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!, Shaft in Africa (1973), its 2000 sequel and its 2019 sequel, 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. He subsequently attended Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois, but eventually dropped out of college in 1963, in order to begin his acting career. 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. at St. Mark's Playhouse in 1969, directed by Shauneille Perry. Roundtree playing John Shaft in the CBS-TV television series (1973) 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 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.

During that same period of time, Roundtree kept featuring in TV series: In 1995, he acted in David Fincher's critically-acclaimed movie Seven; 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; 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; Roundtree in 2007Starting 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). 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,

Roundtree's final film to be released in his lifetime was Moving On (2023) with Jane Fonda. Roundtree's final film was Thelma (2024), released posthumously.

Personal life, health problems, and death Roundtree was married and divorced twice and had five children. He married Mary Jane Grant in 1963; 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.

Roundtree died of pancreatic cancer at his home in Los Angeles on October 24, 2023, at the age of 81. He was cremated after his funeral at Hollywood Forever Cemetery in its 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 Film Year Title Role Notes 1970 What Do You Say to a Naked Lady? Interracial Couple 1971 Shaft John Shaft Shaft in Africa John Shaft Game for Vultures Gideon Marunga Day of the Assassin Fessler 1980 Gypsy Angels Dr. Carlson 1981 Inchon Sergeant Augustus Henderson 1982 Q Sgt. Powell Also known as Q – The Winged Serpent One Down, Two to Go Ralph 1983 Young Warriors Sergeant John Austin The Big Score Gordon 1984 Killpoint Agent Bill Bryant City Heat Dehl Swift Jocks Chip Williams 1988 Maniac Cop Commissioner Pike Party Line Captain Barnes Angel III: The Final Chapter Lieutenant Doniger 1989 Miami Cops Gamble Getting Even Dundee Night Visitor Captain Crane Crack House Lieutenant Johnson 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 Sins of the Night Les Deadly Rivals Agent Peterson Amityville: A New Generation Pauli Direct-to-video Mind Twister Frank Webb 1995 Ballistic Harold Se7en District Attorney Martin Talbot 1997 George of the Jungle Kwame 2000 Shaft Uncle John Shaft 2001 Antitrust Lyle Barton Hawaiian Gardens M.O. Corky Romano Howard Shuster 2002 Capone's Boys "Boom-Boom" Also known as Al's Lads 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 Vegas Vampires Rick Apping 2009 Set Apart J.T. 2010 The Confidant Claude 2012 The Trial of Ben Barry Ben Barry Short film This Bitter Earth Grady 2015 Collar Reverend Alonzo Sparks 2018 Duke J.T. 2019 What Men Want Skip Shaft John Shaft I 2020 Haunting of the Mary Celeste Tulls 2024 ThelmaBen 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 1985 A.D. Serpenius Television miniseries (5 episodes) 1986 Ebony/Jet Showcase Himself 1 episode (October 24) 1986–1987 Outlaws Isaiah "Ice" McAdams Series regular (12 episodes) 1989 A Different World Clinton Reese 2 episodes 1989–1991 Generations Dr. Daniel Reubens Recurring role (6 episodes) Beverly Hills, 90210 Robinson Ashe Jr. Episode: "Ashes to Ashes" 1992 Hearts Are Wild Xavier Burns "Episode: #1.8" Christmas in Connecticut Prescott Television film 1992–1994 Hangin' with Mr. Cooper Sergeant / Chester Cooper 2 episodes Renegade Gene Collins Episode: "Thrill Kill" Rescue 77 Captain Durfee Series regular (8 episodes) Linc's Jake Episode: "Real Time" 2000–2001 Soul Food Hardy Lester Recurring role (6 episodes) 2003, 2004 Alias Thomas Brill 2 episodes Point of Entry Detective Miles Porter 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" 2019–2022 Family Reunion Jebediah McKellan Recurring role (22 episodes ) 2022 Cherish the Day Mandeville "MV" St. James Main role (season 2)

Stage Year Title Role Playwright Venue Notes 1969 Mau Mau Room J. E. Franklin St. Mark's Playhouse 1977 Purlie Victorious Purlie Ossie Davis Tiffany's Attic Salem 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