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