Richard 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
Grey's Anatomy
The Mentalist
Private Practice
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Chicago Fire
Desperate Housewives
The Closer
Murder, She Wrote
All Movies (98)
- Thelma2024 · as Ben
- Moving On2023 · as Ralph
- A Choice of Weapons: Inspired by Gordon Parks2021 · as Self
- Haunting of the Mary Celeste2020 · as Tulls
- A Family Reunion Christmas2019 · as Jebidiah McKellan
- Harlem to Hollywood2019 · as Self
- Shaft2019 · as John Shaft, Sr.
- What Men Want2019 · as Skip Davis
- Collar2015 · as Alonzo Sparks
- Retreat!2012 · as Henshaw
- The Confidant2010 · as Claude
- Whatever She Wants2010 · as Theodore Wolf
- Diary of a Single Mom2009 · as Lou Bailey
- Set Apart2009 · as J.T.
- Ladies of the House2008 · as Stan
- Final Approach2008 · as Gary Markash
- Speed Racer2008 · as Ben Burns
- Speed Racer: Wonderful World of Racing - The Amazing Racer Family2008 · as Ben Burns
- Point of Entry2007 · as Miles Porter
- All The Days Before Tomorrow2007 · as El Doctor
- Brick2006 · as Assistant V.P. Trueman
- Wild Seven2006 · as Lee Marvin / Cleetus Woods
- Painkiller Jane2005 · as Colonel Watts
- Max Havoc: Curse Of The Dragon2004 · as Tahsi
- Vegas Vampires2003 · as Rick Apping
- Men Cry in the Dark2003
- Boat Trip2002 · as Felicia's Dad
- BaadAsssss Cinema2002 · as Self
- Al's Lads2002 · as Boom-Boom
- Undercover Brother2002 · as John Shaft (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Joe and Max2002 · as Jack Blackburn
- Hawaiian Gardens2001 · as M.O.
- Corky Romano2001 · as Howard Shuster
- Antitrust2001 · as Lyle Barton
- Shaft2000 · as "Uncle" John Shaft
- Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years1999 · as Booker T. Washington
- Steel1997 · as Uncle Joe
- George of the Jungle1997 · as Kwame
- Any Place But Home1997 · as Gil Oberman
- Original Gangstas1996 · as Slick
- Once Upon a Time... When We Were Colored1996 · as Cleve
- Theodore Rex1995 · as Commissioner Lynch
- Se7en1995 · as Talbot
- Ballistic1995 · as Harold
- Bonanza: Under Attack1995 · as Jacob
- Shadows of Desire1994 · as Dunc
- Blind Man's Bluff1994 · as Gray
- Body of Influence1994 · as Harry Reams
- Mind Twister1994 · as Frank Webb
- Black as the Heart1994 · as Rod
- Sins of the Night1993 · as Les
- Bonanza: The Return1993 · as Jacob Briscoe
- Amityville: A New Generation1993 · as Pauli
- Deadly Rivals1993 · as Agent Peterson
- Christmas in Connecticut1992 · as Prescott
- Bloodfist III: Forced to Fight1992 · as Samuel Stark
- A Time to Die1991 · as Captain Ralph Phipps
- Gypsy Angels1990 · as Dr. Carlson
- Bad Jim1990 · as July
- The Banker1989 · as Lloyd
- Crack House1989 · as Lt. Johnson
- Night Visitor1989 · as Captain Crane
- Miami Cops1989 · as Gamble
- Angel III: The Final Chapter1988 · as Lt. Doniger
- Party Line1988 · as Captain Barnes
- Getting Even1988 · as Dundee
- Maniac Cop1988 · as Commissioner Pike
- Daddy Can't Read1988 · as Jason Ruigh
- Jocks1986 · as Chip
- Opposing Force1986 · as Stafford
- The Fifth Missile1986 · as Cmdr. Frederick Bryce
- City Heat1984 · as Dehl Swift
- The Baron and the Kid1984 · as Frosty
