Richard Roundtree

Acting

1942-07-09 · New Rochelle, New York, USA

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.

Filmography

Breakdown: 1975

2025 · Movie

Thelma

2024 · Movie

Moving On

2023 · Movie

A Choice of Weapons: Inspired by Gordon Parks

2021 · Movie

Haunting of the Mary Celeste

2020 · Movie

GAME ON: A Comedy Crossover Event

2020 · Series

A Family Reunion Christmas

2019 · Movie

Family Reunion

2019 · Series

Harlem to Hollywood

2019 · Movie

Shaft

2019 · Movie

What Men Want

2019 · Movie

Star

2016 · Series

Lethal Weapon

2016 · Series

The Player

2015 · Series

Collar

2015 · Movie

Being Mary Jane

2013 · Series

Django Unchained

2012 · Movie

Chicago Fire

2012 · Series

Retreat!

2012 · Movie

The Confidant

2010 · Movie

Whatever She Wants

2010 · Movie

Diary of a Single Mom

2009 · Movie

Set Apart

2009 · Movie

Ladies of the House

2008 · Movie

The Mentalist

2008 · Series

Final Approach

2008 · Movie

Speed Racer

2008 · Movie

Speed Racer: Wonderful World of Racing - The Amazing Racer Family

2008 · Movie

Point of Entry

2007 · Movie

Private Practice

2007 · Series

All The Days Before Tomorrow

2007 · Movie

Lincoln Heights

2007 · Series

Heroes

2006 · Series

Blade: The Series

2006 · Series

Brick

2006 · Movie

Wild Seven

2006 · Movie

Painkiller Jane

2005 · Movie

Close to Home

2005 · Series

The Closer

2005 · Series

Grey's Anatomy

2005 · Series

Max Havoc: Curse Of The Dragon

2004 · Movie

Desperate Housewives

2004 · Series

Vegas Vampires

2003 · Movie

Men Cry in the Dark

2003 · Movie

Boat Trip

2002 · Movie

The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow

2002 · Series

BaadAsssss Cinema

2002 · Movie

Al's Lads

2002 · Movie

Undercover Brother

2002 · Movie

Joe and Max

2002 · Movie

Hawaiian Gardens

2001 · Movie

Corky Romano

2001 · Movie

Alias

2001 · Series

Antitrust

2001 · Movie

Soul Food

2000 · Series

Shaft

2000 · Movie

Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years

1999 · Movie

Rescue 77

1999 · Series

413 Hope St.

1997 · Series

Steel

1997 · Movie

George of the Jungle

1997 · Movie

Any Place But Home

1997 · Movie

Profiler

1996 · Series

Original Gangstas

1996 · Movie

Buddies

1996 · Series

Once Upon a Time... When We Were Colored

1996 · Movie

Theodore Rex

1995 · Movie

Se7en

1995 · Movie

Ballistic

1995 · Movie

Bonanza: Under Attack

1995 · Movie

The Wayans Bros.

1995 · Series

Touched by an Angel

1994 · Series

Shadows of Desire

1994 · Movie

Blind Man's Bluff

1994 · Movie

Body of Influence

1994 · Movie

Mind Twister

1994 · Movie

Black as the Heart

1994 · Movie

Sins of the Night

1993 · Movie

Bonanza: The Return

1993 · Movie

Amityville: A New Generation

1993 · Movie

Deadly Rivals

1993 · Movie

Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman

1993 · Series

Christmas in Connecticut

1992 · Movie

Hangin' with Mr. Cooper

1992 · Series

Renegade

1992 · Series

Vicki!

1992 · Series

Bloodfist III: Forced to Fight

1992 · Movie

A Time to Die

1991 · Movie

Roc

1991 · Series

Beverly Hills, 90210

1990 · Series

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

1990 · Series

Dream On

1990 · Series

Gypsy Angels

1990 · Movie

Bad Jim

1990 · Movie

The Banker

1989 · Movie

Crack House

1989 · Movie

Night Visitor

1989 · Movie

Miami Cops

1989 · Movie

Angel III: The Final Chapter

1988 · Movie

Party Line

1988 · Movie

Getting Even

1988 · Movie

Maniac Cop

1988 · Movie

Daddy Can't Read

1988 · Movie

Beauty and the Beast

1987 · Series

A Different World

1987 · Series

21 Jump Street

1987 · Series

Outlaws

1986 · Series

Jocks

1986 · Movie

Amen

1986 · Series

L.A. Law

1986 · Series

Opposing Force

1986 · Movie

The Fifth Missile

1986 · Movie

MacGyver

1985 · Series

Hollywood Beat

1985 · Series

A.D.

1985 · Series

City Heat

1984 · Movie

The Baron and the Kid

1984 · Movie

Murder, She Wrote

1984 · Series

Killpoint

1984 · Movie

Masquerade

1983 · Series

Young Warriors

1983 · Movie

Just an Overnight Guest

1983 · Movie

The Big Score

1983 · Movie

One Down, Two to Go

1982 · Movie

An Eye for an Eye

1981 · Movie

Inchon

1981 · Movie

Magnum, P.I.

1980 · Series

Day of the Assassin

1979 · Movie

Game for Vultures

1979 · Movie

Escape to Athena

1979 · Movie

Portrait of a Hitman

1979 · Movie

The Love Boat

1977 · Series

CHiPs

1977 · Series

Roots

1977 · Series

Diamonds

1975 · Movie

Man Friday

1975 · Movie

Earthquake

1974 · Movie

Dinah!

1974 · Series

Shaft

1973 · Series

The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts

1973 · Series

Shaft in Africa

1973 · Movie

Charley-One-Eye

1973 · Movie

Listen to a Stranger: An Interview with Gordon Parks

1973 · Movie

Firehouse

1973 · Movie

Nationtime: Gary

1972 · Movie

Shaft's Big Score!

1972 · Movie

Embassy

1972 · Movie

Shaft

1971 · Movie

Soul in Cinema: Filming 'Shaft' on Location

1971 · Movie

What Do You Say to a Naked Lady?

1970 · Movie

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

1962 · Series

The Mike Douglas Show

1961 · Series