Richard Roundtree

Acting

Personal Info

gender

Male

birthday

July 9, 1942

died

October 24, 2023

place of birth

New Rochelle, New York, USA

also known as

Richard Arnold Roundtree

total credits

50 movies

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.

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Known For

Filmography

50 credits · sorted by popularity · swipe or use arrows

Se7en
8.4

Se7en

1995as Talbot
George of the Jungle
5.7

George of the Jungle

1997as Kwame
Speed Racer
6.4

Speed Racer

2008as Ben Burns
Shaft
6.0

Shaft

2000as "Uncle" John Shaft
Earthquake
6.1

Earthquake

1974as Miles Quade
Shaft
6.5

Shaft

2019as John Shaft, Sr.
Boat Trip
5.2

Boat Trip

2002as Felicia's Dad
Brick
6.8

Brick

2006as Assistant V.P. Trueman
Shaft
6.4

Shaft

1971as John Shaft
What Men Want
6.2

What Men Want

2019as Skip Davis
Maniac Cop
6.1

Maniac Cop

1988as Commissioner Pike
Thelma
6.8

Thelma

2024as Ben
Antitrust
6.0

Antitrust

2001as Lyle Barton
Steel
4.3

Steel

1997as Uncle Joe
Undercover Brother
5.9

Undercover Brother

2002as John Shaft (archive footage) (uncredited)
Escape to Athena
5.7

Escape to Athena

1979as Nat Judson
City Heat
5.5

City Heat

1984as Dehl Swift
Nationtime
8.0

Nationtime

1972as Self
Q
5.7

Q

1982as Powell
Corky Romano
4.4

Corky Romano

2001as Howard Shuster
Moving On
5.9

Moving On

2023as Ralph
Body of Influence
4.8

Body of Influence

1994as Harry Reams
An Eye for an Eye
5.2

An Eye for an Eye

1981as Capt. Stevens
The Banker
4.4

The Banker

1989as Lloyd
Theodore Rex
3.7

Theodore Rex

1995as Commissioner Lynch
Inchon
3.9

Inchon

1981as Sgt. Augustus Henderson
Angel III: The Final Chapter
5.4

Angel III: The Final Chapter

1988as Lt. Doniger
Final Approach
5.1

Final Approach

2008as Gary Markash
Point of Entry
4.8

Point of Entry

2007as Miles Porter
Original Gangstas
5.6

Original Gangstas

1996as Slick
Amityville: A New Generation
4.3

Amityville: A New Generation

1993as Pauli
Ballistic
3.6

Ballistic

1995as Harold
Jocks
4.3

Jocks

1986as Chip
A Choice of Weapons: Inspired by Gordon Parks
6.8

A Choice of Weapons: Inspired by Gordon Parks

2021as Self
A Family Reunion Christmas
5.9

A Family Reunion Christmas

2019as Jebidiah McKellan
Sins of the Night
4.4

Sins of the Night

1993as Les
Wild Seven
4.3

Wild Seven

2006as Lee Marvin / Cleetus Woods
Night Visitor
4.4

Night Visitor

1989as Captain Crane
Shaft in Africa
6.1

Shaft in Africa

1973as John Shaft
Party Line
5.2

Party Line

1988as Captain Barnes
Mind Twister
3.8

Mind Twister

1994as Frank Webb
Bonanza: The Return
6.5

Bonanza: The Return

1993as Jacob Briscoe
Diamonds
5.3

Diamonds

1975as Archie
Haunting of the Mary Celeste
5.2

Haunting of the Mary Celeste

2020as Tulls
Bad Jim
7.5

Bad Jim

1990as July
Al's Lads
6.6

Al's Lads

2002as Boom-Boom
Man Friday
6.7

Man Friday

1975as Friday
BaadAsssss Cinema
6.0

BaadAsssss Cinema

2002as Self
Painkiller Jane
5.1

Painkiller Jane

2005as Colonel Watts
Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years
7.3

Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years

1999as Booker T. Washington