- Killpoint1984 · as Agent Bill Bryant
- Young Warriors1983 · as Sergeant John Austin
- Just an Overnight Guest1983
- The Big Score1983 · as Gordon
- One Down, Two to Go1982 · as Ralph
- Q1982 · as Powell
- An Eye for an Eye1981 · as Capt. Stevens
- Inchon1981 · as Sgt. Augustus Henderson
- Day of the Assassin1979 · as Fessler
- Game for Vultures1979 · as Gideon Marunga
- Escape to Athena1979 · as Nat Judson
- Portrait of a Hitman1979 · as Coco Morrell
- Diamonds1975 · as Archie
- Man Friday1975 · as Friday
- Earthquake1974 · as Miles Quade
- Shaft in Africa1973 · as John Shaft
- Charley-One-Eye1973 · as The Black Man
- Listen to a Stranger: An Interview with Gordon Parks1973 · as Self / Shaft (archive footage)
- Firehouse1973 · as Shelly Forsythe
- Nationtime1972 · as Self
- Shaft's Big Score!1972 · as John Shaft
- Embassy1972 · as Dick Shannon
- Shaft1971 · as John Shaft
- Soul in Cinema: Filming 'Shaft' on Location1971 · as Self
- What Do You Say to a Naked Lady?1970 · as Interracial Couple
All TV Shows (54)
- GAME ON: A Comedy Crossover Event2020 · as Grandpa
- Family Reunion2019 · as Grandpa
- Star2016 · as Charles Floyd
- Lethal Weapon2016 · as Don Bennett
- The Player2015 · as Samuel Letts
- Being Mary Jane2013 · as Paul Patterson, Sr.
- Chicago Fire2012 · as Wallace Boden, Sr.
- The Mentalist2008 · as Floyd Benton
- Private Practice2007 · as Raymond McCray
- Lincoln Heights2007
- Heroes2006 · as Charles Deveaux
- Blade: The Series2006
- Close to Home2005 · as Cyrus Carter
- The Closer2005 · as Col. D.B. Walter
- Grey's Anatomy2005 · as Donald Burke
- Desperate Housewives2004 · as Mr. Shaw
- The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow2002 · as Self - Narrator (voice)
- Alias2001 · as Brill
- Soul Food2000 · as Hardy Lester
- Rescue 771999 · as Captain Durfee
- 413 Hope St.1997 · as Phil Thomas
- Profiler1996 · as Det. James Henegar
- Buddies1996 · as Henry Carlisle
- The Wayans Bros.1995 · as Dr. Saunders
- Touched by an Angel1994 · as Murray
- Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman1993 · as 'Barracuda' Jim Barnes
- Hangin' with Mr. Cooper1992 · as General (uncredited)
- Hangin' with Mr. Cooper1992 · as Chester Cooper
- Renegade1992
- Vicki!1992 · as Self
- Roc1991 · as Russell Emerson
- Beverly Hills, 902101990 · as Robinson Ashe Jr.
- The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air1990 · as Dr. Mumford
- Dream On1990 · as Dr. Charles
- Beauty and the Beast1987 · as Cleon Manning
- A Different World1987 · as Clinton Reese
- 21 Jump Street1987 · as Ben Halley
- Outlaws1986 · as Isaiah 'Ice' McAdams
- Amen1986
- L.A. Law1986 · as Judge Ira Menday
- MacGyver1985 · as R.T. Hines
- Hollywood Beat1985
- A.D.1985 · as Serpenius
- Murder, She Wrote1984 · as Kevin Cooper
- Masquerade1983 · as Mean Willy
- Magnum, P.I.1980 · as Peter Jordan
- The Love Boat1977 · as Dave Wilbur
- CHiPs1977 · as Sgt. Aikens
- Roots1977 · as Sam Bennett
- Dinah!1974 · as Self
- Shaft1973 · as John Shaft
- The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts1973 · as Self
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson1962 · as Self
- The Mike Douglas Show1961 · as Self