Menu
Richard Roundtree

Richard Roundtree

Known For Acting
Birthday Jul 09, 1942
Died Oct 24, 2023 (81)
Birthplace New Rochelle, New York, USA
Popularity 0.8 (history)
Updated Mar 13, 2025 (Update)
Entry Date Apr 13, 2024
Links TMDb IMDb
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 w ... as 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

Headshots

Profile
Profile
Profile
Profile
Profile
Profile
Profile
Filmography

Thelma

Thelma

2024

as Ben

Moving On

Moving On

2023

as Ralph

Shaft

Shaft

2019

as John Shaft, Sr.

What Men Want

What Men Want

2019

as Skip Davis

A Family Reunion Christmas

A Family Reunion Christmas

2019

as Jebidiah McKellan

Collar

Collar

2015

as Alonzo Sparks

Retreat!

Retreat!

2012

as Henshaw

Whatever She Wants

Whatever She Wants

2010

as Theodore Wolf

The Confidant

The Confidant

2010

as Claude

Set Apart

Set Apart

2009

as J.T.

Diary of a Single Mom

Diary of a Single Mom

2009

as Lou Bailey

Ladies of the House

Ladies of the House

2008

as Stan

Speed Racer

Speed Racer

2008

as Ben Burns

Final Approach

Final Approach

2008

as Gary Markash

All The Days Before Tomorrow

All The Days Before Tomorrow

2007

as El Doctor

Point of Entry

Point of Entry

2007

as Miles Porter

Wild Seven

Wild Seven

2006

as Lee Marvin / Cleetus Woods

Brick

Brick

2006

as Assistant V.P. Trueman

Painkiller Jane

Painkiller Jane

2005

as Colonel Watts

Vegas Vampires

Vegas Vampires

2003

as Rick Apping

Al's Lads

Al's Lads

2002

as Boom-Boom

Joe and Max

Joe and Max

2002

as Jack Blackburn

Boat Trip

Boat Trip

2002

as Felicia's Dad

Undercover Brother

Undercover Brother

2002

as John Shaft (archive footage) (uncredited)

Antitrust

Antitrust

2001

as Lyle Barton

Corky Romano

Corky Romano

2001

as Howard Shuster

Shaft

Shaft

2000

as "Uncle" John Shaft

Steel

Steel

1997

as Uncle Joe

George of the Jungle

George of the Jungle

1997

as Kwame

Any Place But Home

Any Place But Home

1997

as Gil Oberman

Original Gangstas

Original Gangstas

1996

as Slick

Bonanza: Under Attack

Bonanza: Under Attack

1995

as Jacob

Theodore Rex

Theodore Rex

1995

as Commissioner Lynch

Ballistic

Ballistic

1995

as Harold

Se7en

Se7en

1995

as Talbot

Shadows of Desire

Shadows of Desire

1994

as Dunc

Mind Twister

Mind Twister

1994

as Frank Webb

Body of Influence

Body of Influence

1993

as Harry Reams

Deadly Rivals

Deadly Rivals

1993

as Agent Peterson

Sins of the Night

Sins of the Night

1993

as Les

Bonanza: The Return

Bonanza: The Return

1993

as Jacob Briscoe

Bloodfist III: Forced to Fight

Bloodfist III: Forced to Fight

1992

as Samuel Stark

Christmas in Connecticut

Christmas in Connecticut

1992

as Prescott

A Time to Die

A Time to Die

1991

as Captain Ralph Phipps

Bad Jim

Bad Jim

1990

as July

Gypsy Angels

Gypsy Angels

1990

as Dr. Carlson

Miami Cops

Miami Cops

1989

as Gamble

Crack House

Crack House

1989

as Lt. Johnson

The Banker

The Banker

1989

as Lloyd

Night Visitor

Night Visitor

1989

as Captain Crane

Getting Even

Getting Even

1988

as Dundee

Maniac Cop

Maniac Cop

1988

as Commissioner Pike

Party Line

Party Line

1988

as Captain Barnes

Angel III: The Final Chapter

Angel III: The Final Chapter

1988

as Lt. Doniger

Opposing Force

Opposing Force

1986

as Stafford

Jocks

Jocks

1986

as Chip

The Fifth Missile

The Fifth Missile

1986

as Cmdr. Frederick Bryce

Killpoint

Killpoint

1984

as Agent Bill Bryant

The Baron and the Kid

The Baron and the Kid

1984

as Frosty

City Heat

City Heat

1984

as Dehl Swift

Young Warriors

Young Warriors

1983

as Sergeant John Austin

The Big Score

The Big Score

1983

as Gordon

Q

Q

1982

as Powell

One Down, Two to Go

One Down, Two to Go

1982

as Ralph

An Eye for an Eye

An Eye for an Eye

1981

as Capt. Stevens

Inchon

Inchon

1981

as Sgt. Augustus Henderson

Game for Vultures

Game for Vultures

1979

as Gideon Marunga

Portrait of a Hitman

Portrait of a Hitman

1979

as Coco Morrell

Day of the Assassin

Day of the Assassin

1979

as Fessler

Escape to Athena

Escape to Athena

1979

as Nat Judson

Man Friday

Man Friday

1975

as Friday

Diamonds

Diamonds

1975

as Archie

Earthquake

Earthquake

1974

as Miles Quade

Shaft in Africa

Shaft in Africa

1973

as John Shaft

Firehouse

Firehouse

1973

as Shelly Forsythe

Charley-One-Eye

Charley-One-Eye

1973

as The Black Man

Shaft's Big Score!

