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.
Filmography · 151
The Mentalist
2008 · Floyd Benton
Grey's Anatomy
2005 · Donald Burke
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962 · Self
Desperate Housewives
2004 · Mr. Shaw
Chicago Fire
2012 · Wallace Boden, Sr.
Murder, She Wrote
1984 · Kevin Cooper
The Love Boat
1977 · Dave Wilbur
The Mike Douglas Show
1961 · Self
The Closer
2005 · Col. D.B. Walter
Heroes
2006 · Charles Deveaux
Beverly Hills, 90210
1990 · Robinson Ashe Jr.
MacGyver
1985 · R.T. Hines
Magnum, P.I.
1980 · Peter Jordan
Private Practice
2007 · Raymond McCray
Se7en
1995 · Talbot
21 Jump Street
1987 · Ben Halley
Lethal Weapon
2016 · Don Bennett
L.A. Law
1986 · Judge Ira Menday
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman
1993 · 'Barracuda' Jim Barnes
Touched by an Angel
1994 · Murray
Renegade
1992
Profiler
1996 · Det. James Henegar
A Different World
1987 · Clinton Reese
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
1990 · Dr. Mumford
Dinah!
1974 · Self
Close to Home
2005 · Cyrus Carter
Family Reunion
2019 · Grandpa
The Wayans Bros.
1995 · Dr. Saunders
Star
2016 · Charles Floyd
Dream On
1990 · Dr. Charles
Hangin' with Mr. Cooper
1992 · General (uncredited)
Roots
1977 · Sam Bennett
CHiPs
1977 · Sgt. Aikens
Amen
1986
The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts
1973 · Self
Speed Racer
2008 · Ben Burns
George of the Jungle
1997 · Kwame
Being Mary Jane
2013 · Paul Patterson, Sr.
Alias
2001 · Brill
Blade: The Series
2006
Lincoln Heights
2007
The Player
2015 · Samuel Letts
What Men Want
2019 · Skip Davis
Masquerade
1983 · Mean Willy
A.D.
1985 · Serpenius
Soul Food
2000 · Hardy Lester
Boat Trip
2002 · Felicia's Dad
Shaft
2000 · "Uncle" John Shaft
Roc
1991 · Russell Emerson
Shaft
2019 · John Shaft, Sr.
Earthquake
1974 · Miles Quade
Buddies
1996 · Henry Carlisle
Undercover Brother
2002 · John Shaft (archive fo...
Hollywood Beat
1985
GAME ON: A Comedy Crossover Event
2020 · Grandpa
Shaft
1971 · John Shaft
Thelma
2024 · Ben
Rescue 77
1999 · Captain Durfee
Brick
2006 · Assistant V.P. Trueman
Breakdown: 1975
2025 · Self (Shaft- archive f...
An Eye for an Eye
1981 · Capt. Stevens
Maniac Cop
1988 · Commissioner Pike
Escape to Athena
1979 · Nat Judson
Steel
1997 · Uncle Joe
Antitrust
2001 · Lyle Barton
Outlaws
1986 · Isaiah 'Ice' McAdams
413 Hope St.
1997 · Phil Thomas
Bad Jim
1990 · July
City Heat
1984 · Dehl Swift
Moving On
2023 · Ralph
Man Friday
1975 · Friday
Party Line
1988 · Captain Barnes
Shaft
1973 · John Shaft
Q
1982 · Powell
Corky Romano
2001 · Howard Shuster
Nationtime: Gary
1972 · Self
Amityville: A New Generation
1993 · Pauli
Hawaiian Gardens
2001 · M.O.
Inchon
1981 · Sgt. Augustus Henderso...
The Banker
1989 · Lloyd
Angel III: The Final Chapter
1988 · Lt. Doniger
Max Havoc: Curse Of The Dragon
2004 · Tahsi
Haunting of the Mary Celeste
2020 · Tulls
Crack House
1989 · Lt. Johnson
Getting Even
1988 · Dundee
Bloodfist III: Forced to Fight
1992 · Samuel Stark
Shaft's Big Score!
1972 · John Shaft
Night Visitor
1989 · Captain Crane
Sins of the Night
1993 · Les
Speed Racer: Wonderful World of Racing - The Amazing Racer Family
2008 · Ben Burns
The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow
2002 · Self - Narrator (voice...
Body of Influence
1994 · Harry Reams
Original Gangstas
1996 · Slick
Opposing Force
1986 · Stafford
Theodore Rex
1995 · Commissioner Lynch
Beauty and the Beast
1987 · Cleon Manning
Ladies of the House
2008 · Stan
Any Place But Home
1997 · Gil Oberman
Shaft in Africa
1973 · John Shaft
Vegas Vampires
2003 · Rick Apping
Harlem to Hollywood
2019 · Self
Jocks
1986 · Chip
Bonanza: The Return
1993 · Jacob Briscoe
Painkiller Jane
2005 · Colonel Watts
Soul in Cinema: Filming 'Shaft' on Location
1971 · Self
Bonanza: Under Attack
1995 · Jacob
Portrait of a Hitman
1979 · Coco Morrell
Point of Entry
2007 · Miles Porter
A Time to Die
1991 · Captain Ralph Phipps
Final Approach
2008 · Gary Markash
Joe and Max
2002 · Jack Blackburn
Christmas in Connecticut
1992 · Prescott
The Big Score
1983 · Gordon
Embassy
1972 · Dick Shannon
A Family Reunion Christmas
2019 · Jebidiah McKellan
Wild Seven
2006 · Lee Marvin / Cleetus W...
A Choice of Weapons: Inspired by Gordon Parks
2021 · Self
Ballistic
1995 · Harold
Shadows of Desire
1994 · Dunc
Whatever She Wants
2010 · Theodore Wolf
Just an Overnight Guest
1983
Men Cry in the Dark
2003
BaadAsssss Cinema
2002 · Self
All The Days Before Tomorrow
2007 · El Doctor
Day of the Assassin
1979 · Fessler
The Baron and the Kid
1984 · Frosty
One Down, Two to Go
1982 · Ralph
The Fifth Missile
1986 · Cmdr. Frederick Bryce
Young Warriors
1983 · Sergeant John Austin
Collar
2015 · Alonzo Sparks
Firehouse
1973 · Shelly Forsythe
Al's Lads
2002 · Boom-Boom
Diary of a Single Mom
2009 · Lou Bailey
Mind Twister
1994 · Frank Webb
Game for Vultures
1979 · Gideon Marunga
Killpoint
1984 · Agent Bill Bryant
The Confidant
2010 · Claude
Deadly Rivals
1993 · Agent Peterson
Black as the Heart
1994 · Rod
Charley-One-Eye
1973 · The Black Man
Gypsy Angels
1990 · Dr. Carlson
Miami Cops
1989 · Gamble
Once Upon a Time... When We Were Colored
1996 · Cleve
Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years
1999 · Booker T. Washington
Set Apart
2009 · J.T.
Diamonds
1975 · Archie
What Do You Say to a Naked Lady?
1970 · Interracial Couple
Daddy Can't Read
1988 · Jason Ruigh
Retreat!
2012 · Henshaw
Blind Man's Bluff
1994 · Gray
Listen to a Stranger: An Interview with Gordon Parks
1973 · Self / Shaft (archive...