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)
Dist. Atty. Martin Talbot
What Men Want
(2019)
Skip Davis
Speed Racer
(2008)
Ben Burns
Shaft
(2019)
John Shaft, Sr.
Shaft
(2000)
"Uncle" John Shaft
George of the Jungle
(1997)
Kwame
Shaft
(1971)
John Shaft
Earthquake
(1974)
Miles Quade
Antitrust
(2001)
Lyle Barton
Boat Trip
(2002)
Felicia's Dad
City Heat
(1984)
Dehl Swift
Escape to Athena
(1979)
Nat Judson
An Eye for an Eye
(1981)
Capt. Stevens
Q
(1982)
Powell
Undercover Brother
(2002)
John Shaft (archive footage) (uncredited)
Steel
(1997)
Uncle Joe
Full Filmography
Acting
What Do You Say to a Naked Lady
(1970)
Interracial Couple
Shaft
(1971)
John Shaft
Soul in Cinema: Filming 'Shaft' on Location
(1971)
Self
Shaft's Big Score!
(1972)
John Shaft
Embassy
(1972)
Dick Shannon
Nationtime
(1972)
Self
Shaft in Africa
(1973)
John Shaft
Charley-One-Eye
(1973)
The Black Man
Firehouse
(1973)
Shelly Forsythe
Earthquake
(1974)
Miles Quade
Man Friday
(1975)
Friday
Diamonds
(1975)
Archie
Escape to Athena
(1979)
Nat Judson
Portrait of a Hitman
(1979)
Coco Morrell
Day of the Assassin
(1979)
Fessler
Game for Vultures
(1979)
Gideon Marunga
An Eye for an Eye
(1981)
Capt. Stevens
Inchon
(1981)
Sgt. Augustus Henderson
Q
(1982)
Powell
One Down, Two to Go
(1982)
Ralph
Young Warriors
(1983)
Sergeant John Austin
The Big Score
(1983)
Gordon
City Heat
(1984)
Dehl Swift
Killpoint
(1984)
Agent Bill Bryant
The Baron and the Kid
(1984)
Frosty
Opposing Force
(1986)
Stafford
Jocks
(1986)
Chip
The Fifth Missile
(1986)
Cmdr. Frederick Bryce
Maniac Cop
(1988)
Commissioner Pike
Angel III: The Final Chapter
(1988)
Lt. Doniger
Party Line
(1988)
Captain Barnes
Getting Even
(1988)
Dundee
The Banker
(1989)
Lloyd
Crack House
(1989)
Lt. Johnson
Night Visitor
(1989)
Captain Crane
Miami Cops
(1989)
Gamble
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
Sins of the Night
(1993)
Les
Body of Influence
(1993)
Harry Reams
Amityville: A New Generation
(1993)
Pauli
Deadly Rivals
(1993)
Agent Peterson
Bonanza: The Return
(1993)
Jacob Briscoe
Mind Twister
(1994)
Frank Webb
Shadows of Desire
(1994)
Dunc
Black as the Heart
(1994)
Rod
Blind Man's Bluff
(1994)
Gray
Se7en
(1995)
Dist. Atty. Martin Talbot
Theodore Rex
(1995)
Commissioner Lynch
Bonanza: Under Attack
(1995)
Jacob
Ballistic
(1995)
Harold
Original Gangstas
(1996)
Slick
Once Upon a Time... When We Were Colored
(1996)
Cleve
George of the Jungle
(1997)
Kwame
Steel
(1997)
Uncle Joe
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
Antitrust
(2001)
Lyle Barton
Corky Romano
(2001)
Howard Shuster
Hawaiian Gardens
(2001)
M.O.
BaadAsssss Cinema
(2002)
Self
Joe and Max
(2002)
Jack Blackburn
Al's Lads
(2002)
Boom-Boom
Boat Trip
(2002)
Felicia's Dad
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
Wild Seven
(2006)
Lee Marvin / Cleetus Woods
Brick
(2006)
Assistant V.P. Trueman
Point of Entry
(2007)
Miles Porter
All The Days Before Tomorrow
(2007)
El Doctor
Speed Racer
(2008)
Ben Burns
Ladies of the House
(2008)
Stan
Final Approach
(2008)
Gary Markash
Set Apart
(2009)
J.T.
Diary of a Single Mom
(2009)
Lou Bailey
The Confidant
(2010)
Claude
Whatever She Wants
(2010)
Theodore Wolf
Retreat!
(2012)
Henshaw
Collar
(2015)
Alonzo Sparks
Shaft
(2019)
John Shaft, Sr.
What Men Want
(2019)
Skip Davis
A Family Reunion Christmas
(2019)
Jebidiah McKellan
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