Richard Roundtree

Acting

July 9, 1942 – October 24, 2023 (died at 81)

New Rochelle, New York, USA

Male

100 Movies

54 TV Shows

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.

Shaft

1971 6.4

as John Shaft

Age 28 (now 81)

Shaft

2019 6.5

as John Shaft, Sr.

Age 76 (now 81)

George of the Jungle

1997 5.7

as Kwame

Age 55 (now 81)

Thelma

2024 6.9

as Ben

Age 81

Maniac Cop

1988 6.1

as Commissioner Pike

Age 45 (now 81)

Q: The Winged Serpent

1982 5.7

as Powell

Age 40 (now 81)

What Men Want

2019 6.2

as Skip Davis

Age 76 (now 81)

Antitrust

2001 6.0

as Lyle Barton

Age 58 (now 81)

Se7en

1995 8.4

as Talbot

Age 53 (now 81)

Shaft in Africa

1973 6.1

as John Shaft

Age 30 (now 81)

Bonanza: The Return

1993 6.5

as Jacob Briscoe

Age 51 (now 81)

Shaft's Big Score!

1972 6.1

as John Shaft

Age 29 (now 81)

Shaft

2000 6.0

as "Uncle" John Shaft

Age 57 (now 81)

Steel

1997 4.3

as Uncle Joe

Age 55 (now 81)

Being Mary Jane

2013 7.2

as Paul Patterson, Sr.

Age 70 (now 81) 51 eps

51 eps

Brick

2006 6.8

as Assistant V.P. Trueman

Age 63 (now 81)

Thelma

2024 6.9

as Ben

Age 81

Thelma

2024 6.9

In Memory Of

Age 81

Moving On

2023 5.9

as Ralph

Age 80 (now 81)

A Choice of Weapons: Inspired by Gordon Parks

2021 6.8

as Self

Age 78 (now 81)

Haunting of the Mary Celeste

2020 5.2

as Tulls

Age 78 (now 81)

A Family Reunion Christmas

2019 5.9

as Jebidiah McKellan

Age 77 (now 81)

Harlem to Hollywood

2019

as Self

Age 76 (now 81)

Shaft

2019 6.5

as John Shaft, Sr.

Age 76 (now 81)

What Men Want

2019 6.2

as Skip Davis

Age 76 (now 81)

Collar

2015

as Alonzo Sparks

Age 72 (now 81)

Django Unchained

2012 8.2

Thanks

Age 70 (now 81)

Retreat!

2012

as Henshaw

Age 69 (now 81)

The Confidant

2010 4.6

as Claude

Age 68 (now 81)

Whatever She Wants

2010 6.7

as Theodore Wolf

Age 67 (now 81)

Diary of a Single Mom

2009 4.0

as Lou Bailey

Age 66 (now 81)

Set Apart

2009 3.0

as J.T.

Age 66 (now 81)

Ladies of the House

2008 4.5

as Stan

Age 66 (now 81)

Final Approach

2008 5.1

as Gary Markash

Age 65 (now 81)

Speed Racer

2008 6.4

as Ben Burns

Age 65 (now 81)

Speed Racer: Wonderful World of Racing - The Amazing Racer Family

2008 7.0

as Ben Burns

Age 65 (now 81)

Point of Entry

2007 4.8

as Miles Porter

Age 65 (now 81)

All The Days Before Tomorrow

2007 7.3

as El Doctor

Age 64 (now 81)

Brick

2006 6.8

as Assistant V.P. Trueman

Age 63 (now 81)

Wild Seven

2006 4.3

as Lee Marvin / Cleetus Woods

Age 63 (now 81)

Painkiller Jane

2005 5.1

as Colonel Watts

Age 63 (now 81)

Max Havoc: Curse Of The Dragon

2004 5.0

as Tahsi

Age 62 (now 81)

Vegas Vampires

2003 4.3

as Rick Apping

Age 61 (now 81)

Men Cry in the Dark

2003 7.0

Age 61 (now 81)

Boat Trip

2002 5.2

as Felicia's Dad

Age 60 (now 81)

BaadAsssss Cinema

2002 6.0

as Self

Age 60 (now 81)

Al's Lads

2002 6.6

as Boom-Boom

Age 59 (now 81)

Undercover Brother

2002 5.9

as John Shaft (archive footage) (uncredited)

Age 59 (now 81)

Joe and Max

2002 5.1

as Jack Blackburn

Age 59 (now 81)

Hawaiian Gardens

2001 3.0

as M.O.

