Personal details
Known for
Acting
Gender
Male
Born
9 Juli 1942
Died
24 Oktober 2023
Place of birth
New Rochelle, New York, USA
Also known as
Richard Arnold Roundtree
Biography
Richard Arnold 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. Roundtree died of pancreatic cancer at his home in Los Angeles. He was cremated at Chapel of the Pines Crematory. His family hosted a memorial service for him at Saint Catherine African Methodist Episcopal Church in New Rochelle, New York on February 17, 2024.
Bekannt für
8.4
Film
Se7en
Talbot
1995
6.4
Film
Speed Racer
Ben Burns
2008
5.7
Film
George of the Jungle
Kwame
1997
6.9
Series
Being Mary Jane
Paul Patterson, Sr.
2013–2017
6.8
Film
Brick
Assistant V.P. Trueman
2006
5.5
Film
City Heat
Dehl Swift
1984
6.0
Film
Shaft
"Uncle" John Shaft
2000
6.0
Film
Antitrust
Lyle Barton
2001
6.1
Film
Earthquake
Miles Quade
1974
6.4
Film
Shaft
John Shaft
1971
4.3
Film
Steel
Uncle Joe
1997
6.5
Film
Shaft
John Shaft, Sr.
2019
6.2
Film
What Men Want
Skip Davis
2019
5.2
Film
Boat Trip
Felicia's Dad
2002
5.7
Film
Q: The Winged Serpent
Powell
1982
6.0
Film
BaadAsssss Cinema
Self
2002
6.8
Film
Thelma
Ben
2024
7.1
Series
Outlaws
Isaiah 'Ice' McAdams
1986–1987
8.0
Film
Nationtime: Gary
Self
1972
6.1
Film
Maniac Cop
Commissioner Pike
1988
5.5
Series
Buddies
Henry Carlisle
1996
5.0
Series
Rescue 77
Captain Durfee
1999
7.2
Series
Shaft
John Shaft
1973–1974
5.9
Film
Moving On
Ralph
2023
8.0
Series
413 Hope St.
Phil Thomas
1997–1998
7.0
Series
The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow
Self - Narrator (voice)
2002
5.2
Film
Haunting of the Mary Celeste
Tulls
2020
6.9
Film
A Choice of Weapons: Inspired by Gordon Parks
Self
2021
5.9
Film
A Family Reunion Christmas
Jebidiah McKellan
2019
Acting credits 29 titles
Thelma
as Ben
6.8
2024
Moving On
as Ralph
5.9
2023
A Choice of Weapons: Inspired by Gordon Parks
as Self
6.9
2021
Haunting of the Mary Celeste
as Tulls
5.2
2020
Shaft
as John Shaft, Sr.
6.5
2019
What Men Want
as Skip Davis
6.2
2019
A Family Reunion Christmas
as Jebidiah McKellan
5.9
2019
Being Mary Jane
as Paul Patterson, Sr.
6.9
2013–2017
Speed Racer
as Ben Burns
6.4
2008
Brick
as Assistant V.P. Trueman
6.8
2006
The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow
as Self - Narrator (voice)
7.0
2002
Boat Trip
as Felicia's Dad
5.2
2002
BaadAsssss Cinema
as Self
6.0
2002
Antitrust
as Lyle Barton
6.0
2001
Shaft
as "Uncle" John Shaft
6.0
2000
Rescue 77
as Captain Durfee
5.0
1999
Steel
as Uncle Joe
4.3
1997
George of the Jungle
as Kwame
5.7
1997
413 Hope St.
as Phil Thomas
8.0
1997–1998
Buddies
as Henry Carlisle
5.5
1996
Se7en
as Talbot
8.4
1995
Maniac Cop
as Commissioner Pike
6.1
1988
Outlaws
as Isaiah 'Ice' McAdams
7.1
1986–1987
City Heat
as Dehl Swift
5.5
1984
Q: The Winged Serpent
as Powell
5.7
1982
Earthquake
as Miles Quade
6.1
1974
Shaft
as John Shaft
7.2
1973–1974
Nationtime: Gary
as Self
8.0
1972
Shaft
as John Shaft
6.4
1971