Richard Roundtree
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.
Acted in
Thelma
2024
as Ben
Moving On
2023
as Ralph
A Choice of Weapons: Inspired by Gordon Parks
2021
as Self
Haunting of the Mary Celeste
2020
as Tulls
GAME ON: A Comedy Crossover Event
2020
as Grandpa
A Family Reunion Christmas
2019
as Jebidiah McKellan
Family Reunion
2019
as Grandpa
Harlem to Hollywood
2019
as Self
Shaft
2019
as John Shaft, Sr.
What Men Want
2019
as Skip Davis
Star
2016
as Charles Floyd
Lethal Weapon
2016
as Don Bennett
The Player
2015
as Samuel Letts
Collar
2015
as Alonzo Sparks
Being Mary Jane
2013
as Paul Patterson, Sr.
Chicago Fire
2012
as Wallace Boden, Sr.
Retreat!
2012
as Henshaw
The Confidant
2010
as Claude
Whatever She Wants
2010
as Theodore Wolf
Diary of a Single Mom
2009
as Lou Bailey
Set Apart
2009
as J.T.
Ladies of the House
2008
as Stan
The Mentalist
2008
as Floyd Benton
Final Approach
2008
as Gary Markash
Speed Racer
2008
as Ben Burns
Point of Entry
2007
as Miles Porter
Private Practice
2007
as Raymond McCray
All The Days Before Tomorrow
2007
as El Doctor
Lincoln Heights
2007
Heroes
2006
as Charles Deveaux
Blade: The Series
2006
Brick
2006
as Assistant V.P. Trueman
Wild Seven
2006
as Lee Marvin / Cleetus Woods
Painkiller Jane
2005
as Colonel Watts
Close to Home
2005
The Closer
2005
as Col. D.B. Walter
Grey's Anatomy
2005
as Donald Burke
Max Havoc: Curse Of The Dragon
2004
as Tahsi
Desperate Housewives
2004
as Mr. Shaw
Vegas Vampires
2003
as Rick Apping
Men Cry in the Dark
2003
Boat Trip
2002
as Felicia's Dad
The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow
2002
as Self - Narrator (voice)
BaadAsssss Cinema
2002
as Self
Al's Lads
2002
as Boom-Boom
Undercover Brother
2002
as John Shaft (archive footage) (uncredited)
Joe and Max
2002
as Jack Blackburn
Hawaiian Gardens
2001
as M.O.
Corky Romano
2001
as Howard Shuster
Alias
2001
as Brill
Antitrust
2001
as Lyle Barton
Soul Food
2000
as Hardy Lester
Shaft
2000
as "Uncle" John Shaft
Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years
1999
as Booker T. Washington
Rescue 77
1999
as Captain Durfee
413 Hope St.
1997
as Phil Thomas
Steel
1997
as Uncle Joe
George of the Jungle
1997
as Kwame
Any Place But Home
1997
as Gil Oberman
Profiler
1996
as Det. James Henegar
Original Gangstas
1996
as Slick
Buddies
1996
as Henry Carlisle
Once Upon a Time... When We Were Colored
1996
as Cleve
Theodore Rex
1995
as Commissioner Lynch
Se7en
1995
as Talbot
Ballistic
1995
as Harold
Bonanza: Under Attack
1995
as Jacob
The Wayans Bros.
1995
as Dr. Saunders
Touched by an Angel
1994
as Murray
Shadows of Desire
1994
as Dunc
Blind Man's Bluff
1994
as Gray
Mind Twister
1994
as Frank Webb
Black as the Heart
1994
as Rod
Sins of the Night
1993
as Les
Bonanza: The Return
1993
as Jacob Briscoe
Amityville: A New Generation
1993
as Pauli
Deadly Rivals
1993
as Agent Peterson
Body of Influence
1993
as Harry Reams
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman
1993
Christmas in Connecticut
1992
as Prescott
Hangin' with Mr. Cooper
1992
as General (uncredited)
Renegade
1992
Bloodfist III: Forced to Fight
1992
as Samuel Stark
A Time to Die
1991
as Captain Ralph Phipps
Roc
1991
as Russell Emerson
Beverly Hills, 90210
1990
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
1990
as Dr. Mumford
Dream On
1990
as Dr. Charles
Gypsy Angels
1990
as Dr. Carlson
Bad Jim
1990
as July
The Banker
1989
as Lloyd
Crack House
1989
as Lt. Johnson
Night Visitor
1989
as Captain Crane
Miami Cops
1989
as Gamble
Angel III: The Final Chapter
1988
as Lt. Doniger
Party Line
1988
as Captain Barnes
Getting Even
1988
as Dundee
Maniac Cop
1988
as Commissioner Pike
Daddy Can't Read
1988
as Jason Ruigh
Beauty and the Beast
1987
A Different World
1987
as Clinton Reese
21 Jump Street
1987
as Ben Halley
Outlaws
1986
Jocks
1986
as Chip
Amen
1986
L.A. Law
1986
as Judge Ira Menday
Opposing Force
1986
as Stafford
The Fifth Missile
1986
as Cmdr. Frederick Bryce
MacGyver
1985
as R.T. Hines
Hollywood Beat
1985
A.D.
1985
as Serpenius
City Heat
1984
as Dehl Swift
The Baron and the Kid
1984
as Frosty
Murder, She Wrote
1984
as Major Kevin Cooper
Killpoint
1984
as Agent Bill Bryant
Masquerade
1983
as Mean Willy
Young Warriors
1983
as Sergeant John Austin
Just an Overnight Guest
1983
The Big Score
1983
as Gordon
One Down, Two to Go
1982
as Ralph
Q
1982
as Powell
An Eye for an Eye
1981
as Capt. Stevens
Inchon
1981
as Sgt. Augustus Henderson
Magnum, P.I.
1980
Day of the Assassin
1979
as Fessler
Game for Vultures
1979
as Gideon Marunga
Escape to Athena
1979
as Nat Judson
Portrait of a Hitman
1979
as Coco Morrell
The Love Boat
1977
as Dave Wilbur
CHiPs
1977
as Sgt. Aikens
Roots
1977
as Sam Bennett
Diamonds
1975
as Archie
Man Friday
1975
as Friday
Earthquake
1974
as Miles Quade
Dinah!
1974
as Self
Shaft
1973
The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts
1973
as Self
Shaft in Africa
1973
as John Shaft
Charley-One-Eye
1973
as The Black Man
Firehouse
1973
as Shelly Forsythe
Nationtime
1972
as Self
Shaft's Big Score!
1972
as John Shaft
Embassy
1972
as Dick Shannon
Shaft
1971
as John Shaft
Soul in Cinema: Filming 'Shaft' on Location
1971
as Self
What Do You Say to a Naked Lady
1970
as Interracial Couple