Richard Roundtree
Known for: Acting
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
Series
The Mentalist
Floyd Benton
2008
Series
Beverly Hills, 90210
Robinson Ashe Jr.
1990
Series
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self
1962
Series
Grey's Anatomy
Donald Burke
2005
Series
Chicago Fire
Wallace Boden, Sr.
2012
Series
The Mike Douglas Show
Self
1961
Series
Desperate Housewives
Mr. Shaw
2004
Series
Heroes
Charles Deveaux
2006
Series
MacGyver
R.T. Hines
1985
Series
Murder, She Wrote
Kevin Cooper
1984
Series
The Closer
Col. D.B. Walter
2005
Series
The Love Boat
Dave Wilbur
1977
Series
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman
'Barracuda' Jim Barnes
1993
Series
Magnum, P.I.
Peter Jordan
1980
Series
L.A. Law
Judge Ira Menday
1986
Series
Private Practice
Raymond McCray
2007
Series
21 Jump Street
Ben Halley
1987
Series
Touched by an Angel
Murray
1994
Series
Renegade
1992
Series
A Different World
Clinton Reese
1987
Film
Se7en
Talbot
1995
Series
Profiler
Det. James Henegar
1996
Series
Lethal Weapon
Don Bennett
2016
Series
Dinah!
Self
1974
Series
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Dr. Mumford
1990
Vicki!
Self
1992
Series
The Wayans Bros.
Dr. Saunders
1995
Series
Hangin' with Mr. Cooper
General (uncredited)
1992
Series
Hangin' with Mr. Cooper
Chester Cooper
1992
Series
Close to Home
Cyrus Carter
2005
Series
Star
Charles Floyd
2016
Series
Dream On
Dr. Charles
1990
Series
Amen
1986
Series
Family Reunion
Grandpa
2019
Series
Being Mary Jane
Paul Patterson, Sr.
2013
Series
CHiPs
Sgt. Aikens
1977
Series
Alias
Brill
2001
Series
Roots
Sam Bennett
1977
Series
The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts
Self
1973
Series
Blade: The Series
2006
Series
Lincoln Heights
2007
Series
The Player
Samuel Letts
2015
Series
Soul Food
Hardy Lester
2000
Series
Roc
Russell Emerson
1991
Film
George of the Jungle
Kwame
1997
Series
Hollywood Beat
1985
Film
Speed Racer
Ben Burns
2008
Series
Masquerade
Mean Willy
1983
Film
Shaft
"Uncle" John Shaft
2000
Film
Shaft
John Shaft, Sr.
2019
Film
Earthquake
Miles Quade
1974
Film
What Men Want
Skip Davis
2019
Series
A.D.
Serpenius
1985
Film
Shaft
John Shaft
1971
Series
Buddies
Henry Carlisle
1996
Series
Outlaws
Isaiah 'Ice' McAdams
1986
Film
Boat Trip
Felicia's Dad
2002
Series
GAME ON: A Comedy Crossover Event
Grandpa
2020
Film
Brick
Assistant V.P. Trueman
2006
Film
Maniac Cop
Commissioner Pike
1988
Series
413 Hope St.
Phil Thomas
1997
Film
Thelma
Ben
2024
Series
Shaft
John Shaft
1973
Film
Undercover Brother
John Shaft (archive footage) (uncredited)
2002
Film
Antitrust
Lyle Barton
2001
Film
Escape to Athena
Nat Judson
1979
Film
Q
Powell
1982
Series
Rescue 77
Captain Durfee
1999
Film
Steel
Uncle Joe
1997
Film
Breakdown: 1975
(archive footage)
2025
Film
City Heat
Dehl Swift
1984
Film
Amityville: A New Generation
Pauli
1993
Film
An Eye for an Eye
Capt. Stevens
1981
Film
Shaft's Big Score!
