Skip to content
MovieCove
Richard Roundtree

Richard Roundtree

Actor · Died October 24, 2023, aged 81 · New Rochelle, New York, USA

Golden Globe nominee

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.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
July 9, 1942
Died
October 24, 2023 (aged 81)
From
New Rochelle, New York, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
90 on MovieCove · 141 credits in all
TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Down 14% in 30 days

What are Richard Roundtree's films like?

Across their 53 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

What they feel like to watch

their average across 50 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category

A split, not a type: Light 23 · Serious 14 · Dark 13

A split, not a type: Grounded 26 · Stylized 18 · Heightened 6

Gentle 10 · Charged 23 · Intense 17

Steady 20 · Shifting 25 · Whiplash 5

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 22 · Some laughs 20 · Funny 8

Slow burn 15 · Even-paced 32 · Relentless 3

Casual 33 · Engaged 16 · Full focus 1

Resolved 45 · Open-ended 4 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

32 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 10 of 32 analyzed roles.

Ally
10 of 32
Hero
8 of 32
Mentor
8 of 32
Threshold guardian
3 of 32
Herald
1 of 32
Shadow
1 of 32
Trickster
1 of 32
Show the 32 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
35
Thrilling
19
Melancholic
16
Warm
10
Dread
9
Other
42

How their films end · 5 with a twist

  • Happy21
  • Bittersweet23
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous8

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Richard Roundtree's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 65 of their 90 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (30).

Subscription and free streaming for Richard Roundtree's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

141 credits, 90 with a MovieCove page; 13 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Thelma(2024)

    In Memory Of · as Ben

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films
  • Moving On(2022)

    as Ralph

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films
  • Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films
  • Game On! A Comedy Crossover Event(2020)

    Show 1 episode · as Grandpa

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all shows
  • Cherish the Day(2020)

    Show as Mandeville 'MV' St. James

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all shows
  • A Family Reunion Christmas(2019)

    as Jebidiah McKellan

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films
  • Family Reunion(2019)

    Show 6 episodes · as Grandpa

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all shows
  • Shaft(2019)

    as John Shaft, Sr.

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films
  • What Men Want(2019)

    as Skip Davis

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films
  • Star(2016)

    Show 5 episodes · as Charles Floyd

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all shows
  • Lethal Weapon(2016)

    Show 1 episode · as Don Bennett

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows
  • The Player(2015)

    Show 2 episodes · as Samuel Letts

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all shows
  • Collar (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Alonzo Sparks

  • Being Mary Jane(2013)

    Show 51 episodes · as Paul Patterson, Sr.

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all shows
  • Django Unchained(2012)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films
  • Chicago Fire(2012)

    Show 4 episodes · as Wallace Boden, Sr.

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows
  • Retreat! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Henshaw

  • The Confidant (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Claude

  • Whatever She Wants (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Theodore Wolf

  • Diary of a Single Mom (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Lou Bailey

  • Set Apart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as J.T.

  • Ladies of the House(2008)

    as Stan

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films
  • The Mentalist(2008)

    Show 1 episode · as Floyd Benton

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows
  • Final Approach(2007)

    as Gary Markash

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films
  • Speed Racer(2008)

    as Ben Burns

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films
  • Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
  • Point of Entry(2007)

    as Miles Porter

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films
  • Private Practice(2007)

    Show 1 episode · as Raymond McCray

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all shows
  • All The Days Before Tomorrow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as El Doctor

  • Lincoln Heights(2006)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows
  • Heroes(2006)

    Show 5 episodes · as Charles Deveaux

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows
  • Blade: The Series (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Brick(2005)

    as Assistant V.P. Trueman

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films
  • Wild Seven(2006)

    as Lee Marvin / Cleetus Woods

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films
  • Painkiller Jane (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Colonel Watts

  • Close to Home (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Cyrus Carter

  • The Closer(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Col. D.B. Walter

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows
  • Grey's Anatomy(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Donald Burke

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows
  • Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films
  • Desperate Housewives(2004)

    Show 5 episodes · as Mr. Shaw

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows
  • Vegas Vampires (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Rick Apping

  • Men Cry in the Dark (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Actor

  • Boat Trip(2002)

    as Felicia's Dad

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films
  • Al's Lads (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Boom-Boom

  • Undercover Brother(2002)

    as John Shaft (archive footage) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films
  • Joe and Max(2002)

    as Jack Blackburn

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films
  • Hawaiian Gardens(2001)

    as M.O.

