Richard Roundtree

Acting

Richard Roundtree

Born July 9, 1942New Rochelle, New York, USA151 credits

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

Filmography

Thelma
2024Thelma
as BenMovie
Moving On
2023Moving On
as RalphMovie
A Family Reunion Christmas
2019A Family Reunion Christmas
as Jebidiah McKellanMovie
Family Reunion
2019Family Reunion
as GrandpaTV
Shaft
2019Shaft
as John Shaft, Sr.Movie
What Men Want
2019What Men Want
as Skip DavisMovie
Star
2016Star
as Charles FloydTV
Lethal Weapon
2016Lethal Weapon
as Don BennettTV
The Player
2015The Player
as Samuel LettsTV
Collar
2015Collar
as Alonzo SparksMovie
Being Mary Jane
2013Being Mary Jane
as Paul Patterson, Sr.TV
Chicago Fire
2012Chicago Fire
as Wallace Boden, Sr.TV
Retreat!
2012Retreat!
as HenshawMovie
The Confidant
2010The Confidant
as ClaudeMovie
Whatever She Wants
2010Whatever She Wants
as Theodore WolfMovie
Diary of a Single Mom
2009Diary of a Single Mom
as Lou BaileyMovie
Set Apart
2009Set Apart
as J.T.Movie
The Mentalist
2008The Mentalist
as Floyd BentonTV
Final Approach
2008Final Approach
as Gary MarkashMovie
Speed Racer
2008Speed Racer
as Ben BurnsMovie
Point of Entry
2007Point of Entry
as Miles PorterMovie
Private Practice
2007Private Practice
as Raymond McCrayTV
Heroes
2006Heroes
as Charles DeveauxTV
Brick
2006Brick
as Assistant V.P. TruemanMovie
Wild Seven
2006Wild Seven
as Lee Marvin / Cleetus WoodsMovie
Painkiller Jane
2005Painkiller Jane
as Colonel WattsMovie
Close to Home
2005Close to Home
as Cyrus CarterTV
The Closer
2005The Closer
as Col. D.B. WalterTV
Grey's Anatomy
2005Grey's Anatomy
as Donald BurkeTV
Vegas Vampires
2003Vegas Vampires
as Rick AppingMovie
Boat Trip
2002Boat Trip
as Felicia's DadMovie
The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow
2002The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow
as Self - Narrator (voice)TV
Al's Lads
2002Al's Lads
as Boom-BoomMovie
Undercover Brother
2002Undercover Brother
as John Shaft (archive footage) (uncredited)Movie
Joe and Max
2002Joe and Max
as Jack BlackburnMovie
Corky Romano
2001Corky Romano
as Howard ShusterMovie
Alias
2001Alias
as BrillTV
Antitrust
2001Antitrust
as Lyle BartonMovie
Soul Food
2000Soul Food
as Hardy LesterTV
Shaft
2000Shaft
as "Uncle" John ShaftMovie
Rescue 77
1999Rescue 77
as Captain DurfeeTV
413 Hope St.
1997413 Hope St.
as Phil ThomasTV
Steel
1997Steel
as Uncle JoeMovie
Any Place But Home
1997Any Place But Home
as Gil ObermanMovie
Profiler
1996Profiler
as Det. James HenegarTV
Buddies
1996Buddies
as Henry CarlisleTV
Theodore Rex
1995Theodore Rex
as Commissioner LynchMovie
Se7en
1995Se7en
as TalbotMovie
Ballistic
1995Ballistic
as HaroldMovie
The Wayans Bros.
1995The Wayans Bros.
as Dr. SaundersTV
Body of Influence
1994Body of Influence
as Harry ReamsMovie
Mind Twister
1994Mind Twister
as Frank WebbMovie
Bonanza: The Return
1993Bonanza: The Return
as Jacob BriscoeMovie
