Acting · New Rochelle, New York, USA · Born July 9, 1942
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.
MovieThelma
2024
as Ben
MovieMoving On
2023
as Ralph
MovieA Choice of Weapons: Inspired by Gordon Parks
2021
as Self
MovieHaunting of the Mary Celeste
2020
as Tulls
TVGAME ON: A Comedy Crossover Event
2020
as Grandpa
MovieA Family Reunion Christmas
2019
as Jebidiah McKellan
TVFamily Reunion
2019
as Grandpa
MovieHarlem to Hollywood
2019
as Self
MovieShaft
2019
as John Shaft, Sr.
MovieWhat Men Want
2019
as Skip Davis
TVStar
2016
as Charles Floyd
TVLethal Weapon
2016
as Don Bennett
TVThe Player
2015
as Samuel Letts
MovieCollar
2015
as Alonzo Sparks
TVBeing Mary Jane
2013
as Paul Patterson, Sr.
TVChicago Fire
2012
as Wallace Boden, Sr.
MovieRetreat!
2012
as Henshaw
MovieThe Confidant
2010
as Claude
MovieWhatever She Wants
2010
as Theodore Wolf
MovieDiary of a Single Mom
2009
as Lou Bailey
MovieSet Apart
2009
as J.T.
MovieLadies of the House
2008
as Stan
TVThe Mentalist
2008
as Floyd Benton
MovieFinal Approach
2008
as Gary Markash
MovieSpeed Racer
2008
as Ben Burns
MovieSpeed Racer: Wonderful World of Racing - The Amazing Racer Family
2008
as Ben Burns
MoviePoint of Entry
2007
as Miles Porter
TVPrivate Practice
2007
as Raymond McCray
MovieAll The Days Before Tomorrow
2007
as El Doctor
TVLincoln Heights
2007
TVHeroes
2006
as Charles Deveaux
TVBlade: The Series
2006
MovieBrick
2006
as Assistant V.P. Trueman
MovieWild Seven
2006
as Lee Marvin / Cleetus Woods
MoviePainkiller Jane
2005
as Colonel Watts
TVClose to Home
2005
as Cyrus Carter
TVThe Closer
2005
as Col. D.B. Walter
TVGrey's Anatomy
2005
as Donald Burke
MovieMax Havoc: Curse Of The Dragon
2004
as Tahsi
TVDesperate Housewives
2004
as Mr. Shaw
MovieVegas Vampires
2003
as Rick Apping
MovieMen Cry in the Dark
2003
MovieBoat Trip
2002
as Felicia's Dad
TVThe Rise and Fall of Jim Crow
2002
as Self - Narrator (voice)
MovieBaadAsssss Cinema
2002
as Self
MovieAl's Lads
2002
as Boom-Boom
MovieUndercover Brother
2002
as John Shaft (archive footage) (uncredited)
MovieJoe and Max
2002
as Jack Blackburn
MovieHawaiian Gardens
2001
as M.O.
MovieCorky Romano
2001
as Howard Shuster
TVAlias
2001
as Brill
MovieAntitrust
2001
as Lyle Barton
TVSoul Food
2000
as Hardy Lester
MovieShaft
2000
as "Uncle" John Shaft
MovieHaving Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years
1999
as Booker T. Washington
TVRescue 77
1999
as Captain Durfee
TV413 Hope St.
1997
as Phil Thomas
MovieSteel
1997
as Uncle Joe
MovieGeorge of the Jungle
1997
as Kwame
MovieAny Place But Home
1997
as Gil Oberman
TVProfiler
1996
as Det. James Henegar
MovieOriginal Gangstas
1996
as Slick
TVBuddies
1996
as Henry Carlisle
MovieOnce Upon a Time... When We Were Colored
1996
as Cleve
MovieTheodore Rex
1995
as Commissioner Lynch
MovieSe7en
1995
as Talbot
MovieBallistic
1995
as Harold
MovieBonanza: Under Attack
1995
as Jacob
TVThe Wayans Bros.
