# Richard Roundtree

Richard Arnold Roundtree (July 9, 1942 – October 24, 2023) was an American actor. He was best known for his portrayal of private detective John Shaft in the 1971 film Shaft and four of its sequels, Shaft's Big Score! (1972), Shaft in Africa (1973), its 2000 sequel and its 2019 sequel, as well as the eponymous television series (1973–1974). He was also known for featuring in several TV series, including Roots, Generations, and Desperate Housewives.
Considered as "the first black action hero", Roundtree was credited with having an impact on the rise of African American leading actors in Hollywood projects, thanks to his successful performances in the genre. His portrayal of Shaft as a bold, confident, and charismatic figure also influenced cinematic depictions of black men and black masculinity, a contrast to black men in films prior to Shaft having often been portrayed as mild-mannered or servile.

## Early life and education

Richard Arnold Roundtree was born on July 9, 1942, in New Rochelle, New York, to John Roundtree and Kathryn Watkins. Roundtree attended New Rochelle High School, where he graduated in 1961. He subsequently attended Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois, but eventually dropped out of college in 1963, in order to begin his acting career.

## Career

Roundtree started his professional career around 1963, as he began working as a model at the Ebony Fashion Fair after being scouted by Eunice W. Johnson; he then began modeling in advertisements for products such as Johnson Products' Duke hair grease and Salem cigarettes. In 1967, Roundtree joined the Negro Ensemble Company: he then went on to play his first theatrical role by portraying boxer Jack Johnson in the company's production of The Great White Hope. According to J. E. Franklin, he acted in the Off-Off-Broadway production of her play Mau Mau Room, by the Negro Ensemble Company Workshop Festival, at St. Mark's Playhouse in 1969, directed by Shauneille Perry.
Roundtree made his first big-screen appearance by playing a minor role in the film What Do You Say to a Naked Lady?, a 1970 American hidden-camera style reality film directed by Candid Camera creator Allen Funt.
In the following years, he became a leading man in early 1970s films, and gained widespread popularity through his portrayal of private detective John Shaft in the action movie Shaft (1971) and its sequels, Shaft's Big Score! (1972) and Shaft in Africa (1973); he also played the same role in the eponymous television series, aired by CBS between 1973 and 1974. In 1981, he appeared opposite Laurence Olivier and Ben Gazzara in the epic war film Inchon, directed by Terence Young. In 1984, he starred again as a private detective, Diehl Swift, in the buddy-crime comedy movie City Heat, acting alongside Clint Eastwood and Burt Reynolds. On television, he played the slave Sam Bennett in the 1977 television mini-series Roots, and then starred as Dr. Daniel Reubens in the soap opera Generations from 1989 to 1991. Although Roundtree worked throughout the entirety of the 1990s, many of his films from that era were not well-received publicly; however, he found success in several stage plays.
During that same period of time, Roundtree kept featuring in TV series: on September 19, 1991, he appeared in the episode "Ashes to Ashes", from the second season of Beverly Hills, 90210. In 1995, he acted in David Fincher's critically-acclaimed movie Seven; in 2000, he starred again as John Shaft in a new, eponymous sequel of the original 1971 film, with Samuel L. Jackson playing the title character. In 1997, he appeared in the comedy movie George of the Jungle; around the same year, he played a leading role as Phil Thomas in the Fox ensemble drama, 413 Hope St; in 1999, he portrayed Booker T. Washington in the 1999 television movie Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years. He served as a voice actor for the title character from the PlayStation game Akuji the Heartless, which was first released in 1999.
In 2004, Roundtree guest-starred in several episodes of the first season of Desperate Housewives as an amoral private detective; in 2005, he played the assistant vice principal of a high school in the neo-noir mystery film Brick.
Starting from the same year, Roundtree appeared in the television series The Closer as retired colonel D. B. Walter; in 2006, he starred in the science fiction drama series Heroes as Charles Deveaux, the terminally ill father of main character Simone Deveaux (Tawny Cypress). He then appeared as Eddie Sutton's father-in-law in several episodes of family drama series Lincoln Heights, before playing a supporting role in the 2008 film Speed Racer, a live-action adaptation of the eponymous Japanese manga. During the same year, he also appeared in the TV series Knight Rider as the father of FBI agent Carrie Ravai (Sydney Tamiia Poitier). Starting from 2013, he co-starred as the father of lead character Mary Jane Paul (Gabrielle Union) in the drama series Being Mary Jane, aired on BET.
In 2019, Roundtree co-starred in the comedy film What Men Want, before once again returning to the role of John Shaft in Shaft, a new sequel to the 2000 film, opposite Samuel L. Jackson and Jessie T. Usher, who portrayed John Shaft II and John Shaft III, respectively. Starting from the same year, Roundtree also had a recurring role on Family Reunion.
Roundtree's final film to be released in his lifetime was Moving On (2023) with Jane Fonda. The last film released was Thelma (2024).