Deadly Rivals
1993Deadly Rivals
as Agent PetersonMovie
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman
1993Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman
as 'Barracuda' Jim BarnesTV
Hangin' with Mr. Cooper
1992Hangin' with Mr. Cooper
as General (uncredited)TV
V
1992Vicki!
as SelfTV
A Time to Die
1991A Time to Die
as Captain Ralph PhippsMovie
Roc
1991Roc
as Russell EmersonTV
Beverly Hills, 90210
1990Beverly Hills, 90210
as Robinson Ashe Jr.TV
Dream On
1990Dream On
as Dr. CharlesTV
Gypsy Angels
1990Gypsy Angels
as Dr. CarlsonMovie
Bad Jim
1990Bad Jim
as JulyMovie
The Banker
1989The Banker
as LloydMovie
Crack House
1989Crack House
as Lt. JohnsonMovie
Night Visitor
1989Night Visitor
as Captain CraneMovie
Miami Cops
1989Miami Cops
as GambleMovie
Party Line
1988Party Line
as Captain BarnesMovie
Getting Even
1988Getting Even
as DundeeMovie
Maniac Cop
1988Maniac Cop
as Commissioner PikeMovie
Daddy Can't Read
1988Daddy Can't Read
as Jason RuighMovie
A Different World
1987A Different World
as Clinton ReeseTV
21 Jump Street
198721 Jump Street
as Ben HalleyTV
Jocks
1986Jocks
as ChipMovie
L.A. Law
1986L.A. Law
as Judge Ira MendayTV
Opposing Force
1986Opposing Force
as StaffordMovie
The Fifth Missile
1986The Fifth Missile
as Cmdr. Frederick BryceMovie
MacGyver
1985MacGyver
as R.T. HinesTV
A.D.
1985A.D.
as SerpeniusTV
City Heat
1984City Heat
as Dehl SwiftMovie
Murder, She Wrote
1984Murder, She Wrote
as Kevin CooperTV
Killpoint
1984Killpoint
as Agent Bill BryantMovie
Masquerade
1983Masquerade
as Mean WillyTV
Young Warriors
1983Young Warriors
as Sergeant John AustinMovie
The Big Score
1983The Big Score
as GordonMovie
Q
1982Q
as PowellMovie
An Eye for an Eye
1981An Eye for an Eye
as Capt. StevensMovie
Inchon
1981Inchon
as Sgt. Augustus HendersonMovie
Magnum, P.I.
1980Magnum, P.I.
as Peter JordanTV
Game for Vultures
1979Game for Vultures
as Gideon MarungaMovie
Escape to Athena
1979Escape to Athena
as Nat JudsonMovie
Portrait of a Hitman
1979Portrait of a Hitman
as Coco MorrellMovie
The Love Boat
1977The Love Boat
as Dave WilburTV
CHiPs
1977CHiPs
as Sgt. AikensTV
Roots
1977Roots
as Sam BennettTV
Diamonds
1975Diamonds
as ArchieMovie
Man Friday
1975Man Friday
as FridayMovie
Earthquake
1974Earthquake
as Miles QuadeMovie
Dinah!
1974Dinah!
as SelfTV
Shaft
1973Shaft
as John ShaftTV
Shaft in Africa
1973Shaft in Africa
as John ShaftMovie
Charley One-Eye
1973Charley One-Eye
as The Black ManMovie
Listen to a Stranger: An Interview with Gordon Parks
1973Listen to a Stranger: An Interview with Gordon Parks
as Self / Shaft (archive footage)Movie
Firehouse
1973Firehouse
as Shelly ForsytheMovie
Nationtime
1972Nationtime
as SelfMovie
Shaft's Big Score!
1972Shaft's Big Score!
as John ShaftMovie
Embassy
1972Embassy
as Dick ShannonMovie
Shaft
1971Shaft
as John ShaftMovie
What Do You Say to a Naked Lady?
1970What Do You Say to a Naked Lady?
as Interracial CoupleMovie