John Shaft
1972
Film
Sins of the Night
Les
1993
Series
The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow
Self - Narrator (voice)
2002
Film
Theodore Rex
Commissioner Lynch
1995
Film
Bloodfist III: Forced to Fight
Samuel Stark
1992
Film
Angel III: The Final Chapter
Lt. Doniger
1988
Film
Moving On
Ralph
2023
Film
The Banker
Lloyd
1990
Film
Corky Romano
Howard Shuster
2001
Film
Man Friday
Friday
1975
Film
Party Line
Captain Barnes
1988
Film
Original Gangstas
Slick
1996
Film
Shaft in Africa
John Shaft
1973
Film
Inchon
Sgt. Augustus Henderson
1981
Film
Opposing Force
Stafford
1986
Film
Once Upon a Time... When We Were Colored
Cleve
1996
Film
Haunting of the Mary Celeste
Tulls
2020
Film
Body of Influence
Harry Reams
1994
Moscacieca
Gray
1994
Film
Bad Jim
July
1990
Film
Max Havoc: Curse Of The Dragon
Tahsi
2004
Series
Beauty and the Beast
Cleon Manning
1987
Film
Night Visitor
Captain Crane
1989
Film
Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years
Booker T. Washington
1999
Film
A Choice of Weapons: Inspired by Gordon Parks
Self
2021
Film
A Family Reunion Christmas
Jebidiah McKellan
2019
Film
Final Approach
Gary Markash
2008
Film
Nationtime: Gary
Self
1972
Film
Point of Entry
Miles Porter
2007
Film
Bonanza: The Return
Jacob Briscoe
1993
Film
Christmas in Connecticut
Prescott
1992
Film
Bonanza: Under Attack
Jacob
1995
Film
Hawaiian Gardens
M.O.
2001
Film
Day of the Assassin
Fessler
1979
Film
Speed Racer: Wonderful World of Racing - The Amazing Racer Family
Ben Burns
2008
Film
One Down, Two to Go
Ralph
1982
Film
Firehouse
Shelly Forsythe
1973
Film
Jocks
Chip
1986
Film
What Do You Say to a Naked Lady?
Interracial Couple
1970
Film
Ballistic
Harold
1995
Film
Any Place But Home
Gil Oberman
1997
Film
Joe and Max
Jack Blackburn
2002
Film
Mind Twister
Frank Webb
1994
Film
A Time to Die
Captain Ralph Phipps
1991
Film
Painkiller Jane
Colonel Watts
2005
Film
All The Days Before Tomorrow
El Doctor
2007
Film
Soul in Cinema: Filming 'Shaft' on Location
Self
1971
Film
Portrait of a Hitman
Coco Morrell
1979
Film
Just an Overnight Guest
1983
Film
Embassy
Dick Shannon
1972
Film
Killpoint
Agent Bill Bryant
1984
Film
Diary of a Single Mom
Lou Bailey
2009
Film
Young Warriors
Sergeant John Austin
1983
Film
Crack House
Lt. Johnson
1989
Film
Men Cry in the Dark
2003
Film
Ladies of the House
Stan
2008
Film
The Big Score
Gordon
1983
Film
BaadAsssss Cinema
Self
2002
Film
The Fifth Missile
Cmdr. Frederick Bryce
1986
Film
Vegas Vampires
Rick Apping
2003
Film
Wild Seven
Lee Marvin / Cleetus Woods
2006
Film
Black as the Heart
Rod
1994
Film
Game for Vultures
Gideon Marunga
1979
Film
Diamonds
Archie
1975
Film
Whatever She Wants
Theodore Wolf
2010
Film
Shadows of Desire
Dunc
1994
Film
The Baron and the Kid
Frosty
1984
Film
Charley-One-Eye
The Black Man
1973
Film
Deadly Rivals
Agent Peterson
1993
Film
The Confidant
Claude
2010
Film
Al's Lads
Boom-Boom
2002
Film
Listen to a Stranger: An Interview with Gordon Parks
Self / Shaft (archive footage)
1973
Film
Daddy Can't Read
Jason Ruigh
1988
Film
Gypsy Angels
Dr. Carlson
1990
Film
Set Apart
J.T.
2009
Film
Retreat!
Henshaw
2012
Film
Miami Cops
Gamble
1989
Film
Collar
Alonzo Sparks
2015
Film
Harlem to Hollywood
Self
2019
Film
Getting Even
Dundee
1988