Richard Roundtree

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

150

Gender

Male

Birthday

1942-07-09

Day of death

2023-10-24 (81 years old)

Place of Birth

New Rochelle, New York, USA

Richard Roundtree

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.

Known For

  • Grey's Anatomy

    Grey's Anatomy

  • The Mentalist

    The Mentalist

  • The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

    The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

  • Chicago Fire

    Chicago Fire

  • Desperate Housewives

    Desperate Housewives

  • Murder, She Wrote

    Murder, She Wrote

  • Beverly Hills, 90210

    Beverly Hills, 90210

  • The Mike Douglas Show

    The Mike Douglas Show

  • MacGyver

    MacGyver

  • Magnum, P.I.

    Magnum, P.I.

  • The Love Boat

    The Love Boat

  • The Closer

    The Closer

  • Heroes

    Heroes

  • Se7en

    Se7en

  • Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman

    Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman

  • Lethal Weapon

    Lethal Weapon

  • L.A. Law

    L.A. Law

  • Touched by an Angel

    Touched by an Angel

  • 21 Jump Street

    21 Jump Street

  • The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

    The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

  • Renegade

    Renegade

  • Private Practice

    Private Practice

  • A Different World

    A Different World

  • Dinah!

    Dinah!

  • Profiler

    Profiler

  • Family Reunion

    Family Reunion

  • Thelma

    Thelma

  • Star

    Star

  • Close to Home

    Close to Home

  • Roots

    Roots

  • Vicki!

    Vicki!

  • Being Mary Jane

    Being Mary Jane

  • Dream On

    Dream On

  • Hangin' with Mr. Cooper

    Hangin' with Mr. Cooper

  • Hangin' with Mr. Cooper

    Hangin' with Mr. Cooper

  • Shaft

    Shaft

  • The Wayans Bros.

    The Wayans Bros.

  • Shaft

    Shaft

  • Brick

    Brick

  • Amen

    Amen

  • What Men Want

    What Men Want

  • CHiPs

    CHiPs

  • A Choice of Weapons: Inspired by Gordon Parks

    A Choice of Weapons: Inspired by Gordon Parks

  • Young Warriors

    Young Warriors

  • One Down, Two to Go

    One Down, Two to Go

  • Blade: The Series

    Blade: The Series

  • George of the Jungle

    George of the Jungle

  • Speed Racer

    Speed Racer

  • Embassy

    Embassy

  • Lincoln Heights

    Lincoln Heights

  • Antitrust

    Antitrust

  • Shaft

    Shaft

  • City Heat

    City Heat

  • The Banker

    The Banker

  • Diamonds

    Diamonds

  • Set Apart

    Set Apart

  • Man Friday

    Man Friday

  • Retreat!

    Retreat!

  • Nationtime

    Nationtime

  • The Confidant

    The Confidant

  • Alias

    Alias

  • Q

    Q

  • Corky Romano

    Corky Romano

  • The Player

    The Player

  • Deadly Rivals

    Deadly Rivals

  • Killpoint

    Killpoint

  • Gypsy Angels

    Gypsy Angels

  • The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts

    The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts

  • Moving On

    Moving On

  • BaadAsssss Cinema

    BaadAsssss Cinema

  • Undercover Brother

    Undercover Brother

  • Mind Twister

    Mind Twister

  • Miami Cops

    Miami Cops

  • Final Approach

    Final Approach

  • Soul Food

    Soul Food

  • Jocks

    Jocks

  • Original Gangstas

    Original Gangstas

  • Earthquake

    Earthquake

  • Theodore Rex

    Theodore Rex

  • Painkiller Jane

    Painkiller Jane

  • Body of Influence

    Body of Influence

  • Amityville: A New Generation

    Amityville: A New Generation

  • Boat Trip

    Boat Trip

  • Hawaiian Gardens

    Hawaiian Gardens

  • An Eye for an Eye

    An Eye for an Eye

  • Masquerade

    Masquerade

  • Escape to Athena

    Escape to Athena

  • Ballistic

    Ballistic

  • Opposing Force

    Opposing Force

  • Steel

    Steel

  • Roc

    Roc

  • Party Line

    Party Line

  • Wild Seven

    Wild Seven

  • Inchon

    Inchon

  • Bad Jim

    Bad Jim

  • Shaft's Big Score!

    Shaft's Big Score!

  • Christmas in Connecticut

    Christmas in Connecticut

  • Sins of the Night

    Sins of the Night

  • Hollywood Beat

    Hollywood Beat

  • Night Visitor

    Night Visitor

  • A.D.

    A.D.

  • GAME ON: A Comedy Crossover Event

    GAME ON: A Comedy Crossover Event

  • Al's Lads

    Al's Lads

  • Once Upon a Time... When We Were Colored

    Once Upon a Time... When We Were Colored

  • Max Havoc: Curse Of The Dragon

    Max Havoc: Curse Of The Dragon

  • Bonanza: The Return

    Bonanza: The Return

  • Vegas Vampires

    Vegas Vampires

  • Shaft in Africa

    Shaft in Africa

  • Haunting of the Mary Celeste

    Haunting of the Mary Celeste

  • Angel III: The Final Chapter

    Angel III: The Final Chapter

  • Day of the Assassin

    Day of the Assassin

  • Game for Vultures

    Game for Vultures

  • Buddies

    Buddies

  • Any Place But Home

    Any Place But Home

  • Charley One-Eye

    Charley One-Eye

  • Maniac Cop

    Maniac Cop

  • Outlaws

    Outlaws

  • Shadows of Desire

    Shadows of Desire

  • Bloodfist III: Forced to Fight

    Bloodfist III: Forced to Fight

  • A Time to Die

    A Time to Die

  • The Fifth Missile

    The Fifth Missile

  • Point of Entry

    Point of Entry

  • All The Days Before Tomorrow

    All The Days Before Tomorrow

  • Diary of a Single Mom

    Diary of a Single Mom

  • Black as the Heart

    Black as the Heart

  • Portrait of a Hitman

    Portrait of a Hitman

  • The Big Score

    The Big Score

  • Ladies of the House

    Ladies of the House

  • Bonanza: Under Attack

    Bonanza: Under Attack

  • Rescue 77

    Rescue 77

  • Shaft

    Shaft

  • Daddy Can't Read

    Daddy Can't Read

  • Whatever She Wants

    Whatever She Wants

  • 413 Hope St.

    413 Hope St.

  • A Family Reunion Christmas

    A Family Reunion Christmas

  • Crack House

    Crack House

  • What Do You Say to a Naked Lady

    What Do You Say to a Naked Lady

  • The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow

    The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow

  • The Baron and the Kid

    The Baron and the Kid

  • Beauty and the Beast

    Beauty and the Beast

  • Just an Overnight Guest

    Just an Overnight Guest

  • Firehouse

    Firehouse

  • Soul in Cinema: Filming 'Shaft' on Location

    Soul in Cinema: Filming 'Shaft' on Location

  • Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years

    Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years

  • Joe and Max

    Joe and Max

  • Getting Even

    Getting Even

  • Collar

    Collar

  • Blind Man's Bluff

    Blind Man's Bluff

  • Men Cry in the Dark

    Men Cry in the Dark

  • Harlem to Hollywood

    Harlem to Hollywood