Richard Roundtree
Acting
153
Acting Credits
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 Cremato...
Known For
Filmography
Breakdown: 1975
2025
as Self (Shaft- archive footage)
Thelma
2024
as Ben
Moving On
2023
as Ralph
A Choice of Weapons: Inspired by Gordon Parks
2021
as Self
Haunting of the Mary Celeste
2020
as Tulls
GAME ON: A Comedy Crossover Event
2020
as Grandpa
Harlem to Hollywood
2019
as Self
Shaft
2019
as John Shaft, Sr.
What Men Want
2019
as Skip Davis
A Family Reunion Christmas
2019
as Jebidiah McKellan
Family Reunion
2019
as Grandpa
Lethal Weapon
2016
as Don Bennett
Star
2016
as Charles Floyd
Collar
2015
as Alonzo Sparks
The Player
2015
as Samuel Letts
Being Mary Jane
2013
as Paul Patterson, Sr.
Retreat!
2012
as Henshaw
Chicago Fire
2012
as Wallace Boden, Sr.
The Confidant
2010
as Claude
Whatever She Wants
2010
as Theodore Wolf
Set Apart
2009
as J.T.
Diary of a Single Mom
2009
as Lou Bailey
Speed Racer
2008
as Ben Burns
Ladies of the House
2008
as Stan
Final Approach
2008
as Gary Markash
Speed Racer: Wonderful World of Racing - The Amazing Racer Family
2008
as Ben Burns
The Mentalist
2008
as Floyd Benton
All The Days Before Tomorrow
2007
as El Doctor
Point of Entry
2007
as Miles Porter
Lincoln Heights
2007
Private Practice
2007
as Raymond McCray
Wild Seven
2006
as Lee Marvin / Cleetus Woods
Brick
2006
as Assistant V.P. Trueman
Heroes
2006
as Charles Deveaux
Blade: The Series
2006
Painkiller Jane
2005
as Colonel Watts
The Closer
2005
as Col. D.B. Walter
Close to Home
2005
as Cyrus Carter
Grey's Anatomy
2005
as Donald Burke
Max Havoc: Curse Of The Dragon
2004
as Tahsi
Desperate Housewives
2004
as Mr. Shaw
Men Cry in the Dark
2003
Vegas Vampires
2003
as Rick Apping
Al's Lads
2002
as Boom-Boom
BaadAsssss Cinema
2002
as Self
Joe and Max
2002
as Jack Blackburn
Undercover Brother
2002
as John Shaft (archive footage) (uncredited)
Boat Trip
2002
as Felicia's Dad
The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow
2002
as Self - Narrator (voice)
Antitrust
2001
as Lyle Barton
Corky Romano
2001
as Howard Shuster
Hawaiian Gardens
2001
as M.O.
Alias
2001
as Brill
Shaft
2000
as "Uncle" John Shaft
Soul Food
2000
as Hardy Lester
Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years
1999
as Booker T. Washington
Rescue 77
1999
as Captain Durfee
George of the Jungle
1997
as Kwame
Steel
1997
as Uncle Joe
Any Place But Home
1997
as Gil Oberman
413 Hope St.
1997
as Phil Thomas
Original Gangstas
1996
as Slick
Once Upon a Time... When We Were Colored
1996
as Cleve
Profiler
1996
as Det. James Henegar
Buddies
1996
as Henry Carlisle
Se7en
1995
as Talbot
Theodore Rex
1995
as Commissioner Lynch
Bonanza: Under Attack
1995
as Jacob
Ballistic
1995
as Harold
The Wayans Bros.
1995
as Dr. Saunders
Body of Influence
1994
as Harry Reams
Mind Twister
1994
as Frank Webb
Shadows of Desire
1994
as Dunc
Black as the Heart
1994
as Rod
Touched by an Angel
1994
as Murray
Moscacieca
1994
as Gray
Amityville: A New Generation
1993
as Pauli
Sins of the Night
1993
as Les
Deadly Rivals
1993
as Agent Peterson
Bonanza: The Return
1993
as Jacob Briscoe
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman
1993
as 'Barracuda' Jim Barnes
Christmas in Connecticut
1992
as Prescott
Bloodfist III: Forced to Fight
1992
as Samuel Stark
Renegade
1992
Vicki!
1992
as Self
Hangin' with Mr. Cooper
1992
as General (uncredited)
Hangin' with Mr. Cooper
1992
as Chester Cooper
A Time to Die
1991
as Captain Ralph Phipps
Roc
1991
as Russell Emerson
The Banker
1990
as Lloyd
Bad Jim
1990
as July
Gypsy Angels
1990
as Dr. Carlson
Beverly Hills, 90210
1990
as Robinson Ashe Jr.
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
1990
as Dr. Mumford
Dream On
1990
as Dr. Charles
Crack House
1989
as Lt. Johnson
Night Visitor
1989
as Captain Crane
Miami Cops
1989
as Gamble
Maniac Cop
1988
as Commissioner Pike
Angel III: The Final Chapter
1988
as Lt. Doniger
Party Line
1988
as Captain Barnes
Getting Even
1988
as Dundee
Daddy Can't Read
1988
as Jason Ruigh
A Different World
1987
as Clinton Reese
21 Jump Street
1987
as Ben Halley
Beauty and the Beast
1987
as Cleon Manning
Opposing Force
1986
as Stafford
Jocks
1986
as Chip
The Fifth Missile
1986
as Cmdr. Frederick Bryce
L.A. Law
1986
as Judge Ira Menday
Outlaws
1986
as Isaiah 'Ice' McAdams
Amen
1986
MacGyver
1985
as R.T. Hines
Hollywood Beat
1985
A.D.
1985
as Serpenius
City Heat
1984
as Dehl Swift
The Baron and the Kid
1984
as Frosty
Killpoint
1984
as Agent Bill Bryant
Murder, She Wrote
1984
as Kevin Cooper
Young Warriors
1983
as Sergeant John Austin
The Big Score
1983
as Gordon
Just an Overnight Guest
1983
Masquerade
1983
as Mean Willy
Q
1982
as Powell
One Down, Two to Go
1982
as Ralph
An Eye for an Eye
1981
as Capt. Stevens
Inchon
1981
as Sgt. Augustus Henderson
Magnum, P.I.
1980
as Peter Jordan
Escape to Athena
1979
as Nat Judson
Portrait of a Hitman
1979
as Coco Morrell
Day of the Assassin
1979
as Fessler
Game for Vultures
1979
as Gideon Marunga
CHiPs
1977
as Sgt. Aikens
Roots
1977
as Sam Bennett
The Love Boat
1977
as Dave Wilbur
Man Friday
1975
as Friday
Diamonds
1975
as Archie
Earthquake
1974
as Miles Quade
Dinah!
1974
as Self
Shaft in Africa
1973
as John Shaft
Charley-One-Eye
1973
as The Black Man
Firehouse
1973
as Shelly Forsythe
Listen to a Stranger: An Interview with Gordon Parks
1973
as Self / Shaft (archive footage)
Shaft
1973
as John Shaft
The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts
1973
as Self
Shaft's Big Score!
1972
as John Shaft
Embassy
1972
as Dick Shannon
Nationtime: Gary
1972
as Self
Shaft
1971
as John Shaft
Soul in Cinema: Filming 'Shaft' on Location
1971
as Self
What Do You Say to a Naked Lady?
1970
as Interracial Couple
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962
as Self
The Mike Douglas Show
1961
as Self