Richard Roundtree

Richard Arnold Roundtree was an American actor and former model, who was best known for his role as (the first black action hero) in the , as well as its short-lived . The film franchise later starred Samuel L. Jackson in the titular role as Shaft's nephew/son, Detective John Shaft II, with Richard making brief cameos. He also played Shelly Forsythe in the 1973 telefilm Firehouse.
For Disney, he portrayed Mr. Kwame in the 1997 Disney film George of the Jungle and Howard Shuster in the 2001 Touchstone film Corky Romano.
Born in New Rochelle, New York, to parents John Roundtree and Kathryn Watkins, Roundtree attended New Rochelle High School, graduating in 1961. During high school, Roundtree played for the school's undefeated and nationally ranked football team. After high school, Roundtree attended Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois. Roundtree dropped out of college in 1963 to begin his career.
Roundtree died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 81.
==Role==
Mr. Kwame.jpg|Mr. Kwame(George of the Jungle)
==Gallery==
Richard Roundtree as Shaft.jpg|Richard Roundtree in his best-known role as in the .
Richard Roundtree with Samuel L. Jackson and Jessie T. Usher.jpg|Richard Roundtree with Samuel L. Jackson (John Shaft II), and Jessie T. Usher (John "J.J." Shaft III) during the filming of the latest Shaft film in 2019.
==External links==
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pt-br:Richard Roundtree
Category:Actors
Category:1940s births
Category:Males
Category:People from New York
Category:George of the Jungle
Category:ABC
Category:American people
Category:African American people
Category:Performance models
Category:Deceased
Category:2020s deaths
Category:Touchstone Pictures
Category:Voice actors