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.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Known For
Se7en
(1995)
Talbot
What Men Want
(2019)
Skip Davis
Shaft
(2000)
"Uncle" John Shaft
Earthquake
(1974)
Miles Quade
Shaft
(1971)
John Shaft
Speed Racer
(2008)
Ben Burns
Brick
(2006)
Assistant V.P. Trueman
Shaft
(2019)
John Shaft, Sr.
George of the Jungle
(1997)
Kwame
Boat Trip
(2002)
Felicia's Dad
City Heat
(1984)
Dehl Swift
Undercover Brother
(2002)
John Shaft (archive footage) (uncredited)
Escape to Athena
(1979)
Nat Judson
Steel
(1997)
Uncle Joe
Corky Romano
(2001)
Howard Shuster
Antitrust
(2001)
Lyle Barton
Full Filmography
Acting
What Do You Say to a Naked Lady
(1970)
Interracial Couple
Soul in Cinema: Filming 'Shaft' on Location
(1971)
Self
Shaft
(1971)
John Shaft
Shaft's Big Score!
(1972)
John Shaft
Embassy
(1972)
Dick Shannon
Nationtime
(1972)
Self
Shaft in Africa
(1973)
John Shaft
Firehouse
(1973)
Shelly Forsythe
Charley-One-Eye
(1973)
The Black Man
Earthquake
(1974)
Miles Quade
Man Friday
(1975)
Friday
Diamonds
(1975)
Archie
Day of the Assassin
(1979)
Fessler
Game for Vultures
(1979)
Gideon Marunga
Portrait of a Hitman
(1979)
Coco Morrell
Escape to Athena
(1979)
Nat Judson
Inchon
(1981)
Sgt. Augustus Henderson
An Eye for an Eye
(1981)
Capt. Stevens
Q
(1982)
Powell
One Down, Two to Go
(1982)
Ralph
The Big Score
(1983)
Gordon
Young Warriors
(1983)
Sergeant John Austin
City Heat
(1984)
Dehl Swift
The Baron and the Kid
(1984)
Frosty
Killpoint
(1984)
Agent Bill Bryant
The Fifth Missile
(1986)
Cmdr. Frederick Bryce
Opposing Force
(1986)
Stafford
Jocks
(1986)
Chip
Angel III: The Final Chapter
(1988)
Lt. Doniger
Maniac Cop
(1988)
Commissioner Pike
Party Line
(1988)
Captain Barnes
Getting Even
(1988)
Dundee
Daddy Can't Read
(1988)
Jason Ruigh
Crack House
(1989)
Lt. Johnson
The Banker
(1989)
Lloyd
Miami Cops
(1989)
Gamble
Night Visitor
(1989)
Captain Crane
Bad Jim
(1990)
July
Gypsy Angels
(1990)
Dr. Carlson
A Time to Die
(1991)
Captain Ralph Phipps
Christmas in Connecticut
(1992)
Prescott
Bloodfist III: Forced to Fight
(1992)
Samuel Stark
Bonanza: The Return
(1993)
Jacob Briscoe
Body of Influence
(1993)
Harry Reams
Deadly Rivals
(1993)
Agent Peterson
Amityville: A New Generation
(1993)
Pauli
Sins of the Night
(1993)
Les
Blind Man's Bluff
(1994)
Gray
Black as the Heart
(1994)
Rod
Mind Twister
(1994)
Frank Webb
Shadows of Desire
(1994)
Dunc
Ballistic
(1995)
Harold
Bonanza: Under Attack
(1995)
Jacob
Se7en
(1995)
Talbot
Theodore Rex
(1995)
Commissioner Lynch
Once Upon a Time... When We Were Colored
(1996)
Cleve
Original Gangstas
(1996)
Slick
Steel
(1997)
Uncle Joe
George of the Jungle
(1997)
Kwame
Any Place But Home
(1997)
Gil Oberman
Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years
(1999)
Booker T. Washington
Shaft
(2000)
"Uncle" John Shaft
Corky Romano
(2001)
Howard Shuster
Antitrust
(2001)
Lyle Barton
Hawaiian Gardens
(2001)
M.O.
Boat Trip
(2002)
Felicia's Dad
Al's Lads
(2002)
Boom-Boom
BaadAsssss Cinema
(2002)
Self
Joe and Max
(2002)
Jack Blackburn
Undercover Brother
(2002)
John Shaft (archive footage) (uncredited)
Vegas Vampires
(2003)
Rick Apping
Men Cry in the Dark
(2003)
Max Havoc: Curse Of The Dragon
(2004)
Tahsi
Painkiller Jane
(2005)
Colonel Watts
Brick
(2006)
Assistant V.P. Trueman
Wild Seven
(2006)
Lee Marvin / Cleetus Woods
Point of Entry
(2007)
Miles Porter
All The Days Before Tomorrow
(2007)
El Doctor
Ladies of the House
(2008)
Stan
Speed Racer
(2008)
Ben Burns
Final Approach
(2008)
Gary Markash
Set Apart
(2009)
J.T.
Diary of a Single Mom
(2009)
Lou Bailey
Whatever She Wants
(2010)
Theodore Wolf
The Confidant
(2010)
Claude
Retreat!
(2012)
Henshaw
Collar
(2015)
Alonzo Sparks
What Men Want
(2019)
Skip Davis
A Family Reunion Christmas
(2019)
Jebidiah McKellan
Shaft
(2019)
John Shaft, Sr.
Harlem to Hollywood
(2019)
Self
Haunting of the Mary Celeste
(2020)
Tulls
A Choice of Weapons: Inspired by Gordon Parks
(2021)
Self
Moving On
(2023)
Ralph
Thelma
(2024)
Ben
Crew