Richard Roundtree

Person

Richard Roundtree

Acting July 9, 1942

New Rochelle, New York, USA

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 Sh…

IMDb

Known for

Popular titles

Django Unchained

Django Unchained

8.2 2012 Movie
Se7en

Se7en

8.4 1995 Movie
Grey's Anatomy

Grey's Anatomy

8.2 2005 TV Show
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

7.5 1962 TV Show
The Mentalist

The Mentalist

8.4 2008 TV Show
Chicago Fire

Chicago Fire

8.4 2012 TV Show
Heroes

Heroes

7.4 2006 TV Show
Desperate Housewives

Desperate Housewives

7.9 2004 TV Show
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

7.9 1990 TV Show
George of the Jungle

George of the Jungle

5.7 1997 Movie
Shaft

Shaft

6.5 2019 Movie
Speed Racer

Speed Racer

6.4 2008 Movie

Photos

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Biography

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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 Crematory. His family hosted a memorial service for him at Saint Catherine African Methodist Episcopal Church in New Rochelle, New York on February 17, 2024.

Filmography

Movies and shows, newest first

  1. 2025
    Breakdown: 1975

    Movie Self (Shaft- archive footage)

  2. 2024
    Thelma

    Movie Ben

  3. 2023
    Moving On

    Movie Ralph

  4. 2021
    A Choice of Weapons: Inspired by Gordon Parks

    Movie Self

  5. 2020
    Haunting of the Mary Celeste

    Movie Tulls

  6. 2020
    GAME ON: A Comedy Crossover Event

    TV show Grandpa

  7. 2019
    A Family Reunion Christmas

    Movie Jebidiah McKellan

  8. 2019
    Family Reunion

    TV show Grandpa

  9. 2019
    Harlem to Hollywood

    Movie Self

  10. 2019
    Shaft

    Movie John Shaft, Sr.

  11. 2019
    What Men Want

    Movie Skip Davis

  12. 2016
    Star

    TV show Charles Floyd

  13. 2016
    Lethal Weapon

    TV show Don Bennett

  14. 2015
    The Player

    TV show Samuel Letts

  15. 2015
    Collar

    Movie Alonzo Sparks

  16. 2013
    Being Mary Jane

    TV show Paul Patterson, Sr.

More credits
  1. 2012
    Django Unchained

    Movie Thanks

  2. 2012
    Chicago Fire

    TV show Wallace Boden, Sr.

  3. 2012
    Retreat!

    Movie Henshaw

  4. 2010
    The Confidant

    Movie Claude

  5. 2010
    Whatever She Wants

    Movie Theodore Wolf

  6. 2009
    Diary of a Single Mom

    Movie Lou Bailey

  7. 2009
    Set Apart

    Movie J.T.

  8. 2008
    Ladies of the House

    Movie Stan

  9. 2008
    The Mentalist

    TV show Floyd Benton

  10. 2008
    Final Approach

    Movie Gary Markash

  11. 2008
    Speed Racer

    Movie Ben Burns

  12. 2008
    Speed Racer: Wonderful World of Racing - The Amazing Racer Family

    Movie Ben Burns

  13. 2007
    Point of Entry

    Movie Miles Porter

  14. 2007
    Private Practice

    TV show Raymond McCray

  15. 2007
    All The Days Before Tomorrow

    Movie El Doctor

  16. 2007
    Lincoln Heights

    TV show

  17. 2006
    Heroes

    TV show Charles Deveaux

  18. 2006
    Blade: The Series

    TV show

  19. 2006
    Brick

    Movie Assistant V.P. Trueman

  20. 2006
    Wild Seven

    Movie Lee Marvin / Cleetus Woods

  21. 2005
    Painkiller Jane

    Movie Colonel Watts

  22. 2005
    Close to Home

    TV show Cyrus Carter

  23. 2005
    The Closer

    TV show Col. D.B. Walter

  24. 2005
    Grey's Anatomy

    TV show Donald Burke