Richard Roundtree
92 movies · 48 TV shows
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- Jul 9, 1942
- Died
- Oct 24, 2023 (age 81)
- Place of birth
- New Rochelle, New York, USA
- Also known as
- Richard Arnold Roundtree
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.
Known for
Richard Roundtree: movies and TV shows
Acting (139)
- 2024 Thelma
as Ben
- 2023 Moving On
as Ralph
- 2020 Haunting of the Mary Celeste
as Tulls
- 2020
- 2019 A Family Reunion Christmas
as Jebidiah McKellan
- 2019
- 2019 Shaft
as John Shaft, Sr.
- 2019 What Men Want
as Skip Davis
- 2016
- 2016
- 2015
- 2015 Collar
as Alonzo Sparks
- 2013
- 2012
- 2012 Retreat!
as Henshaw
- 2010 The Confidant
as Claude
- 2010 Whatever She Wants
as Theodore Wolf
- 2009 Diary of a Single Mom
as Lou Bailey
- 2009 Set Apart
as J.T.
- 2008 Ladies of the House
as Stan
- 2008
- 2008 Final Approach
as Gary Markash
- 2008 Speed Racer
as Ben Burns
- 2008
- 2007 Point of Entry
as Miles Porter
- 2007
- 2007 All The Days Before Tomorrow
as El Doctor
- 2007
- 2006
- 2006
- 2006 Brick
as Assistant V.P. Trueman
- 2006 Wild Seven
as Lee Marvin / Cleetus Woods
- 2005 Painkiller Jane
as Colonel Watts
- 2005
- 2005
- 2005
- 2004 Max Havoc: Curse Of The Dragon
as Tahsi
- 2004
- 2003 Vegas Vampires
as Rick Apping
- 2003
- 2002 Boat Trip
as Felicia's Dad
- 2002 Al's Lads
as Boom-Boom
- 2002 Undercover Brother
as John Shaft (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 2002 Joe and Max
as Jack Blackburn
- 2001 Hawaiian Gardens
as M.O.
- 2001 Corky Romano
as Howard Shuster
- 2001
- 2001 Antitrust
as Lyle Barton
- 2000
- 2000 Shaft
as "Uncle" John Shaft
- 1999 Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years
as Booker T. Washington
- 1999
- 1997
- 1997 Steel
as Uncle Joe
- 1997 George of the Jungle
as Kwame
- 1997 Any Place But Home
as Gil Oberman
- 1996
- 1996 Original Gangstas
as Slick
- 1996
- 1996
- 1995 Theodore Rex
as Commissioner Lynch
- 1995 Se7en
as Talbot
- 1995 Ballistic
as Harold
- 1995 Bonanza: Under Attack
as Jacob
- 1995
- 1994
- 1994 Shadows of Desire
as Dunc
- 1994
- 1994 Body of Influence
as Harry Reams
- 1994 Mind Twister
as Frank Webb
- 1994 Black as the Heart
as Rod
- 1993 Sins of the Night
as Les
- 1993 Bonanza: The Return
as Jacob Briscoe
- 1993 Amityville: A New Generation
as Pauli
- 1993 Deadly Rivals
as Agent Peterson
- 1993
- 1992 Christmas in Connecticut
as Prescott
- 1992
- 1992
- 1992 Bloodfist III: Forced to Fight
as Samuel Stark
- 1991 A Time to Die
as Captain Ralph Phipps
- 1991
- 1990
- 1990
- 1990
- 1990 Gypsy Angels
as Dr. Carlson
- 1990 Bad Jim
as July
- 1990 The Banker
as Lloyd
- 1989 Crack House
as Lt. Johnson
- 1989 Night Visitor
as Captain Crane
- 1989 Miami Cops
as Gamble
- 1988 Angel III: The Final Chapter
as Lt. Doniger
- 1988 Party Line
as Captain Barnes
- 1988 Getting Even
as Dundee
- 1988 Maniac Cop
as Commissioner Pike
- 1988 Daddy Can't Read
as Jason Ruigh
- 1987
- 1987
- 1987
- 1986
- 1986 Jocks
as Chip
- 1986
- 1986
- 1986 Opposing Force
as Stafford
- 1986 The Fifth Missile
as Cmdr. Frederick Bryce
- 1985
- 1985
- 1985
- 1984 City Heat
as Dehl Swift
- 1984 The Baron and the Kid
as Frosty
- 1984
- 1984 Killpoint
as Agent Bill Bryant
- 1983
- 1983 Young Warriors
as Sergeant John Austin
- 1983
- 1983 The Big Score
as Gordon
- 1982 One Down, Two to Go
as Ralph
- 1982 Q
as Powell
- 1981 An Eye for an Eye
as Capt. Stevens
- 1981 Inchon
as Sgt. Augustus Henderson
- 1980
- 1979 Day of the Assassin
as Fessler
- 1979 Game for Vultures
as Gideon Marunga
- 1979 Escape to Athena
as Nat Judson
- 1979 Portrait of a Hitman
as Coco Morrell
- 1977
- 1977
- 1977
- 1975 Diamonds
as Archie
- 1975 Man Friday
as Friday
- 1974 Earthquake
as Miles Quade
- 1973
- 1973 Shaft in Africa
as John Shaft
- 1973 Charley-One-Eye
as The Black Man
- 1973 Firehouse
as Shelly Forsythe
- 1972 Shaft's Big Score!
as John Shaft
- 1972 Embassy
as Dick Shannon
- 1971 Shaft
as John Shaft
- 1970 What Do You Say to a Naked Lady?
as Interracial Couple
Behind the camera (2)
- 2024 Thelma
In Memory Of
- 2012 Django Unchained
Thanks
Talk shows and appearances (13)
- 2025
- 2021
- 2019
- 2002 The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow
4 episodes
- 2002
- 1992 Vicki!
1 episode
- 1974 Dinah!
2 episodes
- 1973 The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts
1 episode
- 1973
- 1972
- 1971
- 1962 The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
2 episodes
- 1961 The Mike Douglas Show
2 episodes