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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

  • Boat Trip
  • 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
  • One Down, Two to go
  • Bloodfist III: Forced to Fight
  • 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
  • Moving On
  • Escape to Athena
  • Theodore Rex
  • Man Friday
  • Being Mary Jane
  • Christmas in Connecticut
  • Amityville: A New Generation

Featured Videos

  • Richard Roundtree On His Character
    Richard Roundtree On His CharacterWhat Men WantBehind the Scenes

Richard Roundtree 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 (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) · as Cyrus Carter
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
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman (TV Series) · as 'barracuda' Jim Barnes
1992
Hangin' with Mr. Cooper (TV Series) · as Chester Cooper
1992
Renegade (TV Series)
1992
1991
1991
A Time to Die · as Captain Ralph Phipps
1991
Roc (TV Series) · as Russell Emerson
1990
Beverly Hills, 90210 (TV Series) · as Robinson Ashe Jr.
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
Candidate For Deletion - False Addition to TVDB (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 (1987) (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) · as Peter Jordan
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) · as John Shaft
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)

2021
2018
2016
2014
Unsung Hollywood (TV Series) · as Self
2013
The Arsenio Hall Show (2013) (TV Series) · as Self - Guest
2013
BET Awards 2013 · as Self
2011
2008
2007
Classified X · as Self
2006
2005
Made In Hollywood (TV Series) · as Self
2004
Tavis Smiley (TV Series) · as Self - Guest
2004
2003
2003
2002
2002
2002 Trumpet Awards · as Self - Host
2002
2000
I Love the '70s (UK) (TV Series) · as Self
1998
1998
1997
Wild On! (TV Series) · as Self - Actor
1996
E! True Hollywood Story (TV Series) · as Self
1994
WGN Morning News (TV Series) · as Self
1994
1994 MTV Movie Awards · as Self - Winner
1992
Vicki! (TV Series) · as Self
1992
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (TV Series) · as Self - Guest
1991
Maury (TV Series) · as Self - Guest
1991
1990
Intimate Portrait (TV Series) · as Self - Narrator
1986
The New Hollywood Squares (TV Series) · as Self - Panelist
1984
Black Hollywood · as Self
1981
Entertainment Tonight (TV Series) · as Self
1977
Circus of the Stars #2 · as Self - Performer
1974
1974
Dinah! (TV Series) · as Self
1973
1973
1972
Nationtime · as Self
1972
The 44th Annual Academy Awards · as Self - Presenter
1971
Celebrity Bowling (TV Series) · as Self
1967
The Phil Donahue Show (TV Series) · as Self - Guest
1966
1966
It's a Knockout (TV Series) · as Self
1965
The Dean Martin Show (TV Series) · as Self - Guest
1965
The Hollywood Squares (TV Series) · as Self - Panelist
1962
1962
The Merv Griffin Show (TV Series) · as Self - Guest
1961
The Mike Douglas Show (TV Series) · as Self
1952
Today (TV Series) · as Self - Guest

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