Richard Roundtree
Biography
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.
Movie Appearances
Shaft
as "Uncle" John Shaft
2000
Shaft
as John Shaft
1971
Shaft in Africa
as John Shaft
1973
Shaft's Big Score!
as John Shaft
1972
Wild Seven
as Lee Marvin / Cleetus Woods
2006
Se7en
as Talbot
1995
George of the Jungle
as Kwame
1997
Earthquake
as Miles Quade
1974
Al's Lads
as Boom-Boom
2002
Young Warriors
as Sergeant John Austin
1983
Speed Racer
as Ben Burns
2008
Steel
as Uncle Joe
1997
Amityville: A New Generation
as Pauli
1993
Brick
as Assistant V.P. Trueman
2006
Antitrust
as Lyle Barton
2001
The Banker
as Lloyd
1989
Q: The Winged Serpent
as Powell
1982
Opposing Force
as Stafford
1986
Escape to Athena
as Nat Judson
1979
Theodore Rex
as Commissioner Lynch
1995
TV Appearances
Murder, She Wrote
as Kevin Cooper
1984
A Different World
as Clinton Reese
1987
Magnum, P.I.
as Peter Jordan
1980
CHiPs
as Sgt. Aikens
1977
Rescue 77
as Captain Durfee
1999
Lincoln Heights
2007
The Closer
as Col. D.B. Walter
2005
Desperate Housewives
as Mr. Shaw
2004
L.A. Law
as Judge Ira Menday
1986
Beverly Hills, 90210
as Robinson Ashe Jr.
1990
Heroes
as Charles Deveaux
2006
Alias
as Brill
2001