Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Born
July 9, 1942
Died
October 24, 2023 (age 81)
Place of Birth
New Rochelle, New York, USA
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.
Known For
TV
Grey's Anatomy
Donald Burke
2005
TV
The Mentalist
Floyd Benton
2008
TV
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self
1962
TV
Desperate Housewives
Mr. Shaw
2004
TV
Chicago Fire
Wallace Boden, Sr.
2012
TV
The Mike Douglas Show
Self
1961
TV
Heroes
Charles Deveaux
2006
TV
The Closer
Col. D.B. Walter
2005
TV
Murder, She Wrote
Major Kevin Cooper
1984
TV
Beverly Hills, 90210
Robinson Ashe Jr.
1990
TV
Magnum, P.I.
Peter Jordan
1980
TV
The Love Boat
Dave Wilbur
1977
TV
MacGyver
R.T. Hines
1985
TV
Vicki!
Self
1992
TV
L.A. Law
Judge Ira Menday
1986
TV
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman
'Barracuda' Jim Barnes
1993
TV
Lethal Weapon
Don Bennett
2016
TV
Private Practice
Raymond McCray
2007
TV
A Different World
Clinton Reese
1987
TV
21 Jump Street
Ben Halley
1987
Filmography
2024FilmThelmaas Ben2023FilmMoving Onas Ralph2021FilmA Choice of Weapons: Inspired by Gordon Parksas Self2020FilmHaunting of the Mary Celesteas Tulls2020TVGAME ON: A Comedy Crossover Eventas Grandpa2019FilmA Family Reunion Christmasas Jebidiah McKellan2019TVFamily Reunionas Grandpa2019FilmHarlem to Hollywoodas Self2019FilmShaftas John Shaft, Sr.2019FilmWhat Men Wantas Skip Davis2016TVStaras Charles Floyd2016TVLethal Weaponas Don Bennett2015TVThe Playeras Samuel Letts2015FilmCollaras Alonzo Sparks2013TVBeing Mary Janeas Paul Patterson, Sr.2012TVChicago Fireas Wallace Boden, Sr.2012FilmRetreat!as Henshaw2010FilmThe Confidantas Claude2010FilmWhatever She Wantsas Theodore Wolf2009FilmDiary of a Single Momas Lou Bailey2009FilmSet Apartas J.T.2008FilmLadies of the Houseas Stan2008TVThe Mentalistas Floyd Benton2008FilmFinal Approachas Gary Markash2008FilmSpeed Raceras Ben Burns2008FilmSpeed Racer: Wonderful World of Racing - The Amazing Racer Familyas Ben Burns2007FilmPoint of Entryas Miles Porter2007TVPrivate Practiceas Raymond McCray2007FilmAll The Days Before Tomorrowas El Doctor2007TVLincoln Heights2006TVHeroesas Charles Deveaux2006TVBlade: The Series2006FilmBrickas Assistant V.P. Trueman2006FilmWild Sevenas Lee Marvin / Cleetus Woods2005FilmPainkiller Janeas Colonel Watts2005TVClose to Homeas Cyrus Carter2005TVThe Closeras Col. D.B. Walter2005TVGrey's Anatomyas Donald Burke2004FilmMax Havoc: Curse Of The Dragonas Tahsi2004TVDesperate Housewivesas Mr. Shaw2003FilmVegas Vampiresas Rick Apping2003FilmMen Cry in the Dark2002FilmBoat Tripas Felicia's Dad2002TVThe Rise and Fall of Jim Crowas Self - Narrator (voice)2002FilmBaadAsssss Cinemaas Self2002FilmAl's Ladsas Boom-Boom2002FilmUndercover Brotheras John Shaft (archive footage) (uncredited)2002FilmJoe and Maxas Jack Blackburn2001FilmHawaiian Gardensas M.O.2001FilmCorky Romanoas Howard Shuster2001TVAliasas Brill2001FilmAntitrustas Lyle Barton2000TVSoul Foodas Hardy Lester2000FilmShaftas "Uncle" John Shaft1999FilmHaving Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Yearsas Booker T. Washington1999TVRescue 77as Captain Durfee1997TV413 Hope St.as Phil Thomas1997FilmSteelas Uncle Joe1997FilmGeorge of the Jungleas Kwame1997FilmAny Place