Richard Roundtree
Born
July 9, 1942
Died
October 24, 2023 (81 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
New Rochelle, New York, USA
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.
Thelma
Ben
2024
Moving On
Ralph
2023
A Choice of Weapons: Inspired by Gordon Parks
Self
2021
Haunting of the Mary Celeste
Tulls
2020
GAME ON: A Comedy Crossover Event
Grandpa · (1 episode)
2020
A Family Reunion Christmas
Jebidiah McKellan
2019
Family Reunion
Grandpa · (6 episodes)
2019
Harlem to Hollywood
Self
2019
Shaft
John Shaft, Sr.
2019
What Men Want
Skip Davis
2019
Star
Charles Floyd · (5 episodes)
2016
Lethal Weapon
Don Bennett · (1 episode)
2016
The Player
Samuel Letts · (2 episodes)
2015
Collar
Alonzo Sparks
2015
Being Mary Jane
Paul Patterson, Sr. · (51 episodes)
2013
Chicago Fire
Wallace Boden, Sr. · (4 episodes)
2012
Retreat!
Henshaw
2012
The Confidant
Claude
2010
Whatever She Wants
Theodore Wolf
2010
Diary of a Single Mom
Lou Bailey
2009
Set Apart
J.T.
2009
Ladies of the House
Stan
2008
The Mentalist
Floyd Benton · (1 episode)
2008
Final Approach
Gary Markash
2008
Speed Racer
Ben Burns
2008
Point of Entry
Miles Porter
2007
Private Practice
Raymond McCray · (1 episode)
2007
All The Days Before Tomorrow
El Doctor
2007
Lincoln Heights
(1 episode)
2007
Heroes
Charles Deveaux · (5 episodes)
2006
Blade: The Series
(1 episode)
2006
Brick
Assistant V.P. Trueman
2006
Wild Seven
Lee Marvin / Cleetus Woods
2006
Painkiller Jane
Colonel Watts
2005
Close to Home
(1 episode)
2005
The Closer
Col. D.B. Walter · (1 episode)
2005
Grey's Anatomy
Donald Burke · (1 episode)
2005
Max Havoc: Curse Of The Dragon
Tahsi
2004
Desperate Housewives
Mr. Shaw · (5 episodes)
2004
Vegas Vampires
Rick Apping
2003
Men Cry in the Dark
2003
Boat Trip
Felicia's Dad
2002
The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow
Self - Narrator (voice) · (4 episodes)
2002
BaadAsssss Cinema
Self
2002
Al's Lads
Boom-Boom
2002
Undercover Brother
John Shaft (archive footage) (uncredited)
2002
Joe and Max
Jack Blackburn
2002
Hawaiian Gardens
M.O.
2001
Corky Romano
Howard Shuster
2001
Alias
Brill · (2 episodes)
2001
Antitrust
Lyle Barton
2001
Soul Food
Hardy Lester · (6 episodes)
2000
Shaft
"Uncle" John Shaft
2000
Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years
Booker T. Washington
1999
Rescue 77
Captain Durfee · (8 episodes)
1999
413 Hope St.
Phil Thomas · (10 episodes)
1997
Steel
Uncle Joe
1997
George of the Jungle
Kwame
1997
Any Place But Home
Gil Oberman
1997
Profiler
Det. James Henegar · (1 episode)
1996
Original Gangstas
Slick
1996
Buddies
Henry Carlisle · (13 episodes)
1996
Once Upon a Time... When We Were Colored
Cleve
1996
Theodore Rex
Commissioner Lynch
1995
Se7en
Talbot
1995
Ballistic
Harold
1995
Bonanza: Under Attack
Jacob
1995
The Wayans Bros.