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
  • Corky Romano(2001)

    as Howard Shuster

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films
  • Alias(2001)

    Show 2 episodes · as Brill

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows
  • Antitrust(2001)

    as Lyle Barton

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films
  • Soul Food (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 6 episodes · as Hardy Lester

  • Shaft(2000)

    as "Uncle" John Shaft

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films
  • Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films
  • Rescue 77 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 8 episodes · as Captain Durfee

  • 413 Hope St. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 10 episodes · as Phil Thomas

  • Steel(1997)

    as Uncle Joe

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films
  • George of the Jungle(1997)

    as Kwame

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films
  • Any Place But Home (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Gil Oberman

  • Profiler (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Det. James Henegar

  • Original Gangstas(1996)

    as Slick

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films
  • Buddies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 13 episodes · as Henry Carlisle

  • Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films
  • Theodore Rex(1995)

    as Commissioner Lynch

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films
  • Seven(1995)

    as Talbot

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films
  • Ballistic (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Harold

  • Bonanza: Under Attack (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Jacob

  • The Wayans Bros.(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Saunders

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows
  • Touched by an Angel(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Murray

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all shows
  • Shadows of Desire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Dunc

  • Blind Man's Bluff (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Gray

  • Body of Influence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Harry Reams

  • Mind Twister (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Frank Webb

  • Black as the Heart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Rod

  • Sins of the Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Les

  • Bonanza: The Return (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Jacob Briscoe

  • Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films
  • Deadly Rivals (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Agent Peterson

  • Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as 'Barracuda' Jim Barnes

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows
  • Christmas in Connecticut(1992)

    as Prescott

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films
  • Hangin' with Mr. Cooper(1992)

    Show 1 episode · as Chester Cooper · as General (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all shows
  • Renegade(1992)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all shows
  • Bloodfist III: Forced to Fight(1991)

    as Samuel Stark

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films
  • A Time to Die(1991)

    as Captain Ralph Phipps

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films
  • Roc(1991)

    Show 3 episodes · as Russell Emerson

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows
  • Beverly Hills, 90210(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Robinson Ashe Jr.

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all shows
  • The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air(1990)

    Show 2 episodes · as Dr. Mumford

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows
  • Dream On (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Charles

  • Gypsy Angels (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Dr. Carlson

  • Bad Jim(1990)

    as July

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films
  • The Banker(1989)

    as Lloyd

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films
  • Crack House(1989)

    as Lt. Johnson

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films
  • Night Visitor(1989)

    as Captain Crane

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films
  • Miami Cops (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Gamble

  • Angel III: The Final Chapter(1988)

    as Lt. Doniger

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films
  • Party Line(1988)

    as Captain Barnes

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films
  • Getting Even(1989)

    as Dundee

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films
  • Maniac Cop(1988)

    as Commissioner Pike

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films
  • Daddy Can't Read (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Jason Ruigh

  • Beauty and the Beast(1987)

    Show 4 episodes · as Cleon Manning

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows
  • A Different World(1987)

    Show 2 episodes · as Clinton Reese

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all shows
  • 21 Jump Street(1987)

    Show 1 episode · as Ben Halley

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all shows
  • Outlaws (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 12 episodes · as Isaiah 'Ice' McAdams

  • Jocks (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Chip

  • Amen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • L.A. Law(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as Judge Ira Menday