## Personal life, health problems, and death

Roundtree was married and divorced twice and had five children. He married Mary Jane Grant in 1963; the couple had two children before divorcing in 1973. He dated actress and TV personality Cathy Lee Crosby shortly thereafter. Roundtree later married Karen M. Ciernia in 1980; they had three children together before divorcing in 1998.
In 1993, Roundtree was diagnosed with breast cancer, and subsequently underwent a double mastectomy and chemotherapy.
Roundtree died of pancreatic cancer at his home in Los Angeles on October 24, 2023, at the age of 81.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1970 | What Do You Say to a Naked Lady? | Interracial Couple | |
| 1971 | Shaft | John Shaft | |
| 1972 | Embassy | Richard "Dick" Shannon | |
| 1972 | Shaft's Big Score! | John Shaft | |
| 1973 | Charley One-Eye | The Black Man | |
| 1973 | Shaft in Africa | John Shaft | |
| 1974 | Earthquake | Miles Quade | |
| 1975 | Man Friday | Friday | |
| 1975 | Diamonds | Archie | |
| 1979 | Escape to Athena | Nat Judson | |
| 1979 | Portrait of a Hitman | "Coco" Morrell | |
| 1979 | Game for Vultures | Gideon Marunga | |
| 1979 | Day of the Assassin | Fessler | |
| 1980 | Gypsy Angels | Dr. Carlson | |
| 1981 | Inchon | Sergeant Augustus Henderson | |
| 1981 | An Eye for an Eye | Captain Stevens | |
| 1982 | Q | Sgt. Powell | Also known as Q – The Winged Serpent |
| 1982 | One Down, Two to Go | Ralph | |
| 1983 | Young Warriors | Sergeant John Austin | |
| 1983 | The Big Score | Gordon | |
| 1984 | Killpoint | Agent Bill Bryant | |
| 1984 | City Heat | Dehl Swift | |
| 1986 | Opposing Force | Stafford | Also known as Hell Camp |
| 1986 | Jocks | Chip Williams | |
| 1988 | Maniac Cop | Commissioner Pike | |
| 1988 | Party Line | Captain Barnes | |
| 1988 | Angel III: The Final Chapter | Lieutenant Doniger | |
| 1989 | Miami Cops | Gamble | |
| 1989 | Getting Even | Dundee | |
| 1989 | Night Visitor | Captain Crane | |
| 1989 | Crack House | Lieutenant Johnson | |
| 1989 | The Banker | Lloyd | |
| 1990 | Bad Jim | July | |
| 1991 | A Time to Die | Captain Ralph Phipps | |
| 1992 | Bloodfist III: Forced to Fight | Samuel Stark | |
| 1993 | Body of Influence | Harry Reams | Direct-to-video |
| 1993 | Sins of the Night | Les | |
| 1993 | Deadly Rivals | Agent Peterson | |
| 1993 | Amityville: A New Generation | Pauli | Direct-to-video |
| 1993 | Mind Twister | Frank Webb | |
| 1995 | Ballistic | Harold | |
| 1995 | Se7en | District Attorney Martin Talbot | |
| 1995 | Once Upon a Time...When We Were Colored | Cleve | |
| 1995 | Theodore Rex | Commissioner Lynch | |
| 1996 | Original Gangstas | "Slick" | |
| 1997 | George of the Jungle | Kwame | |
| 1997 | Steel | Uncle Joe | |
| 2000 | Shaft | Uncle John Shaft | |
| 2001 | Antitrust | Lyle Barton | |
| 2001 | Hawaiian Gardens | M.O. | |
| 2001 | Corky Romano | Howard Shuster | |
| 2002 | Capone's Boys | "Boom-Boom" | Also known as Al's Lads |
| 2002 | Boat Trip | Malcolm | |
| 2003 | Men Cry in the Dark | Derrick's father | Direct-to-DVD |
| 2004 | Max Havoc: Curse of the Dragon | Tahsi | |
| 2005 | Brick | Assistant Vice President Trueman | |
| 2006 | Wild Seven | Lee Marvin / Cleetus Woods | |
| 2007 | All the Days Before Tomorrow | El Doctor | |
| 2007 | Vegas Vampires | Rick Apping | |
| 2008 | Speed Racer | Ben Burns | |
| 2009 | Set Apart | J.T. | |
| 2010 | The Confidant | Claude | |
| 2012 | The Trial of Ben Barry | Ben Barry | Short film |
| 2012 | This Bitter Earth | Grady | |
| 2015 | Collar | Reverend Alonzo Sparks | |
| 2018 | Duke | J.T. | |
| 2019 | What Men Want | Skip | |
| 2019 | Shaft | John Shaft I | |
| 2020 | Haunting of the Mary Celeste | Tulls | |
| 2022 | Moving On | Ralph | |
| 2024 | Thelma | Ben | Posthumous release |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1972 | Parachute to Paradise | — | Television film |
| 1972–1976 | The Hollywood Squares | Himself (Panelist) | Recurring role (4 episodes) |
| 1973 | Firehouse | Shelly Forsythe | Television film |
| 1973–1974 | Shaft | John Shaft | Series regular (7 episodes) |
| 1974 | The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast | Himself | Episode: "Telly Savalas" |
| 1976 | Freedom Is | — | Television special; voice role |
| 1977 | Roots | Sam Bennett | Television miniseries; Episode: "Part IV" |
| 1980 | The Love Boat | Dave Wilbur | 2 episodes |
| 1980 | Miss Universe Pageant | Himself (Judge) | Television special |
| 1981 | CHiPs | Sergeant Aikens | Episode: "Sharks" |
| 1983 | Magnum, P.I. | Peter Jordan | Episode: "Two Birds of a Feather" |
| 1983 | Masquerade | Willy "Mean Willy" Walters | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 1983 | Just an Overnight Guest | Matt | Television short |
| 1984 | The Baron and the Kid | 'Frosty' | Television film |
| 1985 | A.D. | Serpenius | Television miniseries (5 episodes) |
| 1985 | Hollywood Beat | Don Julian | Episode: "Double Exposure" |
