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Photo of Richard Roundtree

Richard Roundtree

Actor
Born July 9, 1942Died October 24, 2023 (81 years)
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.

Movies & Shows on Plex

  • 21 Jump Street
  • Q: The Winged Serpent
  • Escape to Athena
  • Renegade
  • The Young Riders
  • Amityville: A New Generation
  • Missing (2003)
  • Man Friday
  • Max Havoc: Curse of the Dragon
  • Haunting of the Mary Celeste
  • Bloodfist III: Forced to Fight
  • One Down, Two to go
  • Point of Entry
  • Killpoint
  • Diamonds
  • A Time to Die
  • Charley-One-Eye
  • Duke
  • Firehouse

Known For

  • Shaft
  • George of the Jungle
  • Shaft
  • Brick
  • Shaft
  • Thelma
  • Antitrust
  • Maniac Cop
  • Steel
  • Shaft's Big Score!
  • Wild Seven
  • Shaft in Africa
  • Earthquake
  • Q: The Winged Serpent
  • Corky Romano
  • City Heat
  • An Eye for an Eye
  • Escape to Athena
  • Moving On
  • Theodore Rex
  • Man Friday
  • Being Mary Jane
  • Christmas in Connecticut
  • Painkiller Jane

Featured Videos

    Filmography

    2024
    Thelma · as Ben
    2022
    Moving On · as Ralph
    2021
    Sacrifice (TV Series) · as Ellis Shaw
    2020
    2020
    Game On! A Comedy Crossover Event (TV Series) · as Grandpa
    2020
    Cherish the Day (TV Series) · as Mandeville 'mv' St. James
    2019
    A Family Reunion Christmas · as Jebidiah Mckellan
    2019
    Family Reunion (TV Series) · as Grandpa
    2019
    Shaft · as John Shaft, Sr.
    2019
    What Men Want · as Skip Davis
    2019
    Duke · as J.t.
    2017
    The Green Fog · as Capt. Stevens
    2016
    Star (TV Series) · as Charles Floyd
    2016
    Lethal Weapon (TV Series) · as Don Bennett
    2015
    The Player (2015) (TV Series) · as Samuel Letts
    2015
    Collar · as Alonzo Sparks
    2014
    Whatever She Wants · as Theodore Wolf
    2013
    Being Mary Jane (TV Series) · as Paul Patterson, Sr.
    2012
    Chicago Fire (TV Series) · as Wallace Boden, Sr.
    2010
    The Confidant · as Claude
    2009
    Diary of a Single Mom · as Lou Bailey
    2009
    Diary of a Single Mom (TV Series) · as Lou Bailey
    2009
    Set Apart · as J.t.
    2009
    Meet the Browns (TV Series) · as Frank
    2008
    2008
    The Mentalist (TV Series) · as Floyd Benton
    2008
    Speed Racer · as Ben Burns
    2008
    Knight Rider (2008) (TV Series) · as Lawrence Rivai
    2007
    Final Approach · as Gary Markash
    2007
    Point of Entry · as Miles Porter
    2007
    Private Practice (TV Series) · as Raymond Mccray
    2007
    2007
    Vegas Vampires · as Rick Apping
    2006
    Lincoln Heights (TV Series)
    2006
    Heroes (TV Series) · as Charles Deveaux
    2006
    Blade (TV Series)
    2006
    Wild Seven · as Lee Marvin / Cleetus Woods
    2005
    Brick · as Assistant V.p. Trueman
    2005
    Painkiller Jane · as Colonel Watts
    2005
    Close to Home (TV Series)
    2005
    The Closer (TV Series) · as Col. D.b. Walter
    2005
    Grey's Anatomy (TV Series) · as Donald Burke
    2004
    2004
    Desperate Housewives (TV Series) · as Mr. Shaw
    2003
    Missing (2003) (TV Series) · as Sam Haslett
    2002
    Boat Trip · as Felicia's Dad
    2002
    Capone's Boys · as Boom-Boom
    2002
    Undercover Brother · as John Shaft (archive Footage) (uncredited)
    2002
    Joe and Max · as Jack Blackburn
    2001
    Hawaiian Gardens · as M.o.
    2001
    Corky Romano · as Howard Shuster
    2001
    Alias (TV Series) · as Brill
    2001
    Antitrust · as Lyle Barton
    2000
    Soul Food (TV Series) · as Hardy Lester
    2000
    Resurrection Blvd. (TV Series) · as Nate Khane
    2000
    Shaft · as "uncle" John Shaft
    1999
    1999
