Richard Roundtree

Richard Roundtree

Acting
Born 1942-07-09 - Died 2023-10-24New Rochelle, New York, USA

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.

Movies (99)

Se7en
8.4

Se7en

1995Movie8.4
Speed Racer
6.4

Speed Racer

2008Movie6.4
George of the Jungle
5.7

George of the Jungle

1997Movie5.7
Shaft
6.5

Shaft

2019Movie6.5
Shaft
6.0

Shaft

2000Movie6.0
What Men Want
6.2

What Men Want

2019Movie6.2
Undercover Brother
5.9

Undercover Brother

2002Movie5.9
Brick
6.8

Brick

2006Movie6.8
Earthquake
6.2

Earthquake

1974Movie6.2
Moving On
5.9

Moving On

2023Movie5.9
Boat Trip
5.2

Boat Trip

2002Movie5.2
Shaft
6.4

Shaft

1971Movie6.4
City Heat
5.5

City Heat

1984Movie5.5
Corky Romano
4.4

Corky Romano

2001Movie4.4
Breakdown: 1975
6.8

Breakdown: 1975

2025Movie6.8
Maniac Cop
6.1

Maniac Cop

1988Movie6.1
Antitrust
6.0

Antitrust

2001Movie6.0
Thelma
6.8

Thelma

2024Movie6.8
Bad Jim
7.5

Bad Jim

1990Movie7.5
Steel
4.2

Steel

1997Movie4.2
Shaft's Big Score!
6.1

Shaft's Big Score!

1972Movie6.1
Shaft in Africa
6.1

Shaft in Africa

1973Movie6.1
Escape to Athena
5.7

Escape to Athena

1979Movie5.7
An Eye for an Eye
5.3

An Eye for an Eye

1981Movie5.3
Theodore Rex
3.6

Theodore Rex

1995Movie3.6
Q
5.7

Q

1982Movie5.7
Man Friday
6.7

Man Friday

1975Movie6.7
Party Line
5.2

Party Line

1988Movie5.2
Amityville: A New Generation
4.3

Amityville: A New Generation

1993Movie4.3
The Banker
4.5

The Banker

1989Movie4.5
The Big Score
6.0

The Big Score

1983Movie6.0
Final Approach
5.1

Final Approach

2008Movie5.1
Game for Vultures
5.2

Game for Vultures

1979Movie5.2
Original Gangstas
5.6

Original Gangstas

1996Movie5.6
Nationtime: Gary
8.0

Nationtime: Gary

1972Movie8.0
Body of Influence
4.9

Body of Influence

1994Movie4.9
Angel III: The Final Chapter
5.4

Angel III: The Final Chapter

1988Movie5.4
BaadAsssss Cinema
6.0

BaadAsssss Cinema

2002Movie6.0
Night Visitor
4.3

Night Visitor

1989Movie4.3
Painkiller Jane
5.1

Painkiller Jane

2005Movie5.1
Crack House
5.5

Crack House

1989Movie5.5
Bonanza: Under Attack
6.7

Bonanza: Under Attack

1995Movie6.7
Inchon
3.9

Inchon

1981Movie3.9
Sins of the Night
4.4

Sins of the Night

1993Movie4.4
Opposing Force
4.4

Opposing Force

1986Movie4.4
Vegas Vampires
4.3

Vegas Vampires

2003Movie4.3
Mind Twister
3.8

Mind Twister

1994Movie3.8
Bloodfist III: Forced to Fight
4.8

Bloodfist III: Forced to Fight

1992Movie4.8
Christmas in Connecticut
4.7

Christmas in Connecticut

1992Movie4.7
Getting Even
4.8

Getting Even

1988Movie4.8
Point of Entry
4.8

Point of Entry

2007Movie4.8
Joe and Max
5.1

Joe and Max

2002Movie5.1
Max Havoc: Curse Of The Dragon
5.0

Max Havoc: Curse Of The Dragon

2004Movie5.0
Young Warriors
3.9

Young Warriors

1983Movie3.9
Hawaiian Gardens
3.0

Hawaiian Gardens

2001Movie3.0
Al's Lads
6.6

Al's Lads

2002Movie6.6
Ballistic
3.5

Ballistic

1995Movie3.5
Ladies of the House
4.5

Ladies of the House

2008Movie4.5
Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years
7.3

Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years

1999Movie7.3
Deadly Rivals
6.4

Deadly Rivals

1993Movie6.4
Whatever She Wants
6.7

Whatever She Wants

2010Movie6.7
Haunting of the Mary Celeste
5.2

Haunting of the Mary Celeste

2020Movie5.2
Speed Racer: Wonderful World of Racing - The Amazing Racer Family
7.0

