Is Richard Roundtree Living or Dead?

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Is American actor Richard Roundtree dead? Or ... still alive?

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By Charles Bottage

Updated 29 May 2023

Image info

Artist	w:United States Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Kristin Fitzsimmons (RELEASED)
Credit	Cropped from [1] at [2]
License	pd
Desc	070217-N-5608F-004 Baltimore - w:Peabody Award-winning actor w:Richard Roundtree hosts the 21st Annual Black Engineer of the Year Awards (BEYA) Gala Awards Ceremony. BEYA recognizes excellence in engineering for government and civilian organizations, and is one of the largest diversity events the Navy participates in annually. Roundtree is most recognized for his work as John Shaft in the movie and television franchises.
Usage	Public domain

Image info/credit

American actor

Richard Roundtree is ...

Alive

Born	9 July 1942 in New Rochelle
Age	80 years, 11 months

Sex or gender	male
Country of citizenship	United States of America
Occupation	television actor, film actor, stage actor, American football player and model
Sport	American football
Member of sports team	Southern Illinois Salukis football
Educated at	Southern Illinois University Carbondale and New Rochelle High School

About Richard Roundtree

Richard Roundtree is a true icon of American cinema. Born on July 9, 1942, in New Rochelle, New York, Roundtree grew up in poverty and struggled to make ends meet. But his talent and determination eventually led him to become one of the most recognizable faces in Hollywood.

Roundtree's breakthrough role came in 1971, when he starred as the titular character in the blaxploitation classic "Shaft." The film was a massive success, grossing over $12 million at the box office and earning Roundtree a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor. The character of John Shaft, a tough and suave private detective, became an instant cultural phenomenon and cemented Roundtree's status as a leading man.

Despite the success of "Shaft," Roundtree struggled to find roles that matched its impact. He continued to work steadily in film and television throughout the 1970s and 1980s, but never quite reached the same level of fame. However, he remained a beloved figure in the industry and continued to inspire generations of actors and filmmakers.

In recent years, Roundtree has enjoyed a resurgence in popularity thanks to his role as John Shaft Sr. in the 2019 film "Shaft." The film, which also starred Samuel L. Jackson and Jessie T. Usher, was a sequel to the original "Shaft" and brought Roundtree back into the spotlight.

Throughout his career, Roundtree has been a trailblazer for black actors in Hollywood. He has spoken openly about the challenges he faced as a black man in the industry and has been a vocal advocate for diversity and representation. His legacy as a pioneering actor and cultural icon is undeniable.

References:

- "Richard Roundtree: The Original Shaft." Rolling Stone, 26 June 2019, https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-features/richard-roundtree-shaft-interview-850153/.

- "Richard Roundtree." IMDb, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001682/.

- "Richard Roundtree: 'I Was a Black Action Hero When It Wasn't Fashionable'." The Guardian, 23 June 2019, https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/jun/23/richard-roundtree-shaft-interview-i-was-a-black-action-hero-when-it-wasnt-fashionable.

Films - which cast members have died?

Richard Roundtree has been a part of these films.

Click to see which cast and crew are living and dead!

Speed Racer

2008 American sports action film

Inchon

1981 film by Terence Young

Seven

1995 American terror and policial film by David Fincher

Shaft

1971 American "blaxploitation" film

Earthquake

1974 American ensemble disaster film

Max Havoc: Curse of the Dragon

2004 film by Albert Pyun, Isaac Florentine

Brick

2005 American neo-noir thriller film

Shaft

2019 film directed by Tim Story

Antitrust

2001 film by Peter Howitt

What Men Want

2019 film directed by Adam Shankman

City Heat

1984 film by Richard Benjamin

Maniac Cop

1988 film by William Lustig

George of the Jungle

1997 film by Sam Weisman

Steel

American superhero action film

Shaft

2000 American action-crime film

Escape to Athena

1979 film by George P. Cosmatos

Original Gangstas

1996 film by Larry Cohen

Mind Twister

1994 film by Fred Olen Ray

Corky Romano

Theodore Rex

1995 film by Jonathan R. Betuel

Boat Trip

2002 film by Mort Nathan

Game for Vultures

1979 film by James Fargo

Q

1982 American fantasy-horror film

All the Days Before Tomorrow

2007 film by François Dompierre

Man Friday

1975 film by Jack Gold

Moving On

2022 film directed by Paul Weitz

Shaft's Big Score

1972 film by Gordon Parks

An Eye for an Eye

1981 American action film

Shaft in Africa

1973 film by John Guillermin

Jocks

1987 film by Steve Carver

Angel III: The Final Chapter

1988 film

Amityville: A New Generation

1993 film by John Murlowski

Bloodfist III: Forced to Fight

1992 film by Oley Sassone

Day of the Assassin

1979 film by Brian Trenchard-Smith

The Graduates of Malibu High

1983 film by Lawrence D. Foldes

Diamonds

1975 Israeli-American heist film

Charley One-Eye

1973 film by Don Chaffey

Body of Influence

1993 film by Gregory Dark

Night Visitor

Party Line

Killpoint

1984 film by Frank Harris

This Bitter Earth

2012 film directed by David Lee Rawlings

Gypsy Angels

1980 film by Alan Smithee

Television - which cast members have died?

Richard Roundtree has been a part of these shows.

Click to see which cast and crew are living and dead!

Desperate Housewives

American comedy-drama TV series

Chicago Fire

American drama television series

Private Practice

American medical drama television program

Alias

American spy-action television series

Beverly Hills, 90210

1990s American television series

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

television series

As the World Turns

television series

Hollywood Squares

Beauty and the Beast

American drama series

Murder, She Wrote

American television series

Roots

1977 miniseries

L.A. Law

television series

The Mentalist

American crime television series

Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman

American television series

MacGyver

American television series

ABC Afterschool Special

television series

Star (2016 TV series)

Magnum, P.I.

television program

A Different World

television series

Touched by an Angel

American drama television series

Lethal Weapon

TV series

The Closer

American television police procedural TV series

CHiPs

American television drama series

Family Reunion

American comedy web television series

The Love Boat

American comedy drama television series

Knight Rider

2008 TV series

The Player

2015 TV series

21 Jump Street

American TV crime series from 1987 to 1991

Being Mary Jane

American drama television series

Lincoln Heights

Meet the Browns

Soul Food

2000s American TV series

Profiler

television series

The Young Riders

The Wayans Bros.

Close to Home

American crime drama television series created by Jim Leonard for CBS

Dream On

American sitcom

Renegade

American television series

A.D.

1984 film by Stuart Cooper

Roc

Point of Entry

Cherish the Day

American television series

Amen

American television sitcom

Missing

Canadian-American crime drama television series