Richard Roundtree Biography

With consistency being the benchmark for stardom in Hollywood, Richard Roundtree proved his star power in every sense of the word. As a leading actor for many years, he established himself as a constant force in the entertainment industry.

Discovering that he enjoyed the spotlight while on a football scholarship at Southern Illinois University, Richard signed with Johnson Publications to model in their annual Ebony Fashion Fair, touring 79 cities in 90 days. He then returned to New York, his home state, began acting lessons and later became a member of New York's acclaimed Negro Ensemble Company. A succession of Off-Broadway roles resulted in his starring role as Jack Johnson in The Great White Hope.

Richard initially received international fame when he was chosen to star as John Shaft, private detective and supercop hero in the feature film Shaft. That role catapulted him into the world arena as one of the hottest new actors on the scene. He continued the franchise with Shaft's Big Score, Shaft in Africa, and the television series, Shaft.

But Richard was just beginning to stretch his talents as a movie star. He quickly moved on to star with some of Hollywood's most well-known actors, including Clint Eastwood, Robert Shaw, Peter O'Toole, Richard Harris, David Niven, Tony Curtis and Laurence Olivier, naming just a few.

Among the more than 70 feature films that he has appeared in are the smash hit thriller Seven, the critically acclaimed Once Upon A Time... When We Were Colored, the remake of Shaft reprising the role that made him famous, Steel with basketball superstar Shaquile O'Neal, George of the Jungle for Disney Pictures and Corky Romano with Saturday Night Live star Chris Kattan.

Richard's television credits included series regular roles on Outlaws for CBS, 413 Hope Street where he garnered an NAACP Image Award nomination for Best Leading Actor in a Series, and Buddies with Dave Chappel for ABC. He also has appeared in many Movies for Television including the top rated Having Our Say portraying Booker T. Washington, Christmas in Connecticut directed by Arnold Schwarzenegger, and the Starz production of Joe and Max. He recurred on the ABC smash hit series' Desperate Housewives, as well as Grey's Anatomy and Heroes. Richard won a Peabody Award for his narration on the PBS documentary The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow.

Having undergone a double mastecomy after being diagnosed with breast cancer in 1003, Richard became an advocate for the fight against breast cancer. Sadly, he died from pancreatic cancer on October 24 2023, at the age of 81.

Richard's last role in a film was just prior to his death, in the action comedy Thelma (2024), alongside June Squibb. Richard was married and divorced twice, and leaves behind five children.

Filmography:

Thelma (2024)
Moving On (2022)
Haunting of the Mary Celeste (2020)
The Sin Choice (2020)
Shaft (2019)
What Men Want (2019)
Collar (2015)
This Bitter Earth (2012)
Duke (2019)
The Confidant (2010)
Set Apart (2009)
Speed Racer (2008)
Retreat! (2008)
Set Apart (2008)
All the Days Before Tomorrow (2007)
Wild Seven (2006)
Brick (2005)
Max Havoc: Curse of the Dragon (2004)
Boat Trip (2002)
Al's Lads (2002)
Corky Romano (2001)
Hawaiian Gardens (2001)
Shoot! (2001)
Antitrust (2001)
Shaft (2000)
Steel (1997)
George of the Jungle (1997)
Original Gangstas (1996)
Ballistic (1995)
Se7en (1995)
Once Upon a Time... When We Were Colored (1995)
Mind Twister (1994)
Sins of the Night (1993)
Deadly Rivals (1993)
Bloodfist III: Forced to Fight (1992)
A Time to Die (1991)
Bad Jim (1990)
Crack House (1989)
Night Visitor (1989)
The Banker (1989)
Miami Cops (1989)
Party Line (1988)
Maniac Cop (1988)
La Vendetta (1988)
Angel III: The Final Chapter (1988)
Jocks (1987)
Opposing Force (1986)
City Heat (1984)
Killpoint (1984)
The Big Score (1983)
Young Warriors (1983)
One Down, Two to Go (1982)
Q (1982)
An Eye for an Eye (1981)
Inchon (1981)
Gypsy Angels (1980)
Day of the Assassin (1979)
A Game for Vultures (1979)
Escape to Athena (1979)
Portrait of a Hitman (1977)
Diamonds (1975)
Man Friday (1975)
Earthquake (1974)
Shaft in Africa (1973)
Charley One-Eye (1973)
Shaft's Big Score! (1972)
Embassy (1972)
Shaft (1971)
What Do You Say to a Naked Lady? (1970)