Richard Roundtree Biography (1942-)

Born July 9, 1942 (some sources cite 1937), in New Rochelle, NY; son of John(a caterer and garbage collector) and Kathryn (a housekeeper and nurse) Roundtree; married, 1973 (marriage ended); married Karen, 1980; children: (first marriage) three daughters; (second marriage) John James, one daughter. Education: Attended Southern Illinois University. Avocational interests: Football, photography, golf. Addresses: Agent-- Stone Manners Agency, 8436 West Third St., Suite 740, Los Angeles, CA 90048-4100. Career: Actor. Worked as a model, toured in productions of Fashion Fair, 1967, sponsored by Ebony magazine; also worked as a clothing salesperson. Awards, Honors: Golden Globe Award nomination, most promising male newcomer, 1972, for Shaft; MTV Movie Award, lifetime achievement,1994; Image Award nomination, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, outstanding lead actor in a drama series, 1998, for 413 HopeSt. Addresses: Agent: Stone Manners Agency, 8436 West Third St., Suite 740, Los Angeles, CA 90048-4100.

Nationality
American
Gender
Male
Occupation
Actor
Birth Details
July 9, 1942
New Rochelle, New York, United States

Famous Works

  • CREDITS
  • Film Appearances
  • Interracial lover, What Do You Say to a Naked Lady?, United Artists, 1970
  • John Shaft, Shaft, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1971
  • John Shaft, Shaft's Big Score, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1972
  • Shannon, Embassy(also known as Target: Embassy), Hemdale, 1972
  • John Shaft, Shaft in Africa, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1973
  • The black man, Charley One-Eye, Paramount, 1973
  • Miles Quade, Earthquake, Universal, 1974
  • Archie, Diamonds(also known as Diamond Shaft and Yahlumim), Avco-Embassy, 1975
  • Friday, Man Friday, Avco-Embassy, 1976
  • Coco Morrell, Portrait of a Hitman(also known as Jim Buck and The Last Contract), Wildfire Productions, 1977
  • Nat Judson, Escape to Athena, Associated Film Distributors, 1979
  • Gideon Marunga, A Game for Vultures, New Line Cinema, 1979
  • Fessler, Day of the Assassin(also known as El Dia de los Asesinos) [Spain, United States, and Mexico], 1979
  • Gypsy Angels,1980
  • Captain Stevens, An Eye for an Eye, Embassy, 1981
  • Sergeant Powell, The Winged Serpent(also known as Q, Q:The Winged Serpent, and Serpent), United Film Distribution, 1982
  • Sergeant August Henderson, Inchon(also known as Oh, Inchon!) Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/United Artists, 1982
  • Sergeant John Austin, Young Warriors(also known as The Graduates of Malibu High), Cannon, 1983
  • Ralph, One Down, Two to Go, Almi, 1983
  • Gordon, The Big Score, Almi, 1983
  • Dehl Swift, City Heat, Warner Bros., 1984
  • Agent Bill Bryant, Killpoint, Crown Pictures International, 1984
  • Sergeant Stafford, Opposing Force(also known as Hellcamp),Orion, 1986
  • Chip Williams, Jocks(also known as Road Trip), Crown, 1986
  • Police commissioner Pike, Maniac Cop, Shapiro Glickenhaus, 1988
  • Lieutenant Doniger, Angel III: The Final Chapter, New World, 1988
  • Getting Even(also known as Vendetta), 1988
  • Lieutenant Lloyd Hughes, The Banker, Virgin Vision, 1989
  • Lieutenant Johnson, Crack House, 21st Century Releasing, 1989
  • July, Bad Jim(also known as Big Jim), 21st Century Releasing, 1989
  • Captain Crane, Night Visitor(also known as Never Cry Devil), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/United Artists, 1989
  • Captain Ralph Phipps, A Time to Die, PM Home Video, 1991
  • Samuel Stark, Bloodfist III: Forced to Fight(also known as Forced to Fight), New Horizons Home Video, 1992
  • Agent Peterson, Deadly Rivals, MCA/Universal Home Video, 1992
  • Les, Sins of the Night, Academy, 1993
  • Harry Reams, Body of Influence, Academy, 1993
  • Pauli, Amityville: A New Generation, Republic Pictures, 1993
  • Dundee, Getting Even, Columbia/TriStar Home Video, 1993
  • Frank Webb, Mind Twister, VCI Home Video, 1994
  • Harold, Ballistic(also known as Fist of Justice), ImperialEntertainment, 1995
  • Martin Talbot, Seven(also known as Se7en), New Line Cinema,1995
  • Cleve, Once upon a Time ... When We Were Colored, Republic, 1995
  • Commissioner Lynch, Theodore Rex(also known as T. Rex), Turner Home Video, 1995
  • Slick, Original Gangstas(also known as Hot City), Orion, 1996
  • Uncle Joe, Steel, Warner Bros., 1997
  • Kwame, George of the Jungle, Buena Vista, 1997
  • Uncle John Shaft, Shaft, Paramount, 2000
  • Also appeared in Parachute to Paradise.
  • Television Appearances
  • Series
  • John Shaft, Shaft, CBS, 1973-74
  • Isaiah "Ice" McAdams, Outlaws, CBS, 1986-87
  • Doctor Daniel Reubens, Generations, NBC, 1989-91
  • Host, Cop Files, UPN, 1995-96
  • Henry Carlisle, Buddies, ABC, 1996
  • Mr. Thomas, 413 Hope St., Fox, 1997
  • Captain Durfee, Rescue 77, The WB, 1999
  • Also appeared in Search for Tomorrow, CBS and NBC.
  • