Richard Roundtree
Biography
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
Acting

2000
as"Uncle" John Shaft

1971
asJohn Shaft

1972
asJohn Shaft

1973
asJohn Shaft

2006
asLee Marvin / Cleetus Woods

1995
asTalbot

1997
asKwame

1974
asMiles Quade

2002
asBoom-Boom

1983
asSergeant John Austin

2008
asBen Burns

1997
asUncle Joe

1993
asPauli

2006
asAssistant V.P. Trueman

2001
asLyle Barton

1989
asLloyd

1982
asPowell

1986
asStafford

1979
asNat Judson

1995
asCommissioner Lynch

1988
asCommissioner Pike

1981
asCapt. Stevens

2010
asClaude

1984
asDehl Swift

2008
asStan

2002
asSelf

2001
asHoward Shuster

1988
asLt. Doniger

1986
asChip

1989
asLt. Johnson

1984
asFrosty

2001
asM.O.

1979
asCoco Morrell

2005
asColonel Watts

1973
asThe Black Man

1991
asCaptain Ralph Phipps

1975
asFriday

1992
asPrescott

1992
asSamuel Stark

1982
asRalph

1989
asCaptain Crane

1983
asGordon

1975
asArchie

2003
as
1988
asCaptain Barnes

1990
asJuly

1988
asDundee

2023
asRalph

2002
asJack Blackburn

1981
asSgt. Augustus Henderson

1986
asCmdr. Frederick Bryce

2009
asJ.T.

1993
asLes

1990
asDr. Carlson

1979
asFessler

1979
asGideon Marunga

1997
asGil Oberman

2002
asJohn Shaft (archive footage) (uncredited)

1984
asAgent Bill Bryant

1994
asGray

1993
asAgent Peterson

1970
asInterracial Couple

1996
asSlick

2007
asEl Doctor

2010
asTheodore Wolf

2024
asBen

2004
asTahsi

1972
asDick Shannon

1996
asCleve

1999
asBooker T. Washington

1993
asHarry Reams

2019
asSelf

2002
asFelicia's Dad

2012
asHenshaw

1988
asJason Ruigh

1994
asFrank Webb

2007
asMiles Porter

1983
as
1971
asSelf

1973
asShelly Forsythe

1994
asDunc

2019
asJohn Shaft, Sr.

1989
asGamble

1993
asJacob Briscoe

1995
asJacob

2015
asAlonzo Sparks

1994
asRod

2019
asSkip Davis

2019
asJebidiah McKellan

2009
asLou Bailey

1972
asSelf

2020
asTulls

2008
asGary Markash

2003
asRick Apping

2021
asSelf

1995
asHarold
asMajor Kevin Cooper
asClinton Reese
asPeter Jordan
asSgt. Aikens
asCaptain Durfee
as
asCol. D.B. Walter
asMr. Shaw
asJudge Ira Menday
as
asCharles Deveaux
asBrill
asDr. Mumford
asDr. Saunders
as
asGrandpa
asHardy Lester
asR.T. Hines
asDet. James Henegar
as
as
as
as
as
as
asHenry Carlisle
as
asPhil Thomas
as
asMean Willy
asPaul Patterson, Sr.
asDonald Burke
asFloyd Benton
asSamuel Letts
asWallace Boden, Sr.
asRaymond McCray
asSelf
asSelf
asSelf
asSam Bennett
asSelf
asRussell Emerson
asSerpenius
asGeneral (uncredited)
asDon Bennett
asMurray
asDave Wilbur
asCharles Floyd
asDr. Charles
asGrandpa
asSelf
asBen Halley
asSelf - Narrator (voice)
asChester Cooper
Production
Crew

2012
as
2024
asDirecting