Shaft's Big Score!

1972

as John Shaft

Embassy

Embassy

1972

as Dick Shannon

Shaft

Shaft

1971

as John Shaft

What Do You Say to a Naked Lady

What Do You Say to a Naked Lady

1970

as Interracial Couple

Thelma

Thelma

2024

In Memory Of

Django Unchained

Django Unchained

2012

Thanks

No data available

No data available

Organization Category Movie
Television Credits

Being Mary Jane

as Paul Patterson, Sr.

Episodes: 51

First Aired: Jul 02, 2013

Buddies

as Henry Carlisle

Episodes: 13

First Aired: Mar 05, 1996

413 Hope St.

as Phil Thomas

Episodes: 10

First Aired: Sep 11, 1997

Rescue 77

as Captain Durfee

Episodes: 8

First Aired: Mar 15, 1999

Family Reunion

as Grandpa

Episodes: 6

First Aired: Jul 10, 2019

Soul Food

as Hardy Lester

Episodes: 6

First Aired: Jun 28, 2000

Desperate Housewives

as Mr. Shaw

Episodes: 5

First Aired: Oct 03, 2004

Heroes

as Charles Deveaux

Episodes: 5

First Aired: Sep 25, 2006

A.D.

as Serpenius

Episodes: 5

First Aired: Mar 31, 1985

Star

as Charles Floyd

Episodes: 5

First Aired: Dec 14, 2016

Chicago Fire

as Wallace Boden, Sr.

Episodes: 4

First Aired: Oct 10, 2012

Roc

as Russell Emerson

Episodes: 3

First Aired: Aug 25, 1991

A Different World

as Clinton Reese

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Sep 24, 1987

Alias

as Brill

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Sep 30, 2001

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

as Dr. Mumford

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Sep 10, 1990

The Player

as Samuel Letts

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Sep 24, 2015

The Love Boat

as Dave Wilbur

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Sep 24, 1977

Murder, She Wrote

as Major Kevin Cooper

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 30, 1984

CHiPs

as Sgt. Aikens

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 15, 1977

The Closer

as Col. D.B. Walter

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jun 13, 2005

L.A. Law

as Judge Ira Menday

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 15, 1986

The Wayans Bros.

as Dr. Saunders

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jan 11, 1995

MacGyver

as R.T. Hines

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 29, 1985

Profiler

as Det. James Henegar

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 21, 1996

Masquerade

as Mean Willy

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Dec 15, 1983

Grey's Anatomy

as Donald Burke

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Mar 27, 2005

The Mentalist

as Floyd Benton

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 23, 2008

Private Practice

as Raymond McCray

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 26, 2007

Roots

as Sam Bennett

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jan 23, 1977

Hangin' with Mr. Cooper

as General (uncredited)

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 22, 1992

Lethal Weapon

as Don Bennett

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 21, 2016

Touched by an Angel

as Murray

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 21, 1994

Dream On

as Dr. Charles

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jul 08, 1990

GAME ON: A Comedy Crossover Event

as Grandpa

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Aug 10, 2020

21 Jump Street

as Ben Halley

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Apr 12, 1987

Hangin' with Mr. Cooper

as Chester Cooper

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 22, 1992

Outlaws

Episodes: 12

First Aired: Dec 28, 1986

Shaft

Episodes: 7

First Aired: Oct 09, 1973

Beauty and the Beast

Episodes: 4

First Aired: Sep 25, 1987

The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow

as Self - Narrator (voice)

Episodes: 4

First Aired: Oct 01, 2002

Amen

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Sep 27, 1986

Dinah!

as Self

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Oct 21, 1974

The Mike Douglas Show

as Self

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Dec 11, 1961

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

as Self

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Oct 01, 1962

Magnum, P.I.

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Dec 11, 1980

Lincoln Heights

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jan 08, 2007

Beverly Hills, 90210

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 04, 1990

Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jan 01, 1993

Blade: The Series

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jun 28, 2006

Close to Home

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 20, 2005

Hollywood Beat

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 21, 1985

Renegade

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 19, 1992

Vicki!

as Self

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Aug 31, 1992

The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts

as Self

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 14, 1973

Popularity Metrics

Popularity History


Year Month Avg Max Min
2024 6 16 24 7
2024 7 24 52 7
2024 8 16 48 6
2024 9 13 31 7
2024 10 10 15 6
2024 11 8 15 4
2024 12 9 15 5
2025 1 14 40 6
2025 2 7 17 1
2025 3 3 15 0
2025 4 1 1 1
2025 5 3 4 1
2025 6 1 2 1
2025 7 1 2 0
2025 8 0 1 0

Trending Rank


Year Month Avg Rank Max Rank
2024 6 223 89
2024 7 502 474

Return to Top