But Homeas Gil Oberman1996TVProfileras Det. James Henegar1996FilmOriginal Gangstasas Slick1996TVBuddiesas Henry Carlisle1996FilmOnce Upon a Time... When We Were Coloredas Cleve1995FilmTheodore Rexas Commissioner Lynch1995FilmSe7enas Talbot1995FilmBallisticas Harold1995FilmBonanza: Under Attackas Jacob1995TVThe Wayans Bros.as Dr. Saunders1994TVTouched by an Angelas Murray1994FilmShadows of Desireas Dunc1994FilmBlind Man's Bluffas Gray1994FilmBody of Influenceas Harry Reams1994FilmMind Twisteras Frank Webb1994FilmBlack as the Heartas Rod1993FilmSins of the Nightas Les1993FilmBonanza: The Returnas Jacob Briscoe1993FilmAmityville: A New Generationas Pauli1993FilmDeadly Rivalsas Agent Peterson1993TVDr. Quinn, Medicine Womanas 'Barracuda' Jim Barnes1992FilmChristmas in Connecticutas Prescott1992TVHangin' with Mr. Cooperas General (uncredited)1992TVRenegade1992TVVicki!as Self1992FilmBloodfist III: Forced to Fightas Samuel Stark1991FilmA Time to Dieas Captain Ralph Phipps1991TVRocas Russell Emerson1990TVBeverly Hills, 90210as Robinson Ashe Jr.1990TVThe Fresh Prince of Bel-Airas Dr. Mumford1990TVDream Onas Dr. Charles1990FilmGypsy Angelsas Dr. Carlson1990FilmBad Jimas July1989FilmThe Bankeras Lloyd1989FilmCrack Houseas Lt. Johnson1989FilmNight Visitoras Captain Crane1989FilmMiami Copsas Gamble1988FilmAngel III: The Final Chapteras Lt. Doniger1988FilmParty Lineas Captain Barnes1988FilmGetting Evenas Dundee1988FilmManiac Copas Commissioner Pike1988FilmDaddy Can't Readas Jason Ruigh1987TVBeauty and the Beast1987TVA Different Worldas Clinton Reese1987TV21 Jump Streetas Ben Halley1986TVOutlaws1986FilmJocksas Chip1986TVAmen1986TVL.A. Lawas Judge Ira Menday1986FilmOpposing Forceas Stafford1986FilmThe Fifth Missileas Cmdr. Frederick Bryce1985TVMacGyveras R.T. Hines1985TVHollywood Beat1985TVA.D.as Serpenius1984FilmCity Heatas Dehl Swift1984FilmThe Baron and the Kidas Frosty1984TVMurder, She Wroteas Major Kevin Cooper1984FilmKillpointas Agent Bill Bryant1983TVMasqueradeas Mean Willy1983FilmYoung Warriorsas Sergeant John Austin1983FilmJust an Overnight Guest1983FilmThe Big Scoreas Gordon1982FilmOne Down, Two to Goas Ralph1982FilmQas Powell1981FilmAn Eye for an Eyeas Capt. Stevens1981FilmInchonas Sgt. Augustus Henderson1980TVMagnum, P.I.as Peter Jordan1979FilmDay of the Assassinas Fessler1979FilmGame for Vulturesas Gideon Marunga1979FilmEscape to Athenaas Nat Judson1979FilmPortrait of a Hitmanas Coco Morrell1977TVThe Love Boatas Dave Wilbur1977TVCHiPsas Sgt. Aikens1977TVRootsas Sam Bennett1975FilmDiamondsas Archie1975FilmMan Fridayas Friday1974FilmEarthquakeas Miles Quade1974TVDinah!as Self1973TVShaftas John Shaft1973TVThe Dean Martin Celebrity Roastsas Self1973FilmShaft in Africaas John Shaft1973FilmCharley One-Eyeas The Black Man1973FilmListen to a Stranger: An Interview with Gordon Parksas Self / Shaft (archive footage)1973FilmFirehouseas Shelly Forsythe1972FilmNationtimeas Self1972FilmShaft's Big Score!as John Shaft1972FilmEmbassyas Dick Shannon1971FilmShaftas John Shaft1971FilmSoul in Cinema: Filming 'Shaft' on Locationas Self1970FilmWhat Do You Say to a Naked Lady?as Interracial Couple1962TVThe Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carsonas Self1961TVThe Mike Douglas Showas Self