
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.
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Biography from TMDB.
- July 9, 1942
- October 24, 2023 (aged 81)
- New Rochelle, New York, USA
- Actor
- 90 on MovieCove · 141 credits in all
What are Richard Roundtree's films like?
Across their 53 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.
Genres
Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.
Themes
What they feel like to watch
Ironic 2 · Wry 5 · Earnest 43
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
Easy watch 26 · Affecting 19 · Heavy 5
Resolved 45 · Open-ended 4 · Ambiguous 1
Roles they play
Usually the Ally: 10 of 32 analyzed roles.
Show the 32 rolesHide the roles
- Heroas John Shaft in Shaft (1971)
- Heroas John Shaft in Shaft's Big Score! (1972)
- Heroas Shelly Forsythe in Firehouse (1973)
- Heroas The Black Man in Charley-One-Eye (1973)
- Heroas John Shaft in Shaft in Africa (1973)
- Heroas Friday in Man Friday (1975)
- Allyas Nat Judson in Escape to Athena (1979)
- Allyas Sgt. Augustus Henderson in Inchon (1981)
- Heraldas Capt. Stevens in An Eye for an Eye (1981)
- Allyas Powell in Q: The Winged Serpent (1982)
- Heroas Ralph in One Down, Two to go (1982)
- Heroas Agent Bill Bryant in Killpoint (1984)
- Threshold guardianas Stafford in Opposing Force (1986)
- Mentoras Captain Barnes in Party Line (1988)
- Allyas Dundee in Getting Even (1989)
- Allyas Lt. Johnson in Crack House (1989)
- Allyas July in Bad Jim (1990)
- Mentoras Samuel Stark in Bloodfist III: Forced to Fight (1991)
- Allyas Kwame in George of the Jungle (1997)
- Allyas Uncle Joe in Steel (1997)
- Mentoras John Shaft I in Shaft (2000)
- Mentoras M.O. in Hawaiian Gardens (2001)
- Mentoras Jack Blackburn in Joe and Max (2002)
- Mentoras Tahsi in Max Havoc: Curse of the Dragon (2004)
- Shadowas Mackey Willis in Wild Seven (2006)
- Threshold guardianas Det. Miles Porter in Point of Entry (2007)
- Tricksteras Grandpa in Family Reunion (2019)
- Threshold guardianas John Shaft Sr. in Shaft (2019)
- Mentoras Skip Davis in What Men Want (2019)
- Allyas Tulls in Haunting of the Mary Celeste (2020)
- Allyas Ralph in Moving On (2022)
- Mentoras Ben in Thelma (2024)
Moods and endings
- 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).
- Django Unchained (2012) · thanks · free
- Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years (1999) · actor · free
- Heroes (2006) · actor · free
- 21 Jump Street (1987) · actor · free
- Joe and Max (2002) · actor · free
- Man Friday (1975) · actor · free
- The Player (2015) · actor · free
- Antitrust (2001) · actor · free
- Maniac Cop (1988) · actor · free
- Q: The Winged Serpent (1982) · actor · free
- Shaft (2000) · actor · free
- Firehouse (1973) · actor · free
- All their movies on Tubi
- Lethal Weapon (2016) · actor
- Desperate Housewives (2004) · actor
- Grey's Anatomy (2005) · actor · free
- 21 Jump Street (1987) · actor
- The Player (2015) · actor
- Maniac Cop (1988) · actor
- Q: The Winged Serpent (1982) · actor
- Crack House (1989) · actor
- Escape to Athena (1979) · actor
- CHiPs (1977) · actor
- Bloodfist III: Forced to Fight (1991) · actor
- Renegade (1992) · actor
- +7 more
- 21 Jump Street (1987) · actor · free
- Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman (1993) · actor · free
- Private Practice (2007) · actor · free
- The Player (2015) · actor · free
- Q: The Winged Serpent (1982) · actor · free
- Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990) · actor · free
- Firehouse (1973) · actor · free
- The Baron and the Kid (1984) · actor · free
- Escape to Athena (1979) · actor · free
- An Eye for an Eye (1981) · actor · free
- Hangin' with Mr. Cooper (1992) · actor · free
- Opposing Force (1986) · actor · free
- +7 more
- The Closer (2005) · actor · free
- Being Mary Jane (2013) · actor · free
- Alias (2001) · actor · free
- 21 Jump Street (1987) · actor · free
- Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman (1993) · actor · free
- Antitrust (2001) · actor · free
- Maniac Cop (1988) · actor · free
- Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990) · actor · free
- Original Gangstas (1996) · actor · free
- Escape to Athena (1979) · actor · free
- Touched by an Angel (1994) · actor · free
- Hangin' with Mr. Cooper (1992) · actor · free
- +6 more
- Howdy, show their 9 titles on Howdy
- Shout! TV, show their 8 titles on Shout! TV
- ScreenPix, show their 3 titles on ScreenPix
- Midnight Pulp, show their 2 titles on Midnight Pulp
- MovieSphere+, show their 2 titles on MovieSphere+
- Cineverse, show their title on Cineverse
- Demand Africa, show their title on Demand Africa
- Lionsgate+, show their title on Lionsgate+
- Screambox, show their title on Screambox
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)
Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films
Moving On(2022)
Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films
Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films
Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all shows
Cherish the Day(2020)
Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all shows
Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films
Family Reunion(2019)
Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all shows
Shaft(2019)
Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films
What Men Want(2019)
Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films
Star(2016)
Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all shows
Lethal Weapon(2016)
Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows
The Player(2015)
Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all shows
Collar (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

