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.
"Uncle" John Shaft
Shaft
John Shaft
Shaft
John Shaft
Shaft in Africa
John Shaft
Shaft's Big Score!
Lee Marvin / Cleetus Woods
Wild Seven
Talbot
Se7en
Kwame
George of the Jungle
Miles Quade
Earthquake
Boom-Boom
Al's Lads
Sergeant John Austin
Young Warriors
Ben Burns
Speed Racer
Uncle Joe
Steel
Pauli
Amityville: A New Generation
Assistant V.P. Trueman
Brick
Lyle Barton
Antitrust
Lloyd
The Banker
Powell
Q
Stafford
Opposing Force
Nat Judson
Escape to Athena
Commissioner Lynch
Theodore Rex
Commissioner Pike
Maniac Cop
Capt. Stevens
An Eye for an Eye
Claude
The Confidant
Dehl Swift
City Heat
Stan
Ladies of the House
Self
BaadAsssss Cinema
Howard Shuster
Corky Romano
Lt. Doniger
Angel III: The Final Chapter
Chip
Jocks
Lt. Johnson
Crack House
Frosty
The Baron and the Kid
M.O.
Hawaiian Gardens
Coco Morrell
Portrait of a Hitman
Colonel Watts
Painkiller Jane
The Black Man
Charley-One-Eye
Captain Ralph Phipps
A Time to Die
Friday
Man Friday
Prescott
Christmas in Connecticut
Samuel Stark
Bloodfist III: Forced to Fight
Ralph
One Down, Two to Go
Captain Crane
Night Visitor
Gordon
The Big Score
Archie
Diamonds
Men Cry in the Dark
Captain Barnes
Party Line
July
Bad Jim
Dundee
La vendetta
Ralph
Moving On
Jack Blackburn
Joe and Max
Sgt. Augustus Henderson
Inchon
Cmdr. Frederick Bryce
The Fifth Missile
J.T.
Set Apart
Les
Sins of the Night
Dr. Carlson
Gypsy Angels
Fessler
Day of the Assassin
Gideon Marunga
Game for Vultures
Gil Oberman
Any Place But Home
John Shaft (archive footage) (uncredited)
Undercover Brother
Agent Bill Bryant
Killpoint
Gray
Moscacieca
Agent Peterson
Deadly Rivals
Interracial Couple
What Do You Say to a Naked Lady
Slick
Original Gangstas
El Doctor
All The Days Before Tomorrow
Theodore Wolf
Whatever She Wants
Ben
Thelma
Tahsi
Max Havoc: Curse Of The Dragon
Dick Shannon
Embassy
Cleve
Once Upon a Time... When We Were Colored
Booker T. Washington
Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years
Harry Reams
Body of Influence
Self
Harlem to Hollywood
Felicia's Dad
Boat Trip
Henshaw
Retreat!
Jason Ruigh
Daddy Can't Read
Frank Webb
Mind Twister
Miles Porter
Point of Entry
Just an Overnight Guest
Self
Soul in Cinema: Filming 'Shaft' on Location
Shelly Forsythe
Firehouse
Dunc
Shadows of Desire
John Shaft, Sr.
Shaft
Gamble
Miami Cops
Jacob Briscoe
Bonanza: The Return
Jacob
Bonanza: Under Attack
Alonzo Sparks
Collar
Rod
Nero come il cuore
Skip Davis
What Men Want
Jebidiah McKellan
A Family Reunion Christmas
Lou Bailey
Diary of a Single Mom
Self
Nationtime
Tulls
Haunting of the Mary Celeste
Gary Markash
Final Approach
Rick Apping
Vegas Vampires
Self
A Choice of Weapons: Inspired by Gordon Parks
Harold
Ballistic
Known For
Acting
Known Credits
96
Gender
Male
Birthday
1942-07-09
Place of Birth
New Rochelle, New York, USA
Also Known As