Acting
Richard Roundtree
EN, DE, ES, IT cinema · 99 credits
Born
9 July 1942
Died
24 October 2023 (aged 81)
Birthplace
New Rochelle, New York, USA
Also known as Richard Arnold Roundtree
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
Filmography
Breakdown: 1975
as (archive footage)
Thelma
as Ben, In Memory Of
Moving On
as Ralph
Shaft
as John Shaft, Sr.
What Men Want
as Skip Davis
A Family Reunion Christmas
as Jebidiah McKellan
Collar
as Alonzo Sparks
Retreat!
as Henshaw
The Confidant
as Claude
Whatever She Wants
as Theodore Wolf
Set Apart
as J.T.
Diary of a Single Mom
as Lou Bailey
Speed Racer
as Ben Burns
Final Approach
as Gary Markash
All The Days Before Tomorrow
as El Doctor
Point of Entry
as Miles Porter
Wild Seven
as Lee Marvin / Cleetus Woods
Brick
as Assistant V.P. Trueman
Painkiller Jane
as Colonel Watts
Vegas Vampires
as Rick Apping
Al's Lads
as Boom-Boom
Joe and Max
as Jack Blackburn
Undercover Brother
as John Shaft (archive footage) (uncredited)
Boat Trip
as Felicia's Dad
Antitrust
as Lyle Barton
Corky Romano
as Howard Shuster
Hawaiian Gardens
as M.O.
Shaft
as "Uncle" John Shaft
Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years
as Booker T. Washington
George of the Jungle
as Kwame
Steel
as Uncle Joe
Any Place But Home
as Gil Oberman
Original Gangstas
as Slick
Se7en
as Talbot
Theodore Rex
as Commissioner Lynch
Ballistic
as Harold
Body of Influence
as Harry Reams
Mind Twister
as Frank Webb
Deadly Rivals
as Agent Peterson
Bonanza: The Return
as Jacob Briscoe
Christmas in Connecticut
as Prescott
Bloodfist III: Forced to Fight
as Samuel Stark
A Time to Die
as Captain Ralph Phipps
The Banker
as Lloyd
Bad Jim
as July
Gypsy Angels
as Dr. Carlson
Crack House
as Lt. Johnson
Night Visitor
as Captain Crane
Miami Cops
as Gamble
Maniac Cop
as Commissioner Pike
Angel III: The Final Chapter
as Lt. Doniger
Party Line
as Captain Barnes
Getting Even
as Dundee
Daddy Can't Read
as Jason Ruigh
Opposing Force
as Stafford
Jocks
as Chip
The Fifth Missile
as Cmdr. Frederick Bryce
City Heat
as Dehl Swift
The Baron and the Kid
as Frosty
Killpoint
as Agent Bill Bryant
Young Warriors
as Sergeant John Austin
The Big Score
as Gordon
Q
as Powell
One Down, Two to Go
as Ralph
An Eye for an Eye
as Capt. Stevens
Inchon
as Sgt. Augustus Henderson
Escape to Athena
as Nat Judson
Portrait of a Hitman
as Coco Morrell
Day of the Assassin
as Fessler
Game for Vultures
as Gideon Marunga
Man Friday
as Friday
Diamonds
as Archie
Earthquake
as Miles Quade
Shaft in Africa
as John Shaft
Charley-One-Eye
as The Black Man
Firehouse
as Shelly Forsythe
Listen to a Stranger: An Interview with Gordon Parks
as Self / Shaft (archive footage)
Shaft's Big Score!
as John Shaft
Embassy
as Dick Shannon
Nationtime: Gary
as Self
Shaft
as John Shaft
What Do You Say to a Naked Lady?
as Interracial Couple