Being Mary Jane(2013)
Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all shows
Django Unchained(2012)
Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films
Chicago Fire(2012)
Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows
Retreat! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

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

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

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

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

Ladies of the House(2008)
Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films
The Mentalist(2008)
Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows
Final Approach(2007)
Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films
Speed Racer(2008)
Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films
Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
Point of Entry(2007)
Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films
Private Practice(2007)
Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all shows
All The Days Before Tomorrow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

Lincoln Heights(2006)
Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows
Heroes(2006)
Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows
Blade: The Series (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

Brick(2005)
Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films
Wild Seven(2006)
Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films
Painkiller Jane (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

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

The Closer(2005)
Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows
Grey's Anatomy(2005)
Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows
Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films
Desperate Housewives(2004)
Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows
Vegas Vampires (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

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

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

Undercover Brother(2002)
Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films
Joe and Max(2002)
Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films
Hawaiian Gardens(2001)
Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
Corky Romano(2001)
Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films
Alias(2001)
Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows
Antitrust(2001)
Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films
Soul Food (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

Shaft(2000)
Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films
Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films
Rescue 77 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

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

Steel(1997)
Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films
George of the Jungle(1997)
Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films
Any Place But Home (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

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

Original Gangstas(1996)
Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films
Buddies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)
Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films
Theodore Rex(1995)
Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films
Seven(1995)
Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films
Ballistic (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

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

The Wayans Bros.(1995)
Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows
Touched by an Angel(1994)
Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all shows
Shadows of Desire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

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

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

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

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

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

Bonanza: The Return (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)
Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films
Deadly Rivals (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)
Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows
Christmas in Connecticut(1992)
Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films
Hangin' with Mr. Cooper(1992)
Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all shows
Renegade(1992)
Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all shows
Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films
A Time to Die(1991)
Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films
Roc(1991)
Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows
Beverly Hills, 90210(1990)
Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all shows
Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows
Dream On (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

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

Bad Jim(1990)
Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films
The Banker(1989)
Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films
Crack House(1989)
Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films
Night Visitor(1989)
Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films
Miami Cops (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)
Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films
Party Line(1988)
Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films
Getting Even(1989)
Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films
Maniac Cop(1988)
Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films
Daddy Can't Read (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

Beauty and the Beast(1987)
Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows
A Different World(1987)
Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all shows
21 Jump Street(1987)
Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all shows
Outlaws (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

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

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

L.A. Law(1986)
Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all shows
Opposing Force(1986)
Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films
The Fifth Missile (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