| 1986 | The Fifth Missile | Commander Frederick Bryce | Television film |
| 1986 | Ebony/Jet Showcase | Himself | 1 episode (October 24) |
| 1986–1987 | Outlaws | Isaiah "Ice" McAdams | Series regular (12 episodes) |
| 1987 | The New Hollywood Squares | Himself (Panelist) | Episode: "03.23.1987" |
| 1988 | ABC Afterschool Specials | Jason Ruigh | Episode: "Daddy Can't Read" |
| 1988 | Cadets | Sergeant Matt Gideon | Television film |
| 1988 | Murder, She Wrote | Major Kevin Cooper | Episode: "The Last Flight of the Dixie Damsel" |
| 1989 | A Different World | Clinton Reese | 2 episodes: "Great Expectations", "Answered Prayers" |
| 1989 | Amen | Sergeant Burke | 2 episodes: "Thelma and the D.I.", "Sergeant in Arms" |
| 1989 | Beauty and the Beast | Cleon Manning | Recurring role (3 episodes) |
| 1989–1991 | Generations | Dr. Daniel Reubens | Recurring role (6 episodes) |
| 1990 | 21 Jump Street | Ben Halley | Episode: "La Bizca" |
| 1990 | MacGyver | R.T. Hines | Episode: "Tough Boys" |
| 1990–1996 | The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air | Dr. Mumford / Reverend Gordon Sims | 2 episodes: "Clubba Hubba" (1990)", "Hare Today" (1996) |
| 1991 | The Young Riders | Calvin | Episode: "Kansas" |
| 1991 | Beverly Hills, 90210 | Robinson Ashe Jr. | Episode: "Ashes to Ashes" |
| 1991–1994 | Roc | Russell Emerson | Recurring role (4 episodes) |
| 1992 | Hearts Are Wild | Xavier Burns | "Episode: #1.8" |
| 1992 | Christmas in Connecticut | Prescotf | Television film |
| 1992 | L.A. Law | Judge Ira Menday | Episode: "Love on the Rox" |
| 1992–1994 | Hangin' with Mr. Cooper | Sergeant / Chester Cooper | 2 episodes: "Miracle in Oaktown" (1992), "Hangin' with Mrs. Cooper" (1994) |
| 1993 | Bonanza: The Return | Jacob Briscoe | Television film |
| 1993 | Moscacieca | Gray | Television film |
| 1994 | Black Heart | Rodney "Rod" | Television film |
| 1994 | Shadows of Desire | "Dunc" | Television film |
| 1994 | Renegade | Gene Collins | Episode: "Thrill Kill" |
| 1995 | Bonanza: Under Attack | Jacob | Television film |
| 1995 | The Wayans Bros. | Dr. Saunders | Episode: "ER" |
| 1995 | Dream On | Dr. Charles | Episode: "Little Orphan Eddie" |
| 1996 | Touched by an Angel | Murray | Episode: "Rock 'n' Roll Dad" |
| 1996 | Buddies | Henry Carlisle | Series regular (14 episodes) |
| 1997 | Any Place But Home | Gil Oberman | Television film |
| 1997 | Profiler | Detective James Henegar | Episode: "Power Corrupts" |
| 1997–98 | 413 Hope St. | Phil Thomas | Series regular (10 episodes) |
| 1998 | Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman | Jim "Barracuda Jim" Barnes | Episode: "The Fight" |
| 1999 | Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years | Booker T. Washington | Television film |
| 1999 | Rescue 77 | Captain Durfee | Series regular (8 episodes) |
| 1999 | Linc's | Jake | Episode: "Real Time" |
| 2000–2001 | Soul Food | Hardy Lester | Recurring role (6 episodes) |
| 2001 | Resurrection Blvd. | Nate Khane | 2 episodes: "Anisedad", "La Gran Pelea" |
| 2002 | Joe and Max | Jack Blackburn | Television film |
| 2002–2003 | As the World Turns | Oliver Travers | — |
| 2003 | 1-800-Missing | Sam Haslett | Episode: "Father Figure" |
| 2003–2004 | Alias | Brill | 2 episodes: "Breaking Point" (2003), "Blood Ties" (2004) |
| 2004–2005 | Desperate Housewives | Mr. Shaw | Recurring role (5 episodes) |
| 2005 | The Closer | Colonel D.B. Walter | Episode: "Show Yourself" |
| 2005 | Painkiller Jane | Colonel Watts | Television film |
| 2006 | Blade: The Series | Robert Brooks | Episode: "Sacrifice" |
| 2006 | Grey's Anatomy | Donald Burke | Episode: "I Am a Tree" |
| 2006 | Close to Home | Cyrus Cater | Episode: "Prodigal Son" |
| 2006–2007 | Heroes | Charles Deveaux | Recurring role (6 episodes) |
| 2007 | Final Approach | Gary Markash | Television film |
| 2007 | Point of Entry | Detective Miles Porter | Television film |
| 2007–2009 | Lincoln Heights | Coleman Bradshaw | Recurring role (3 episodes) |
| 2008 | Ladies of the House | Stan | Television film |
| 2009 | Knight Rider | Lawrence Rival | Episode: "Day Turns into Knight" |
| 2009–2011 | Diary of a Single Mom | Lou Bailey | Recurring role (18 episodes) |
| 2009 | Meet the Browns | Frank | Episode: "Meet the Anniversary" |
| 2011 | The Mentalist | Floyd Benton | Episode: "Bloodsport" |
| 2012 | Private Practice | Raymond McCray | Episode: "The Next Episode" |
| 2013–2019 | Being Mary Jane | Paul Patterson Sr. | Recurring role (33 episodes) |
| 2015 | Chicago Fire | Wallace Boden Sr. | Recurring role (4 episodes) |
| 2015 | The Player | Judge Samuel Letts | 2 episodes: "The Norseman", "A House Is Not a Home" |
| 2017–2018 | Star | Charles Floyd | Recurring role (5 episodes) |
| 2018 | Lethal Weapon | Don Bennett | Episode: "A Whole Lotta Trouble" |
| 2019–2022 | Family Reunion | Jebediah McKellen | Recurring role (22 episodes ) |
| 2022 | Cherish the Day | Mandeville "MV" St. James | Main role (season 2) |

