Richard Roundtree
Acting
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.
TV Shows(53)
GAME ON: A Comedy Crossover Event
Grandpa
2020
Family Reunion
Grandpa
2019
Star
Charles Floyd
2016
Lethal Weapon
Don Bennett
2016
The Player
Samuel Letts
2015
Being Mary Jane
Paul Patterson, Sr.
2013
Chicago Fire
Wallace Boden, Sr.
2012
The Mentalist
Floyd Benton
2008
Private Practice
Raymond McCray
2007
Lincoln Heights
2007
Heroes
Charles Deveaux
2006
Blade: The Series
2006
Close to Home
Cyrus Carter
2005
The Closer
Col. D.B. Walter
2005
Grey's Anatomy
Donald Burke
2005
Desperate Housewives
Mr. Shaw
2004
The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow
Self - Narrator (voice)
2002
Alias
Brill
2001
Soul Food
Hardy Lester
2000
Rescue 77
Captain Durfee
1999
413 Hope St.
Phil Thomas
1997
Profiler
Det. James Henegar
1996
Buddies
Henry Carlisle
1996
The Wayans Bros.
Dr. Saunders
1995
Touched by an Angel
Murray
1994
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman
'Barracuda' Jim Barnes
1993
Hangin' with Mr. Cooper
General (uncredited)
1992
Renegade
1992
Vicki!
Self
1992
Roc
Russell Emerson
1991
Beverly Hills, 90210
Robinson Ashe Jr.
1990
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Dr. Mumford
1990
Dream On
Dr. Charles
1990
Beauty and the Beast
Cleon Manning
1987
A Different World
Clinton Reese
1987
21 Jump Street
Ben Halley
1987
Outlaws
Isaiah 'Ice' McAdams
1986
Amen
1986
L.A. Law
Judge Ira Menday
1986
MacGyver
R.T. Hines
1985
Hollywood Beat
1985
A.D.
Serpenius
1985
Murder, She Wrote
Kevin Cooper
1984
Masquerade
Mean Willy
1983
Magnum, P.I.
Peter Jordan
1980
The Love Boat
Dave Wilbur
1977
CHiPs
Sgt. Aikens
1977
Roots
Sam Bennett
1977
Dinah!
Self
1974
Shaft
John Shaft
1973
The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts
Self
1973
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self
1962
The Mike Douglas Show
Self
1961
Movies(98)
Thelma
Ben
2024
Moving On
Ralph
2023
A Choice of Weapons: Inspired by Gordon Parks
Self
2021
Haunting of the Mary Celeste
Tulls
2020
A Family Reunion Christmas
Jebidiah McKellan
2019
Harlem to Hollywood
Self
2019
Shaft
John Shaft, Sr.
2019
What Men Want
Skip Davis
2019
Collar
Alonzo Sparks
2015
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
Final Approach
Gary Markash
2008
Speed Racer
Ben Burns
2008
Speed Racer: Wonderful World of Racing - The Amazing Racer Family
Ben Burns
2008
Point of Entry
Miles Porter
2007
All The Days Before Tomorrow
El Doctor
2007
Brick
Assistant V.P. Trueman
2006
Wild Seven
Lee Marvin / Cleetus Woods
2006
Painkiller Jane
Colonel Watts
2005
Max Havoc: Curse Of The Dragon
Tahsi
2004
Vegas Vampires
Rick Apping
2003
Men Cry in the Dark
2003
Boat Trip
Felicia's Dad
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
Antitrust
Lyle Barton
2001
Shaft
"Uncle" John Shaft
2000
Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years
Booker T. Washington
1999
Steel
Uncle Joe
1997
George of the Jungle
Kwame
1997
Any Place But Home
Gil Oberman
1997
Original Gangstas
Slick
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
Shadows of Desire
Dunc
1994
Blind Man's Bluff
Gray
1994
Body of Influence
Harry Reams
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
Christmas in Connecticut
Prescott
1992
Bloodfist III: Forced to Fight
Samuel Stark
1992
A Time to Die
Captain Ralph Phipps
1991
Gypsy Angels
Dr. Carlson
1990
Bad Jim
July
1990
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
Jocks
Chip
1986
Opposing Force
Stafford
1986
The Fifth Missile
Cmdr. Frederick Bryce
1986
City Heat
Dehl Swift
1984
The Baron and the Kid
Frosty
1984
Killpoint
Agent Bill Bryant
1984
Young Warriors
Sergeant John Austin
1983
Just an Overnight Guest
1983
The Big Score
Gordon
1983
One Down, Two to Go
Ralph
1982
Q: The Winged Serpent
Powell
1982
An Eye for an Eye
Capt. Stevens
1981
Inchon
Sgt. Augustus Henderson
1981
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
Diamonds
Archie
1975
Man Friday
Friday
1975
Earthquake
Miles Quade
1974
Shaft in Africa
John Shaft
1973
Charley One-Eye
The Black Man
1973
Listen to a Stranger: An Interview with Gordon Parks
Self / Shaft (archive footage)
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