Richard Roundtree
Known for Acting
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.
Filmography
Se7en
1995
as Talbot
Speed Racer
2008
as Ben Burns
Earthquake
1974
as Miles Quade
Shaft
2000
as "Uncle" John Shaft
Shaft
2019
as John Shaft, Sr.
George of the Jungle
1997
as Kwame
What Men Want
2019
as Skip Davis
An Eye for an Eye
1981
as Capt. Stevens
Thelma
2024
as Ben
Steel
1997
as Uncle Joe
Undercover Brother
2002
as John Shaft (archive footage) (uncredited)
Antitrust
2001
as Lyle Barton
Shaft
1971
as John Shaft
Man Friday
1975
as Friday
Maniac Cop
1988
as Commissioner Pike
Q
1982
as Powell
Brick
2006
as Assistant V.P. Trueman
Boat Trip
2002
as Felicia's Dad
City Heat
1984
as Dehl Swift
Inchon
1981
as Sgt. Augustus Henderson