Age 59 (now 81)

Corky Romano

2001 4.4

as Howard Shuster

Age 59 (now 81)

Antitrust

2001 6.0

as Lyle Barton

Age 58 (now 81)

Shaft

2000 6.0

as "Uncle" John Shaft

Age 57 (now 81)

Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years

1999 7.3

as Booker T. Washington

Age 56 (now 81)

Steel

1997 4.3

as Uncle Joe

Age 55 (now 81)

George of the Jungle

1997 5.7

as Kwame

Age 55 (now 81)

Any Place But Home

1997 9.0

as Gil Oberman

Age 54 (now 81)

Original Gangstas

1996 5.6

as Slick

Age 53 (now 81)

Once Upon a Time... When We Were Colored

1996 4.2

as Cleve

Age 53 (now 81)

Theodore Rex

1995 3.7

as Commissioner Lynch

Age 53 (now 81)

Se7en

1995 8.4

as Talbot

Age 53 (now 81)

Ballistic

1995 3.6

as Harold

Age 52 (now 81)

Bonanza: Under Attack

1995 6.7

as Jacob

Age 52 (now 81)

Shadows of Desire

1994 2.6

as Dunc

Age 52 (now 81)

Blind Man's Bluff

1994 8.0

as Gray

Age 51 (now 81)

Body of Influence

1994 4.8

as Harry Reams

Age 51 (now 81)

Mind Twister

1994 3.8

as Frank Webb

Age 51 (now 81)

Black as the Heart

1994 9.0

as Rod

Age 51 (now 81)

Sins of the Night

1993 4.4

as Les

Age 51 (now 81)

Bonanza: The Return

1993 6.5

as Jacob Briscoe

Age 51 (now 81)

Amityville: A New Generation

1993 4.3

as Pauli

Age 51 (now 81)

Deadly Rivals

1993 6.4

as Agent Peterson

Age 50 (now 81)

Christmas in Connecticut

1992 4.7

as Prescott

Age 50 (now 81)

Bloodfist III: Forced to Fight

1992 4.8

as Samuel Stark

Age 49 (now 81)

A Time to Die

1991 4.5

as Captain Ralph Phipps

Age 49 (now 81)

Gypsy Angels

1990 3.4

as Dr. Carlson

Age 47 (now 81)

Bad Jim

1990 7.5

as July

Age 47 (now 81)

The Banker

1989 4.4

as Lloyd

Age 47 (now 81)

Crack House

1989 5.5

as Lt. Johnson

Age 47 (now 81)

Night Visitor

1989 4.4

as Captain Crane

Age 46 (now 81)

Miami Cops

1989 6.7

as Gamble

Age 46 (now 81)

Angel III: The Final Chapter

1988 5.2

as Lt. Doniger

Age 46 (now 81)

Party Line

1988 5.2

as Captain Barnes

Age 46 (now 81)

Getting Even

1988 4.8

as Dundee

Age 45 (now 81)

Maniac Cop

1988 6.1

as Commissioner Pike

Age 45 (now 81)

Daddy Can't Read

1988 9.0

as Jason Ruigh

Age 45 (now 81)

Jocks

1986 4.3

as Chip

Age 44 (now 81)

Opposing Force

1986 4.4

as Stafford

Age 44 (now 81)

The Fifth Missile

1986 5.5

as Cmdr. Frederick Bryce

Age 43 (now 81)

City Heat

1984 5.5

as Dehl Swift

Age 42 (now 81)

The Baron and the Kid

1984 8.0

as Frosty

Age 42 (now 81)

Killpoint

1984 5.7

as Agent Bill Bryant

Age 41 (now 81)

Young Warriors

1983 3.9

as Sergeant John Austin

Age 41 (now 81)

Just an Overnight Guest

1983 7.0

Age 41 (now 81)

The Big Score

1983 6.0

as Gordon

Age 40 (now 81)

One Down, Two to Go

1982 4.7

as Ralph

Age 40 (now 81)

Q: The Winged Serpent

1982 5.7

as Powell

Age 40 (now 81)

An Eye for an Eye

1981 5.2

as Capt. Stevens

Age 39 (now 81)

Inchon

1981 3.9

as Sgt. Augustus Henderson

Age 38 (now 81)

Day of the Assassin

1979 4.9

as Fessler

Age 37 (now 81)

Game for Vultures

1979 5.2

as Gideon Marunga

Age 36 (now 81)

Escape to Athena

1979 5.7

as Nat Judson

Age 36 (now 81)

Portrait of a Hitman

1979 5.2

as Coco Morrell

Age 36 (now 81)

Diamonds

1975 5.6

as Archie

Age 33 (now 81)

Man Friday

1975 6.7

as Friday

Age 32 (now 81)

Earthquake

1974 6.1

as Miles Quade

Age 32 (now 81)

Shaft in Africa

1973 6.1

as John Shaft

Age 30 (now 81)

Charley-One-Eye

1973 5.0

as The Black Man

Age 30 (now 81)

Listen to a Stranger: An Interview with Gordon Parks

1973 6.0

as Self / Shaft (archive footage)

Age 30 (now 81)

Firehouse

1973 5.0

as Shelly Forsythe

Age 30 (now 81)

Nationtime

1972 8.0

as Self

Age 30 (now 81)

Shaft's Big Score!

1972 6.1

as John Shaft

Age 29 (now 81)

Embassy

1972 6.5

as Dick Shannon

Age 29 (now 81)

Shaft

1971 6.4

as John Shaft

Age 28 (now 81)

Soul in Cinema: Filming 'Shaft' on Location

1971 7.5

as Self

Age 28 (now 81)

What Do You Say to a Naked Lady?

1970 5.0

as Interracial Couple

Age 27 (now 81)