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Richard Roundtree

Richard Roundtree

Richard Arnold 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. Roundtree died of pancreatic cancer at his home in Los Angeles. He was cremated at Chapel of the Pines 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.

Known for
Acting
Born
Jul 9, 1942
Place of birth
New Rochelle, New York, USA
Gender
Male
Credits
152 as cast · 2 as crew
Best known for
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Date of death
Oct 24, 2023
Popularity
2.2