Roundtree, Richard (1942–)

ROUNDTREE, RICHARD (1942–). Actor. Born in New Rochelle, New York, Roundtree graduated from New Rochelle High School and attended college on a football scholarship to Southern Illinois University. He enjoyed a short career as a model before joining the Negro Ensemble Company and taking to the stage. The big-screen opportunity that catapulted him to stardom was his role as black private eye John Shaft in Shaft , 1971, and the two sequels, Shaft’s Big Score , 1972, and Shaft in Africa , 1973. Roundtree became a pop icon and continued to work in film and television throughout the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. Television appearances include Cop Files, Rescue 77 , and the TV miniseries Roots . Years later, he would again play John Shaft, but as the uncle of that film’s main character, played by Samuel L. Jackson in Shaft 2000 .

Filmography: Shaft , 1971; Shaft’s Big Score , 1972; Firehouse , 1972; Embassy , 1972; Shaft in Africa , 1973; Earthquake , 1974; Man Friday , 1975; Portrait of a Hitman , 1977; Day of the Assassin , 1981; One Down, Two to Go , 1982; Big Score , 1983; Kill-point , 1984; City Heat , 1984; The Last Contract , 1986; Opposing Force , 1987; Jocks , 1987; Party Line , 1988; Manic Cop , 1988; Angel 3: The Final Chapter , 1988; Miami Cops , 1989; Crack House , 1989; Bad Jim , 1989; A Time to Die , 1991; Getting Even , 1992; Deadly Rivals , 1992; Bloodfist 3: Forced to Fight , 1992; Body of Influence , 1993; Amityville: A New Generation , 1993; Ballistic , 1994; Theodore Rex , 1995; Seven , 1995; Once Upon a Time When We Were Colored , 1995; Original Gangstas , 1996; George of the Jungle , 1997; Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters’ First 100 Years , 1999; Shaft 2000 , 2000; Antitrust , 2000; Corky Romano , 2001; Joe and Max , 2002; Boat Trip , 2003.