1995
as Dr. Saunders
TVTouched by an Angel
1994
as Murray
MovieShadows of Desire
1994
as Dunc
MovieBlind Man's Bluff
1994
as Gray
MovieBody of Influence
1994
as Harry Reams
MovieMind Twister
1994
as Frank Webb
MovieBlack as the Heart
1994
as Rod
MovieSins of the Night
1993
as Les
MovieBonanza: The Return
1993
as Jacob Briscoe
MovieAmityville: A New Generation
1993
as Pauli
MovieDeadly Rivals
1993
as Agent Peterson
TVDr. Quinn, Medicine Woman
1993
as 'Barracuda' Jim Barnes
MovieChristmas in Connecticut
1992
as Prescott
TVHangin' with Mr. Cooper
1992
as General (uncredited)
TVRenegade
1992
Vicki!
1992
as Self
MovieBloodfist III: Forced to Fight
1992
as Samuel Stark
MovieA Time to Die
1991
as Captain Ralph Phipps
TVRoc
1991
as Russell Emerson
TVBeverly Hills, 90210
1990
as Robinson Ashe Jr.
TVThe Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
1990
as Dr. Mumford
TVDream On
1990
as Dr. Charles
MovieGypsy Angels
1990
as Dr. Carlson
MovieBad Jim
1990
as July
MovieThe Banker
1989
as Lloyd
MovieCrack House
1989
as Lt. Johnson
MovieNight Visitor
1989
as Captain Crane
MovieMiami Cops
1989
as Gamble
MovieAngel III: The Final Chapter
1988
as Lt. Doniger
MovieParty Line
1988
as Captain Barnes
MovieGetting Even
1988
as Dundee
MovieManiac Cop
1988
as Commissioner Pike
MovieDaddy Can't Read
1988
as Jason Ruigh
TVBeauty and the Beast
1987
as Cleon Manning
TVA Different World
1987
as Clinton Reese
TV21 Jump Street
1987
as Ben Halley
TVOutlaws
1986
as Isaiah 'Ice' McAdams
MovieJocks
1986
as Chip
TVAmen
1986
TVL.A. Law
1986
as Judge Ira Menday
MovieOpposing Force
1986
as Stafford
MovieThe Fifth Missile
1986
as Cmdr. Frederick Bryce
TVMacGyver
1985
as R.T. Hines
TVHollywood Beat
1985
TVA.D.
1985
as Serpenius
MovieCity Heat
1984
as Dehl Swift
MovieThe Baron and the Kid
1984
as Frosty
TVMurder, She Wrote
1984
as Kevin Cooper
MovieKillpoint
1984
as Agent Bill Bryant
TVMasquerade
1983
as Mean Willy
MovieYoung Warriors
1983
as Sergeant John Austin
MovieJust an Overnight Guest
1983
MovieThe Big Score
1983
as Gordon
MovieOne Down, Two to Go
1982
as Ralph
MovieQ
1982
as Powell
MovieAn Eye for an Eye
1981
as Capt. Stevens
MovieInchon
1981
as Sgt. Augustus Henderson
TVMagnum, P.I.
1980
as Peter Jordan
MovieDay of the Assassin
1979
as Fessler
MovieGame for Vultures
1979
as Gideon Marunga
MovieEscape to Athena
1979
as Nat Judson
MoviePortrait of a Hitman
1979
as Coco Morrell
TVThe Love Boat
1977
as Dave Wilbur
TVCHiPs
1977
as Sgt. Aikens
TVRoots
1977
as Sam Bennett
MovieDiamonds
1975
as Archie
MovieMan Friday
1975
as Friday
MovieEarthquake
1974
as Miles Quade
TVDinah!
1974
as Self
TVShaft
1973
as John Shaft
TVThe Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts
1973
as Self
MovieShaft in Africa
1973
as John Shaft
MovieCharley-One-Eye
1973
as The Black Man
MovieListen to a Stranger: An Interview with Gordon Parks
1973
as Self / Shaft (archive footage)
MovieFirehouse
1973
as Shelly Forsythe
MovieNationtime: Gary
1972
as Self
MovieShaft's Big Score!
1972
as John Shaft
MovieEmbassy
1972
as Dick Shannon
MovieShaft
1971
as John Shaft
MovieSoul in Cinema: Filming 'Shaft' on Location
1971
as Self
MovieWhat Do You Say to a Naked Lady?
1970
as Interracial Couple
TVThe Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962
as Self
TVThe Mike Douglas Show
1961
as Self