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

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

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

City Heat(1984)
Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films
The Baron and the Kid(1984)
Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films
Murder, She Wrote(1984)
Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows
Killpoint(1984)
Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films
Masquerade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

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

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

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

One Down, Two to go(1982)
Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films
Q: The Winged Serpent(1982)
Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films
An Eye for an Eye(1981)
Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films
Inchon(1981)
Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films
Magnum, P.I.(1980)
Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows
Day of the Assassin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

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

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

The Love Boat(1977)
Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all shows
CHiPs(1977)
Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all shows
Roots(1977)
Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows
Diamonds (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

Man Friday(1975)
Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films
Earthquake(1974)
Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films
Shaft (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

Shaft in Africa(1973)
Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films
Charley-One-Eye(1973)
Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films
Firehouse(1973)
Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films
Shaft's Big Score!(1972)
Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films
Embassy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

Shaft(1971)
Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films
What Do You Say to a Naked Lady? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)
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.

Biggest box office
George of the Jungle (1997)

Highest rated
Nationtime (1972)

Most popular right now
Family Reunion (2019)
Film career
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
Billing
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.
- 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.
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
- Larry CohenShared titles: Original Gangstas (1996), Maniac Cop (1988), Q: The Winged Serpent (1982)See all 3 shared titles with Larry Cohen

- Fred WilliamsonShared titles: Original Gangstas (1996), One Down, Two to go (1982)See all 2 shared titles with Fred Williamson

- William WebbShared titles: The Banker (1989), Party Line (1988)See all 2 shared titles with William Webb
- Gordon ParksShared titles: Shaft's Big Score! (1972), Shaft (1971)See all 2 shared titles with Gordon Parks

Writers
- Ernest TidymanShared titles: Shaft (2019), Shaft in Africa (1973), Shaft's Big Score! (1972), Shaft (1971)See all 4 shared titles with Ernest Tidyman

- Richard BrandesShared titles: The Banker (1989), Party Line (1988)See all 2 shared titles with Richard Brandes

Actors
- Jim BrownShared titles: Original Gangstas (1996), Crack House (1989), One Down, Two to go (1982)See all 3 shared titles with Jim Brown

- Malcolm McDowellShared titles: Thelma (2024), Moving On (2022)See all 2 shared titles with Malcolm McDowell

- Anthony AlabiShared titles: A Family Reunion Christmas (2019), Family Reunion (2019)See all 2 shared titles with Anthony Alabi

- Cameron J. WrightShared titles: A Family Reunion Christmas (2019), Family Reunion (2019)See all 2 shared titles with Cameron J. Wright

Cinematographers and editors
- David KernShared titles: Original Gangstas (1996), Maniac Cop (1988)See all 2 shared titles with David Kern
- John HuneckShared titles: The Banker (1989), Party Line (1988)See all 2 shared titles with John Huneck
- James LemmoShared titles: Maniac Cop (1988), One Down, Two to go (1982)See all 2 shared titles with James Lemmo
- Urs FurrerShared titles: Shaft's Big Score! (1972), Shaft (1971)See all 2 shared titles with Urs Furrer
Producers
- Roger H. LewisShared titles: Shaft in Africa (1973), Shaft's Big Score! (1972), Shaft (1971)See all 3 shared titles with Roger H. Lewis
- Stirling SilliphantShared titles: Shaft in Africa (1973), Shaft's Big Score! (1972), Shaft (1971)See all 3 shared titles with Stirling Silliphant

- Norman DreyfussShared titles: Haunting of the Mary Celeste (2020), Brick (2005)See all 2 shared titles with Norman Dreyfuss
- Larry LevinsonShared titles: Ladies of the House (2008), Point of Entry (2007)See all 2 shared titles with Larry Levinson
Mixed roles
- Jane FondaShared titles: Moving On (2022), Nationtime (1972)See all 2 shared titles with Jane Fonda

- Isaac HayesShared titles: Nationtime (1972), Shaft (1971)See all 2 shared titles with Isaac Hayes








