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