washington
Steel
1997 · Uncle Joe
George of the Jungle
1997 · Kwame
Any Place But Home
1997 · Gil Oberman
Original Gangstas
1996 · Slick
Once Upon a Time... When We Were Colored
1996 · Cleve
Theodore Rex
1995 · Commissioner Lynch
Se7en
1995 · Talbot
Ballistic
1995 · Harold
Bonanza: Under Attack
1995 · Jacob
Shadows of Desire
1994 · Dunc
Body of Influence
1994 · Harry Reams
Mind Twister
1994 · Frank Webb
Black as the Heart
1994 · Rod
Sins of the Night
1993 · Les
Bonanza: The Return
1993 · Jacob Briscoe
Amityville: A New Generation
1993 · Pauli
Deadly Rivals
1993 · Agent Peterson
Christmas in Connecticut
1992 · Prescott
Bloodfist III: Forced to Fight
1992 · Samuel Stark
A Time to Die
1991 · Captain Ralph Phipps
Gypsy Angels
1990 · Dr. Carlson
Bad Jim
1990 · July
The Banker
1990 · Lloyd
Crack House
1989 · Lt. Johnson
Night Visitor
1989 · Captain Crane
Miami Cops
1989 · Gamble
Angel III: The Final Chapter
1988 · Lt. Doniger
Party Line
1988 · Captain Barnes
Getting Even
1988 · Dundee
Maniac Cop
1988 · Commissioner Pike
Daddy Can't Read
1988 · Jason Ruigh
Jocks
1986 · Chip
Opposing Force
1986 · Stafford
The Fifth Missile
1986 · Cmdr. Frederick Bryce
City Heat
1984 · Dehl Swift
The Baron and the Kid
1984 · Frosty
Killpoint
1984 · Agent Bill Bryant
Young Warriors
1983 · Sergeant John Austin
Just an Overnight Guest
1983
The Big Score
1983 · Gordon
One Down, Two to Go
1982 · Ralph
Q
1982 · Powell
An Eye for an Eye
1981 · Capt. Stevens
Inchon
1981 · Sgt. Augustus Henderson
Day of the Assassin
1979 · Fessler
Game for Vultures
1979 · Gideon Marunga
Escape to Athena
1979 · Nat Judson
Portrait of a Hitman
1979 · Coco Morrell
Diamonds
1975 · Archie
Man Friday
1975 · Friday
Earthquake
1974 · Miles Quade
Shaft in Africa
1973 · John Shaft
Charley-One-Eye
1973 · The Black Man
Listen to a Stranger: An Interview with Gordon Parks
1973 · Self / Shaft (archive footage)
Firehouse
1973 · Shelly Forsythe
Nationtime: Gary
1972 · Self
Shaft's Big Score!
1972 · John Shaft
Embassy
1972 · Dick Shannon
Shaft
1971 · John Shaft
Soul in Cinema: Filming 'Shaft' on Location
1971 · Self
What Do You Say to a Naked Lady?
1970 · Interracial Couple
TV shows (54)
GAME ON: A Comedy Crossover Event
2020 · Grandpa
Reunión familiar
2019 · Grandpa
Star
2016 · Charles Floyd
Arma Mortal
2016 · Don Bennett
The Player
2015 · Samuel Letts
Being Mary Jane
2013 · Paul Patterson, Sr.
Chicago Fire
2012 · Wallace Boden, Sr.
El mentalista
2008 · Floyd Benton
Private Practice
2007 · Raymond McCray
Lincoln Heights
2007
Héroes
2006 · Charles Deveaux
Blade: La serie
2006
Close to Home
2005 · Cyrus Carter
Caso Resuelto
2005 · Col. D.B. Walter
Grey's Anatomy
2005 · Donald Burke
Esposas Desesperadas
2004 · Mr. Shaw
The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow
2002 · Self - Narrator (voice)
Alias
2001 · Brill
Soul Food
2000 · Hardy Lester
Rescue 77
1999 · Captain Durfee
413 Hope St.
1997 · Phil Thomas
Profiler
1996 · Det. James Henegar
Buddies
1996 · Henry Carlisle
The Wayans Bros.
1995 · Dr. Saunders
Touched by an Angel
1994 · Murray
Moscacieca
1994 · Gray
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman
1993 · 'Barracuda' Jim Barnes
Hangin' with Mr. Cooper
1992 · General (uncredited), Chester Cooper
Renegade
1992
Vicki!
1992 · Self
Roc
1991 · Russell Emerson
Beverly Hills, 90210
1990 · Robinson Ashe Jr.
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
1990 · Dr. Mumford
Dream On
1990 · Dr. Charles
Beauty and the Beast
1987 · Cleon Manning
A Different World
1987 · Clinton Reese
21 Jump Street
1987 · Ben Halley
Outlaws
1986 · Isaiah 'Ice' McAdams
Amen
1986
L.A. Law
1986 · Judge Ira Menday
MacGyver
1985 · R.T. Hines
Hollywood Beat
1985
A.D.
1985 · Serpenius
Murder, She Wrote
1984 · Kevin Cooper
Masquerade
1983 · Mean Willy
Magnum, P.I.
1980 · Peter Jordan
The Love Boat
1977 · Dave Wilbur
CHiPs
1977 · Sgt. Aikens
Roots
1977 · Sam Bennett
Dinah!
1974 · Self
Shaft
1973 · John Shaft
The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts
1973 · Self
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962 · Self
The Mike Douglas Show
1961 · Self