Richard Roundtree

Richard Roundtree

🎂 9th July 1942 (83 yrs) 📍 New Rochelle, New York, USA

Known For

Se7en

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.

Richard Roundtree

Movies Featuring Richard Roundtree

Thelma

Thelma (2024)

as Ben
Moving On

Moving On (2023)

as Ralph
A Choice of Weapons: Inspired by Gordon Parks

A Choice of Weapons: Inspired by Gordon Parks (2021)

as Self
Haunting of the Mary Celeste

Haunting of the Mary Celeste (2020)

as Tulls
A Family Reunion Christmas

A Family Reunion Christmas (2019)

as Jebidiah McKellan
Harlem to Hollywood

Harlem to Hollywood (2019)

as Self
Shaft

Shaft (2019)

as John Shaft, Sr.
What Men Want

What Men Want (2019)

as Skip Davis
Collar

Collar (2015)

as Alonzo Sparks
Retreat!

Retreat! (2012)

as Henshaw
The Confidant

The Confidant (2010)

as Claude
Whatever She Wants

Whatever She Wants (2010)

as Theodore Wolf
Diary of a Single Mom

Diary of a Single Mom (2009)

as Lou Bailey
Set Apart

Set Apart (2009)

as J.T.
Ladies of the House

Ladies of the House (2008)

as Stan
Final Approach

Final Approach (2008)

as Gary Markash
Speed Racer

Speed Racer (2008)

as Ben Burns
Speed Racer: Wonderful World of Racing - The Amazing Racer Family

Speed Racer: Wonderful World of Racing - The Amazing Racer Family (2008)

as Ben Burns
Point of Entry

Point of Entry (2007)

as Miles Porter
All The Days Before Tomorrow

All The Days Before Tomorrow (2007)

as El Doctor
Brick

Brick (2006)

as Assistant V.P. Trueman
Wild Seven

Wild Seven (2006)

as Lee Marvin / Cleetus Woods
Painkiller Jane

Painkiller Jane (2005)

as Colonel Watts
Max Havoc: Curse Of The Dragon

Max Havoc: Curse Of The Dragon (2004)

as Tahsi
Vegas Vampires

Vegas Vampires (2003)

as Rick Apping
Men Cry in the Dark

Men Cry in the Dark (2003)

Boat Trip

Boat Trip (2002)

as Felicia's Dad
BaadAsssss Cinema

BaadAsssss Cinema (2002)

as Self
Al's Lads

Al's Lads (2002)

as Boom-Boom
Undercover Brother

Undercover Brother (2002)

as John Shaft (archive footage) (uncredited)
Joe and Max

Joe and Max (2002)

as Jack Blackburn
Hawaiian Gardens

Hawaiian Gardens (2001)

as M.O.
Corky Romano

Corky Romano (2001)

as Howard Shuster
Antitrust

Antitrust (2001)

as Lyle Barton
Shaft

Shaft (2000)

as "Uncle" John Shaft
Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years

Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years (1999)

as Booker T. Washington
Steel

Steel (1997)

as Uncle Joe
George of the Jungle

George of the Jungle (1997)

as Kwame
Any Place But Home

Any Place But Home (1997)

as Gil Oberman
Original Gangstas

Original Gangstas (1996)

as Slick
Once Upon a Time... When We Were Colored

Once Upon a Time... When We Were Colored (1996)

as Cleve
Theodore Rex

Theodore Rex (1995)

as Commissioner Lynch
Se7en

Se7en (1995)

as Talbot
Ballistic

Ballistic (1995)

as Harold
Bonanza: Under Attack

Bonanza: Under Attack (1995)

as Jacob
Shadows of Desire

Shadows of Desire (1994)

as Dunc
Blind Man's Bluff

Blind Man's Bluff (1994)

as Gray
Body of Influence

Body of Influence (1994)

as Harry Reams
Mind Twister

Mind Twister (1994)

as Frank Webb
Black as the Heart

Black as the Heart (1994)

as Rod
Sins of the Night

Sins of the Night (1993)

as Les
Bonanza: The Return

Bonanza: The Return (1993)

as Jacob Briscoe
Amityville: A New Generation

Amityville: A New Generation (1993)

as Pauli
Deadly Rivals

Deadly Rivals (1993)

as Agent Peterson
Christmas in Connecticut

Christmas in Connecticut (1992)

as Prescott
Bloodfist III: Forced to Fight

Bloodfist III: Forced to Fight (1992)

as Samuel Stark
A Time to Die

A Time to Die (1991)

as Captain Ralph Phipps
Gypsy Angels

Gypsy Angels (1990)

as Dr. Carlson
Bad Jim

Bad Jim (1990)

as July
The Banker

The Banker (1989)

as Lloyd
Crack House

Crack House (1989)

as Lt. Johnson
Night Visitor

Night Visitor (1989)

as Captain Crane
Miami Cops

Miami Cops (1989)

as Gamble
Angel III: The Final Chapter

Angel III: The Final Chapter (1988)

as Lt. Doniger
Party Line

Party Line (1988)

as Captain Barnes
Getting Even

Getting Even (1988)

as Dundee
Maniac Cop

Maniac Cop (1988)

as Commissioner Pike
Daddy Can't Read

Daddy Can't Read (1988)

as Jason Ruigh
Jocks

Jocks (1986)

as Chip
Opposing Force

Opposing Force (1986)

as Stafford
The Fifth Missile

The Fifth Missile (1986)

as Cmdr. Frederick Bryce
City Heat

City Heat (1984)

as Dehl Swift
The Baron and the Kid

The Baron and the Kid (1984)

as Frosty
Killpoint

Killpoint (1984)

as Agent Bill Bryant
Young Warriors

Young Warriors (1983)

as Sergeant John Austin
Just an Overnight Guest

Just an Overnight Guest (1983)

The Big Score

The Big Score (1983)

as Gordon
One Down, Two to Go

One Down, Two to Go (1982)

as Ralph
Q

Q (1982)

as Powell
An Eye for an Eye

An Eye for an Eye (1981)

as Capt. Stevens
Inchon

Inchon (1981)

as Sgt. Augustus Henderson
Day of the Assassin

Day of the Assassin (1979)

as Fessler
Game for Vultures

Game for Vultures (1979)

as Gideon Marunga
Escape to Athena

Escape to Athena (1979)

as Nat Judson
Portrait of a Hitman

Portrait of a Hitman (1979)

as Coco Morrell
Diamonds

Diamonds (1975)

as Archie
Man Friday

Man Friday (1975)

as Friday
Earthquake

Earthquake (1974)

as Miles Quade
Shaft in Africa

Shaft in Africa (1973)

as John Shaft
Charley One-Eye

Charley One-Eye (1973)

as The Black Man
Listen to a Stranger: An Interview with Gordon Parks

Listen to a Stranger: An Interview with Gordon Parks (1973)

as Self / Shaft (archive footage)
Firehouse

Firehouse (1973)

as Shelly Forsythe
Nationtime

Nationtime (1972)

as Self
Shaft's Big Score!

Shaft's Big Score! (1972)

as John Shaft
Embassy

Embassy (1972)

as Dick Shannon
Shaft

Shaft (1971)

as John Shaft
Soul in Cinema: Filming 'Shaft' on Location

Soul in Cinema: Filming 'Shaft' on Location (1971)

as Self
What Do You Say to a Naked Lady?

What Do You Say to a Naked Lady? (1970)

as Interracial Couple