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Richard Roundtree
Known for: ActingRichard 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.
Filmography 55
Se7en
as Talbot 
Speed Racer
as Ben Burns 
What Men Want
as Skip Davis 
Being Mary Jane
as Paul Patterson, Sr. 
George of the Jungle
as Kwame 
Maniac Cop
as Commissioner Pike 
Shaft
as "Uncle" John Shaft 
Shaft
as John Shaft, Sr. 
Brick
as Assistant V.P. Trueman 
Boat Trip
as Felicia's Dad 
Earthquake
as Miles Quade 
Moving On
as Ralph 
Corky Romano
as Howard Shuster 
Thelma
as Ben 
Antitrust
as Lyle Barton 
Shaft
as John Shaft 
An Eye for an Eye
as Capt. Stevens 
Escape to Athena
as Nat Judson 
City Heat
as Dehl Swift 
Amityville: A New Generation
as Pauli 
Steel
as Uncle Joe 
Q
as Powell 
Body of Influence
as Harry Reams 
The Banker
as Lloyd 
Shaft in Africa
as John Shaft 
Shaft's Big Score!
as John Shaft 
Sins of the Night
as Les 
Wild Seven
as Lee Marvin / Cleetus Woods 
Man Friday
as Friday 
Angel III: The Final Chapter
as Lt. Doniger 
Bloodfist III: Forced to Fight
as Samuel Stark 
Bad Jim
as July 
Max Havoc: Curse Of The Dragon
as Tahsi 
Party Line
as Captain Barnes 
Haunting of the Mary Celeste
as Tulls 
Original Gangstas
as Slick 
One Down, Two to Go
as Ralph 
Charley-One-Eye
as The Black Man 
Nationtime: Gary
as Self 
A Family Reunion Christmas
as Jebidiah McKellan 
Hawaiian Gardens
as M.O. 
Opposing Force
as Stafford 
Game for Vultures
as Gideon Marunga 
Ladies of the House
as Stan 
A Time to Die
as Captain Ralph Phipps 
Point of Entry
as Miles Porter 
The Baron and the Kid
as Frosty 
Crack House
as Lt. Johnson 
Christmas in Connecticut
as Prescott 
Joe and Max
as Jack Blackburn 
Day of the Assassin
as Fessler 
Diary of a Single Mom
as Lou Bailey 
Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years
as Booker T. Washington 
Night Visitor
as Captain Crane