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