### Video games

| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref(s) |
| 1998 | Akuji the Heartless | Akuji | Voice role | |

### Stage

| Year | Title | Role | Playwright | Venue | Notes |
| 1969 | Mau Mau Room | — | J. E. Franklin | St. Mark's Playhouse | |
| 1976 | Guys and Dolls | Sky Masterson | Frank Loesser, Jo Swerling, and Abe Burrows | The Broadway Theatre | |
| 1977 | Purlie Victorious | Purlie | Ossie Davis | Tiffany's Attic | |
| 2007 | Whatever She Wants | Theodore Wolf | Je'Caryous Johnson | Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium | Recorded version released direct-to-DVD |

## Discography

* The Man from Shaft (MGM Records 1972)

## Awards and nominations

| Association | Year | Category | Nominated Work | Result |
| African-American Film Critics Association | 2011 | Legacy Award | — | Won |
| Golden Globe Awards | 1972 | Most Promising Newcomer – Male | Shaft | Nominated |
| Indie Series Awards | 2010 | Best Performance by a Supporting Actor | Diary of a Single Mom | Nominated |
| MTV Movie & TV Awards | 1994 | Lifetime Achievement Award | Shaft (film series) | Won |
| NAACP Image Awards | 1971 | Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture | Shaft | Nominated |
| NAACP Image Awards | 1998 | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series | 413 Hope St. | Nominated |