Speed Racer: Wonderful World of Racing - The Amazing Racer Family

2008Movie7.0
The Fifth Missile
5.5

The Fifth Missile

1986Movie5.5
Day of the Assassin
4.9

Day of the Assassin

1979Movie4.9
Wild Seven
4.3

Wild Seven

2006Movie4.3
A Family Reunion Christmas
5.9

A Family Reunion Christmas

2019Movie5.9
Killpoint
5.2

Killpoint

1984Movie5.2
Portrait of a Hitman
5.2

Portrait of a Hitman

1979Movie5.2
A Choice of Weapons: Inspired by Gordon Parks
6.8

A Choice of Weapons: Inspired by Gordon Parks

2021Movie6.8
A Time to Die
4.5

A Time to Die

1991Movie4.5
Firehouse
5.0

Firehouse

1973Movie5.0
Diary of a Single Mom
4.0

Diary of a Single Mom

2009Movie4.0
The Confidant
4.6

The Confidant

2010Movie4.6
Collar

Collar

2015Movie
Jocks
4.3

Jocks

1986Movie4.3
Soul in Cinema: Filming 'Shaft' on Location
7.3

Soul in Cinema: Filming 'Shaft' on Location

1971Movie7.3
Any Place But Home
9.0

Any Place But Home

1997Movie9.0
One Down, Two to Go
4.7

One Down, Two to Go

1982Movie4.7
Bonanza: The Return
6.5

Bonanza: The Return

1993Movie6.5
Men Cry in the Dark
7.0

Men Cry in the Dark

2003Movie7.0
Once Upon a Time... When We Were Colored
4.2

Once Upon a Time... When We Were Colored

1996Movie4.2
Just an Overnight Guest
7.0

Just an Overnight Guest

1983Movie7.0
Embassy
6.5

Embassy

1972Movie6.5
Gypsy Angels
3.4

Gypsy Angels

1990Movie3.4
Shadows of Desire
2.6

Shadows of Desire

1994Movie2.6
The Baron and the Kid
8.0

The Baron and the Kid

1984Movie8.0
Charley-One-Eye
5.3

Charley-One-Eye

1973Movie5.3
Harlem to Hollywood

Harlem to Hollywood

2019Movie
Set Apart
3.0

Set Apart

2009Movie3.0
All The Days Before Tomorrow
7.3

All The Days Before Tomorrow

2007Movie7.3
Diamonds
5.3

Diamonds

1975Movie5.3
What Do You Say to a Naked Lady?
5.0

What Do You Say to a Naked Lady?

1970Movie5.0
Retreat!

Retreat!

2012Movie
Black as the Heart
9.0

Black as the Heart

1994Movie9.0
Daddy Can't Read
9.0

Daddy Can't Read

1988Movie9.0
Miami Cops
6.7

Miami Cops

1989Movie6.7
Blind Man's Bluff
8.0

Blind Man's Bluff

1994Movie8.0
Listen to a Stranger: An Interview with Gordon Parks
6.0

Listen to a Stranger: An Interview with Gordon Parks

1973Movie6.0

TV Shows (53)

The Mentalist
8.4

The Mentalist

2008Series8.4
Grey's Anatomy
8.2

Grey's Anatomy

2005Series8.2
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
7.5

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

1962Series7.5
Chicago Fire
8.4

Chicago Fire

2012Series8.4
Desperate Housewives
7.9

Desperate Housewives

2004Series7.9
The Closer
7.8

The Closer

2005Series7.8
The Love Boat
6.3

The Love Boat

1977Series6.3
The Mike Douglas Show
5.8

The Mike Douglas Show

1961Series5.8
Beverly Hills, 90210
7.3

Beverly Hills, 90210

1990Series7.3
Heroes
7.4

Heroes

2006Series7.4
Murder, She Wrote
7.5

Murder, She Wrote

1984Series7.5
MacGyver
7.7

MacGyver

1985Series7.7
Magnum, P.I.
7.3

Magnum, P.I.

1980Series7.3
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman
7.6

Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman

1993Series7.6
L.A. Law
7.1

L.A. Law

1986Series7.1
21 Jump Street
7.3

21 Jump Street

1987Series7.3
Private Practice
7.5

Private Practice

2007Series7.5
Touched by an Angel
7.2

Touched by an Angel

1994Series7.2
Lethal Weapon
7.3

Lethal Weapon

2016Series7.3
A Different World
7.1

A Different World

1987Series7.1
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
7.9

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

1990Series7.9
Renegade
6.7

Renegade

1992Series6.7
Profiler
7.0

Profiler

1996Series7.0
Dinah!
7.0

Dinah!

1974Series7.0
The Wayans Bros.
7.2

The Wayans Bros.

1995Series7.2
Close to Home
5.9

Close to Home

2005Series5.9
Hangin' with Mr. Cooper
6.7

Hangin' with Mr. Cooper

1992Series6.7
Family Reunion
8.1

Family Reunion

2019Series8.1
Being Mary Jane
6.9

Being Mary Jane

2013Series6.9
Star
8.0

Star

2016Series8.0
Dream On
6.9

Dream On

1990Series6.9
Amen
6.7

Amen

1986Series6.7
Roots
7.4

Roots

1977Series7.4
Vicki!
6.5

Vicki!

1992Series6.5
Alias
6.8

Alias

2001Series6.8
CHiPs
6.8

CHiPs

1977Series6.8
Blade: The Series
6.4

Blade: The Series

2006Series6.4
The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts
5.4

The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts

1973Series5.4
The Player
6.3

The Player

2015Series6.3
Lincoln Heights
8.7

Lincoln Heights

2007Series8.7
Roc
7.9

Roc

1991Series7.9
Hollywood Beat
5.0

Hollywood Beat

1985Series5.0
Masquerade
7.5

Masquerade

1983Series7.5
Soul Food
7.2

Soul Food

2000Series7.2
Buddies
5.5

Buddies

1996Series5.5
A.D.
5.4

A.D.

1985Series5.4
Rescue 77
5.0

Rescue 77

1999Series5.0
Shaft
7.2

Shaft

1973Series7.2
GAME ON: A Comedy Crossover Event
6.9

GAME ON: A Comedy Crossover Event

2020Series6.9
413 Hope St.
8.0

413 Hope St.

1997Series8.0
Outlaws
7.1

Outlaws

1986Series7.1
The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow
7.0

The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow

2002Series7.0
Beauty and the Beast
7.4

Beauty and the Beast

1987Series7.4