Richard Roundtree
Acting
Biography
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.
Notable Works
Prominent titles featuring Richard Roundtree
Filmography
Acting (98)
2025
Breakdown: 1975as Self (Shaft- archive footage)
6.9
2024
Thelmaas Ben
6.8
2023
Moving Onas Ralph
5.9
6.8
2020
Haunting of the Mary Celesteas Tulls
5.1
2019
A Family Reunion Christmasas Jebidiah McKellan
5.9
2019
Harlem to Hollywoodas Self
2019
Shaftas John Shaft, Sr.
6.5
2019
What Men Wantas Skip Davis
6.2
2015
Collaras Alonzo Sparks
2012
Retreat!as Henshaw
2010
The Confidantas Claude
4.6
2010
Whatever She Wantsas Theodore Wolf
6.7
2009
Diary of a Single Momas Lou Bailey
4.0
2009
Set Apartas J.T.
3.0
2008
Ladies of the Houseas Stan
4.5
2008
Final Approachas Gary Markash
5.1
2008
Speed Raceras Ben Burns
6.4
7.0
2007
Point of Entryas Miles Porter
4.8
2007
All The Days Before Tomorrowas El Doctor
7.3
2006
Brickas Assistant V.P. Trueman
6.8
2006
Wild Sevenas Lee Marvin / Cleetus Woods
4.3
2005
Painkiller Janeas Colonel Watts
5.1
2004
Max Havoc: Curse Of The Dragonas Tahsi
5.0
2003
Vegas Vampiresas Rick Apping
4.3
7.0
2002
Boat Tripas Felicia's Dad
5.2
2002
BaadAsssss Cinemaas Self
6.0
2002
Al's Ladsas Boom-Boom
6.6
2002
Undercover Brotheras John Shaft (archive footage) (uncredited)
5.9
2002
Joe and Maxas Jack Blackburn
5.1
2001
Hawaiian Gardensas M.O.
3.0
2001
Corky Romanoas Howard Shuster
4.5
2001
Antitrustas Lyle Barton
6.0
2000
Shaftas "Uncle" John Shaft
6.0
1999
Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Yearsas Booker T. Washington
7.3
1997
Steelas Uncle Joe
4.2
1997
George of the Jungleas Kwame
5.7
1997
Any Place But Homeas Gil Oberman
9.0
1996
Original Gangstasas Slick
5.6
1996
4.2
1995
Theodore Rexas Commissioner Lynch
3.6
1995
Se7enas Talbot
8.4
1995
Ballisticas Harold
3.5
1995
Bonanza: Under Attackas Jacob
6.7
1994
Shadows of Desireas Dunc
2.6
1994
Body of Influenceas Harry Reams
4.9
1994
Mind Twisteras Frank Webb
3.8
1994
Black as the Heartas Rod
9.0
1993
Sins of the Nightas Les
4.4
1993
Bonanza: The Returnas Jacob Briscoe
6.5
1993
Amityville: A New Generationas Pauli
4.3
1993
Deadly Rivalsas Agent Peterson
6.4
1992
Christmas in Connecticutas Prescott
4.7
1992
Bloodfist III: Forced to Fightas Samuel Stark
4.8
1991
A Time to Dieas Captain Ralph Phipps
4.5
1990
Gypsy Angelsas Dr. Carlson
3.4
1990
Bad Jimas July
7.5
1990
The Bankeras Lloyd
4.5
1989
Crack Houseas Lt. Johnson
5.5
1989
Night Visitoras Captain Crane
4.3
1989
Miami Copsas Gamble
6.7
1988
Angel III: The Final Chapteras Lt. Doniger
5.4
1988
Party Lineas Captain Barnes
5.2
1988
Getting Evenas Dundee
4.8
1988
Maniac Copas Commissioner Pike
6.1
1988
Daddy Can't Readas Jason Ruigh
9.0
1986
Jocksas Chip
4.3
1986
Opposing Forceas Stafford
4.4
1986
The Fifth Missileas Cmdr. Frederick Bryce
5.5
1984
City Heatas Dehl Swift
5.5
1984
The Baron and the Kidas Frosty
8.0
1984
Killpointas Agent Bill Bryant
5.2
1983
Young Warriorsas Sergeant John Austin
3.9
7.0
1983
The Big Scoreas Gordon
6.0
1982
One Down, Two to Goas Ralph
4.7
1982
Qas Powell
5.7
1981
An Eye for an Eyeas Capt. Stevens
5.3
1981
Inchonas Sgt. Augustus Henderson
3.9
1979
Day of the Assassinas Fessler
4.9
1979
Game for Vulturesas Gideon Marunga
5.2
1979
Escape to Athenaas Nat Judson
5.8
1979
Portrait of a Hitmanas Coco Morrell
5.2
1975
Diamondsas Archie
5.3
1975
Man Fridayas Friday
6.7
1974
Earthquakeas Miles Quade
6.2
1973
Shaft in Africaas John Shaft
6.1
1973
Charley-One-Eyeas The Black Man
5.3
1973
Listen to a Stranger: An Interview with Gordon Parksas Self / Shaft (archive footage)
6.0
1973
Firehouseas Shelly Forsythe
5.0
1972
Nationtime: Garyas Self
8.0
1972
Shaft's Big Score!as John Shaft
6.1
1972
Embassyas Dick Shannon
6.5
1971
Shaftas John Shaft
6.4
1971
7.3
1970
What Do You Say to a Naked Lady?as Interracial Couple
5.0
Production & Directing (2)
2024
ThelmaIn Memory Of
6.8
2012
Django UnchainedThanks
8.2