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all shows
  • Opposing Force(1986)

    as Stafford

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films
  • The Fifth Missile (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Cmdr. Frederick Bryce

  • MacGyver (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as R.T. Hines

  • Hollywood Beat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • A.D. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 5 episodes · as Serpenius

  • City Heat(1984)

    as Dehl Swift

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films
  • The Baron and the Kid(1984)

    as Frosty

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films
  • Murder, She Wrote(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Kevin Cooper

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows
  • Killpoint(1984)

    as Agent Bill Bryant

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films
  • Masquerade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 1 episode · as Mean Willy

  • Young Warriors (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Sergeant John Austin

  • Just an Overnight Guest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Actor

  • The Big Score (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Gordon

  • One Down, Two to go(1982)

    as Ralph

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films
  • Q: The Winged Serpent(1982)

    as Powell

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films
  • An Eye for an Eye(1981)

    as Capt. Stevens

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films
  • Inchon(1981)

    as Sgt. Augustus Henderson

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films
  • Magnum, P.I.(1980)

    Show 1 episode · as Peter Jordan

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows
  • Day of the Assassin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Fessler

  • Game for Vultures (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Gideon Marunga

  • Escape to Athena(1979)

    as Nat Judson

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films
  • Portrait of a Hitman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Coco Morrell

  • The Love Boat(1977)

    Show 2 episodes · as Dave Wilbur

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all shows
  • CHiPs(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Sgt. Aikens

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all shows
  • Roots(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Sam Bennett

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows
  • Diamonds (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Archie

  • Man Friday(1975)

    as Friday

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films
  • Earthquake(1974)

    as Miles Quade

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films
  • Shaft (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 7 episodes · as John Shaft

  • Shaft in Africa(1973)

    as John Shaft

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films
  • Charley-One-Eye(1973)

    as The Black Man

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films
  • Firehouse(1973)

    as Shelly Forsythe

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films
  • Shaft's Big Score!(1972)

    as John Shaft

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films
  • Embassy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Dick Shannon

  • Shaft(1971)

    as John Shaft

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films
  • What Do You Say to a Naked Lady? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as Interracial Couple

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 140 titles from 1970 to 2024; peak year 1996.

Film career

19702024

Peak 1996 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. Top draw in 9 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

  • 1971Screen debut· Shaft
  • 1971First top-billed film· Shaft
  • 2013Career best· Being Mary Jane

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting139 of 140: 138 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score40thOther crew2 of 140: 1 only other crew, 1 with another role

By decade

1970s18 · acting1980s34 · acting1990s37 · acting2000s33 · acting2010s14 · 13 acting · 1 crew2020s4 · 4 acting · 1 crew

Billing

usually 5th · top billed in 9% of 35 roles
7176919606

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

Awards

Nominated for a Golden Globe in 1972, Most Promising Newcomer - Male.

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do Richard Roundtree's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 31st percentile, the median of all 57; across their 50 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 30th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

30thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 50

Approval · how many liked their films

28thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 50

Reach · how many have seen their films

59thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 50

Midcredits score across 90 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up17
  • 50th to 74th16
  • 25th to 49th28
  • Below 25th29

Shape of the crowd

37 of their 90 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved5
  • Universally Panned6
  • Loved with Detractors1
  • Divisive2
  • Cult Classic5
  • Crowd Pleaser26
  • Broadly Agreed8
  • Mixed37

Reviewers score the acting 56/100 in their films, across 46 reviewed titles; fans 71, detractors 37. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Richard Roundtree's work okay for kids?

Across up to 20 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore and profanity run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore13 titles26–80 · median 57 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity20 titles17–61 · median 37 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity13 titles24–87 · median 56 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs12 titles30–66 · median 36 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense14 titles23–62 · median 41 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Richard Roundtree work with?

People who share at least 2 of Richard Roundtree's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Ernest Tidyman shares the most, 4.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles