Richard Roundtree
Personal details
  • Born:
    • Birthday: 1942-07-09
    • Born Place: New Rochelle, New York, USA
  • Deathday:

    2023-10-24

Richard Roundtree

Richard Arnold Roundtree was a pioneering American actor and former fashion model, widely celebrated for his groundbreaking portrayal of private detective John Shaft. Born on July 9, 1942, in New Rochelle, New York, he was a talented football player in high school and briefly attended Southern Illinois University before leaving in 1963 to pursue a career in modeling. He achieved success as a model, working for the Ebony Fashion Fair and appearing in ads. His entry into acting began in theater, notably with the Negro Ensemble Company, where he played boxer Jack Johnson in "The Great White Hope."Roundtree's career was irrevocably transformed when he was cast as the titular character in Gordon Parks' 1971 blaxploitation film "Shaft." This iconic role established him as Hollywood's first Black action hero, a smooth, charismatic, and no-nonsense detective who challenged prevailing stereotypes of Black men in cinema. The film's immense success led to two sequels, "Shaft's Big Score!" (1972) and "Shaft in Africa" (1973), as well as a short-lived television series. His portrayal of Shaft had a profound impact on the representation of African Americans in leading roles and influenced future action heroes.Throughout his extensive career, which spanned over five decades, Roundtree appeared in more than 150 film and television projects, demonstrating his versatility beyond the Shaft character. Notable film roles include appearances in "Earthquake" (1974), "Man Friday" (1975) opposite Peter O'Toole, David Fincher's "Se7en" (1995), "George of the Jungle" (1997), and "Speed Racer" (2008). He reprised his iconic role as John Shaft's "Uncle John Shaft" in the 2000 "Shaft" film starring Samuel L. Jackson, and again in the 2019 sequel. On television, he was widely recognized for his role as Sam Bennett in the landmark miniseries "Roots" (1977) and had recurring roles in series such as "Generations," "Desperate Housewives," "Heroes," and "Being Mary Jane." His final film role was as Ben in the 2024 comedy-drama "Thelma," released posthumously.A significant personal struggle for Roundtree was his battle with male breast cancer, diagnosed in 1993, which he initially kept private due to industry pressures. He later became a vocal advocate for male breast cancer awareness, sharing his story to encourage others. Richard Roundtree passed away on October 24, 2023, at the age of 81, from pancreatic cancer in Los Angeles, California, leaving behind a monumental legacy as a trailblazer who opened doors for Black actors in Hollywood and redefined the action hero archetype.

Person History