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

"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

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

96

Gender

Male

Birthday

1942-07-09

Place of Birth

New Rochelle, New York, USA

Also Known As