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
Movies
- Shaft
2000
- Shaft
1971
- Shaft's Big Score!
1972
- Shaft in Africa
1973
- Wild Seven
2006
- Se7en
1995
- George of the Jungle
1997
- Earthquake
1974
- Al's Lads
2002
- Young Warriors
1983
- Speed Racer
2008
- Steel
1997
- Amityville: A New Gener...
1993
- Brick
2006
- Antitrust
2001
- The Banker
1989
- Q
1982
- Opposing Force
1986
- Escape to Athena
1979
- Theodore Rex
1995
- Maniac Cop
1988
- An Eye for an Eye
1981
- The Confidant
2010
- City Heat
1984
- Ladies of the House
2008
- BaadAsssss Cinema
2002
- Corky Romano
2001
- Angel III: The Final Ch...
1988
- Jocks
1986
- Crack House
1989
- The Baron and the Kid
1984
- Hawaiian Gardens
2001
- Portrait of a Hitman
1979
- Painkiller Jane
2005
- Charley-One-Eye
1973
- A Time to Die
1991
- Man Friday
1975
- Christmas in Connecticut
1992
- Bloodfist III: Forced t...
1992
- One Down, Two to Go
1982
- Night Visitor
1989
- The Big Score
1983
- Diamonds
1975
- Men Cry in the Dark
2003
- Party Line
1988
- Bad Jim
1990
- La vendetta
1988
- Moving On
2023
- Joe and Max
2002
- Inchon
1981
- The Fifth Missile
1986
- Set Apart
2009
- Sins of the Night
1993
- Gypsy Angels
1990
- Day of the Assassin
1979
- Game for Vultures
1979
- Any Place But Home
1997
- Undercover Brother
2002
- Killpoint
1984
- Moscacieca
1994
- Deadly Rivals
1993
- What Do You Say to a Na...
1970
- Original Gangstas
1996
- All The Days Before Tom...
2007
- Whatever She Wants
2010
- Thelma
2024
- Max Havoc: Curse Of The...
2004
- Embassy
1972
- Once Upon a Time... Whe...
1996
- Having Our Say: The Del...
1999
- Body of Influence
1993
- Harlem to Hollywood
2019
- Boat Trip
2002
- Retreat!
2012
- Daddy Can't Read
1988
- Mind Twister
1994
- Point of Entry
2007
- Just an Overnight Guest
1983
- Soul in Cinema: Filming...
1971
- Firehouse
1973
- Shadows of Desire
1994
- Shaft
2019
- Miami Cops
1989
- Bonanza: The Return
1993
- Bonanza: Under Attack
1995
- Collar
2015
- Nero come il cuore
1994
- What Men Want
2019
- A Family Reunion Christ...
2019
- Diary of a Single Mom
2009
- Nationtime
1972
- Haunting of the Mary Ce...
2020
- Final Approach
2008
- Vegas Vampires
2003
- A Choice of Weapons: In...
2021
- Ballistic
1995
TV Shows
- A Different World
1987
- Murder, She Wrote
1984
- Magnum, P.I.
1980
- CHiPs
1977
- Rescue 77
1999
- Lincoln Heights
2007
- The Closer
2005
- Desperate Housewives
2004
- L.A. Law
1986
- Beverly Hills, 90210
1990
- Heroes
2006
- Alias
2001
- The Fresh Prince of Bel...
1990
- The Wayans Bros.
1995
- Beauty and the Beast
1987
- Family Reunion
2019
- Soul Food
2000
- MacGyver
1985
- Profiler
1996
- Outlaws
1986
- Dr. Quinn, Medicine Wom...
1993
- Blade: The Series
2006
- Close to Home
2005
- Shaft
1973
- Amen
1986
- Buddies
1996
- Hollywood Beat
1985
- 413 Hope St.
1997
- Renegade
1992
- Masquerade
1983
- Being Mary Jane
2013
- Grey's Anatomy
2005
- The Mentalist
2008
- The Player
2015
- Chicago Fire
2012
- Private Practice
2007
- The Mike Douglas Show
1961
- Dinah!
1974
- Vicki!
1992
- Roots
1977
- The Tonight Show Starri...
1962
- Roc
1991
- A.D.
1985
- Hangin' with Mr. Cooper
1992
- Lethal Weapon
2016
- Touched by an Angel
1994
- The Love Boat
1977
- Dream On
1990
- Star
2016
- GAME ON: A Comedy Cross...
2020
- The Dean Martin Celebri...
1973
- 21 Jump Street
1987
- The Rise and Fall of Ji...
2002
- Hangin' with Mr. Cooper
1992