Dr. Saunders · (1 episode)
1995
Touched by an Angel
Murray · (1 episode)
1994
Shadows of Desire
Dunc
1994
Blind Man's Bluff
Gray
1994
Mind Twister
Frank Webb
1994
Black as the Heart
Rod
1994
Sins of the Night
Les
1993
Bonanza: The Return
Jacob Briscoe
1993
Amityville: A New Generation
Pauli
1993
Deadly Rivals
Agent Peterson
1993
Body of Influence
Harry Reams
1993
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman
'Barracuda' Jim Barnes · (1 episode)
1993
Christmas in Connecticut
Prescott
1992
Hangin' with Mr. Cooper
General (uncredited) · (1 episode)
1992
Hangin' with Mr. Cooper
Chester Cooper · (1 episode)
1992
Renegade
(1 episode)
1992
Vicki!
Self · (1 episode)
1992
Bloodfist III: Forced to Fight
Samuel Stark
1992
A Time to Die
Captain Ralph Phipps
1991
Roc
Russell Emerson · (3 episodes)
1991
Beverly Hills, 90210
(1 episode)
1990
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Dr. Mumford · (2 episodes)
1990
Dream On
Dr. Charles · (1 episode)
1990
Gypsy Angels
Dr. Carlson
1990
Bad Jim
July
1990
A night with the banker
Lloyd
1989
Crack House
Lt. Johnson
1989
Night Visitor
Captain Crane
1989
Miami Cops
Gamble
1989
Angel III: The Final Chapter
Lt. Doniger
1988
Party Line
Captain Barnes
1988
Getting Even
Dundee
1988
Maniac Cop
Commissioner Pike
1988
Daddy Can't Read
Jason Ruigh
1988
Beauty and the Beast
(4 episodes)
1987
A Different World
Clinton Reese · (2 episodes)
1987
21 Jump Street
Ben Halley · (1 episode)
1987
Outlaws
(12 episodes)
1986
Jocks
Chip
1986
Amen
(2 episodes)
1986
L.A. Law
Judge Ira Menday · (1 episode)
1986
Opposing Force
Stafford
1986
The Fifth Missile
Cmdr. Frederick Bryce
1986
MacGyver
R.T. Hines · (1 episode)
1985
Hollywood Beat
(1 episode)
1985
A.D.
Serpenius · (5 episodes)
1985
City Heat
Dehl Swift
1984
The Baron and the Kid
Frosty
1984
Murder, She Wrote
Major Kevin Cooper · (1 episode)
1984
Killpoint
Agent Bill Bryant
1984
Masquerade
Mean Willy · (1 episode)
1983
Young Warriors
Sergeant John Austin
1983
Just an Overnight Guest
1983
The Big Score
Gordon
1983
One Down, Two to Go
Ralph
1982
Q
Powell
1982
An Eye for an Eye
Capt. Stevens
1981
Inchon
Sgt. Augustus Henderson
1981
Magnum, P.I.
Peter Jordan · (1 episode)
1980
Day of the Assassin
Fessler
1979
Game for Vultures
Gideon Marunga
1979
Escape to Athena
Nat Judson
1979
Portrait of a Hitman
Coco Morrell
1979
The Love Boat
Dave Wilbur · (2 episodes)
1977
CHiPs
Sgt. Aikens · (1 episode)
1977
Roots
Sam Bennett · (1 episode)
1977
Diamonds
Archie
1975
Man Friday
Friday
1975
Earthquake
Miles Quade
1974
Dinah!
Self · (2 episodes)
1974
Shaft
(7 episodes)
1973
The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts
Self · (1 episode)
1973
Shaft in Africa
John Shaft
1973
Charley-One-Eye
The Black Man
1973
Firehouse
Shelly Forsythe
1973
Nationtime
Self
1972
Shaft's Big Score!
John Shaft
1972
Embassy
Dick Shannon
1972
Shaft
John Shaft
1971
Soul in Cinema: Filming 'Shaft' on Location
Self
1971
What Do You Say to a Naked Lady
Interracial Couple
1970
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self · (2 episodes)
1962
The Mike Douglas Show
Self · (2 episodes)
1961