Polyphemus
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Personal Info

Gender

Male

Birthday

1942-07-09 (82 years old)

Place of Birth

New Rochelle, New York, USA

Richard Roundtree

Biography:

Richard Roundtree (July 9, 1942 – October 24, 2023) was an American actor. He is noted as being "the first black action hero" for his portrayal of private detective John Shaft in the 1971 film Shaft, and its four sequels, released between 1972 and 2019. For his performance in the original film, he was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year – Actor in 1972.

He reprised the role of Shaft in the movie Shaft (2019), starring Samuel L. Jackson.

Known For

Acting

2024

Thelma as Ben

2023

Moving On as Ralph

2021

2020

2019

Shaft as John Shaft, Sr.
What Men Want as Skip Davis
A Family Reunion Christmas as Jebidiah McKellan
Family Reunion as Grandpa

2016

Lethal Weapon as Don Bennett
Star as Charles Floyd

2015

Collar as Alonzo Sparks
The Player as Samuel Letts

2013

Being Mary Jane as Paul Patterson, Sr.

2012

Retreat! as Henshaw
Chicago Fire as Wallace Boden, Sr.

2010

The Confidant as Claude
Whatever She Wants as Theodore Wolf

2009

Set Apart as J.T.
Diary of a Single Mom as Lou Bailey

2008

Speed Racer as Ben Burns
Final Approach as Gary Markash
The Mentalist as Floyd Benton

2007

Point of Entry as Miles Porter
Private Practice as Raymond McCray

2006

Wild Seven as Lee Marvin / Cleetus Woods
Brick as Assistant V.P. Trueman
Heroes as Charles Deveaux

2005

Painkiller Jane as Colonel Watts
The Closer as Col. D.B. Walter
Grey's Anatomy as Donald Burke

2004

2003

Vegas Vampires as Rick Apping

2002

Al's Lads as Boom-Boom
Joe and Max as Jack Blackburn
Undercover Brother as John Shaft (archive footage) (uncredited)
Boat Trip as Felicia's Dad
The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow as Self - Narrator (voice)

2001

Antitrust as Lyle Barton
Corky Romano as Howard Shuster
Alias as Brill

2000

Shaft as "Uncle" John Shaft
Soul Food as Hardy Lester

1999

Rescue 77 as Captain Durfee

1997

Steel as Uncle Joe
Any Place But Home as Gil Oberman
413 Hope St. as Phil Thomas

1996

Profiler as Det. James Henegar
Buddies as Henry Carlisle

1995

Se7en as Talbot
Theodore Rex as Commissioner Lynch
Ballistic as Harold
The Wayans Bros. as Dr. Saunders

1994

Mind Twister as Frank Webb

1993

Deadly Rivals as Agent Peterson
Body of Influence as Harry Reams
Bonanza: The Return as Jacob Briscoe
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman as 'Barracuda' Jim Barnes

1992

Vicki! as Self
Hangin' with Mr. Cooper as General (uncredited)
Hangin' with Mr. Cooper as Chester Cooper

1991

A Time to Die as Captain Ralph Phipps
Roc as Russell Emerson

1990

Bad Jim as July
Gypsy Angels as Dr. Carlson
Dream On as Dr. Charles

1989

The Banker as Lloyd
Crack House as Lt. Johnson
Night Visitor as Captain Crane
Miami Cops as Gamble

1988

Maniac Cop as Commissioner Pike
Party Line as Captain Barnes
Getting Even as Dundee
Daddy Can't Read as Jason Ruigh

1987

A Different World as Clinton Reese
21 Jump Street as Ben Halley

1986

Opposing Force as Stafford
Jocks as Chip
The Fifth Missile as Cmdr. Frederick Bryce
L.A. Law as Judge Ira Menday

1985

MacGyver as R.T. Hines
A.D. as Serpenius

1984

City Heat as Dehl Swift
Killpoint as Agent Bill Bryant
Murder, She Wrote as Major Kevin Cooper

1983

Young Warriors as Sergeant John Austin
The Big Score as Gordon
Masquerade as Mean Willy

1982

Q as Powell

1981

An Eye for an Eye as Capt. Stevens
Inchon as Sgt. Augustus Henderson

1980

Magnum, P.I. as Peter Jordan

1979

Escape to Athena as Nat Judson
Portrait of a Hitman as Coco Morrell
Game for Vultures as Gideon Marunga

1977

CHiPs as Sgt. Aikens
Roots as Sam Bennett
The Love Boat as Dave Wilbur

1975

Man Friday as Friday
Diamonds as Archie

1974

Earthquake as Miles Quade
Dinah! as Self

1973

Shaft in Africa as John Shaft
Charley-One-Eye as The Black Man
Firehouse as Shelly Forsythe

1972

Shaft's Big Score! as John Shaft
Embassy as Dick Shannon
Nationtime as Self

1971

Shaft as John Shaft

1970

What Do You Say to a Naked Lady as Interracial Couple

1962

1961

Crew

2024

Thelma as In Memory Of

2012