    Rescue 77 (TV Series) · as Captain Durfee
    1998
    Linc's (TV Series) · as Jake
    1997
    413 Hope St. (TV Series) · as Phil Thomas
    1997
    Steel · as Uncle Joe
    1997
    1997
    Any Place But Home · as Gil Oberman
    1996
    Profiler (TV Series) · as Det. James Henegar
    1996
    Original Gangstas · as Slick
    1996
    Buddies (TV Series) · as Henry Carlisle
    1995
    1995
    Theodore Rex · as Commissioner Lynch
    1995
    Se7en · as Talbot
    1995
    Ballistic · as Harold
    1995
    1995
    The Wayans Bros. (TV Series) · as Dr. Saunders
    1994
    Touched by an Angel (TV Series) · as Murray
    1994
    1994
    1993
    Bonanza: The Return · as Jacob Briscoe
    1993
    1993
    Deadly Rivals · as Agent Peterson
    1993
    1993
    Body of Influence · as Harry Reams
    1993
    Mind Twister · as Frank Webb
    1993
    1992
    Hangin' with Mr. Cooper (TV Series) · as General (uncredited)
    1992
    Renegade (TV Series)
    1992
    1991
    1991
    A Time to Die · as Captain Ralph Phipps
    1991
    Roc (TV Series) · as Russell Emerson
    1990
    1990
    The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (TV Series) · as Dr. Mumford
    1990
    Dream On (TV Series) · as Dr. Charles
    1990
    Gypsy Angels · as Dr. Carlson
    1990
    Bad Jim · as July
    1989
    The Banker · as Lloyd
    1989
    Crack House · as Lt. Johnson
    1989
    The Young Riders (TV Series) · as Calvin
    1989
    Night Visitor · as Captain Crane
    1989
    Miami Cops · as Gamble
    1989
    Generations (TV Series) · as Dr. Daniel Reubens
    1989
    Getting Even · as Dundee
    1988
    1988
    Party Line · as Captain Barnes
    1988
    Maniac Cop · as Commissioner Pike
    1987
    1987
    A Different World (TV Series) · as Clinton Reese
    1987
    21 Jump Street (TV Series) · as Ben Halley
    1986
    Outlaws (1986) (TV Series)
    1986
    Jocks · as Chip
    1986
    Amen (TV Series)
    1986
    L.A. Law (TV Series) · as Judge Ira Menday
    1986
    Opposing Force · as Stafford
    1986
    The Fifth Missile · as Cmdr. Frederick Bryce
    1985
    MacGyver (TV Series) · as R.t. Hines
    1985
    Hollywood Beat (TV Series)
    1985
    A.D. - Anno Domini (TV Series) · as Serpenius
    1984
    City Heat · as Dehl Swift
    1984
    1984
    Murder, She Wrote (TV Series) · as Major Kevin Cooper
    1984
    Killpoint · as Agent Bill Bryant
    1983
    Masquerade (TV Series) · as Mean Willy
    1983
    The Big Score · as Gordon
    1983
    Young Warriors · as Sergeant John Austin
    1982
    1982
    1981
    An Eye for an Eye · as Capt. Stevens
    1981
    Inchon · as Sgt. Augustus Henderson
    1980
    Magnum, P.I. (TV Series)
    1979
    Day of the Assassin · as Fessler
    1979
    Game for Vultures · as Gideon Marunga
    1979
    Portrait of a Hitman · as Coco Morrell
    1979
    Escape to Athena · as Nat Judson
    1977
    CHiPs (TV Series) · as Sgt. Aikens
    1977
    The Love Boat (TV Series) · as Dave Wilbur
    1977
    Roots (TV Series) · as Sam Bennett
    1975
    Diamonds · as Archie
    1975
    Man Friday · as Friday
    1974
    Earthquake · as Miles Quade
    1973
    Shaft (TV Series)
    1973
    Shaft in Africa · as John Shaft
    1973
    Charley-One-Eye · as The Black Man
    1973
    Firehouse · as Shelly Forsythe
    1972
    The ABC Afterschool Special (TV Series) · as Jason Ruigh
    1972
    Shaft's Big Score! · as John Shaft
    1972
    Embassy · as Dick Shannon
    1971
    Shaft · as John Shaft
    1970
    What Do You Say to a Naked Lady? · as Interracial Couple
    1956
    As The World Turns (TV Series) · as Oliver Travers (2002-2003)

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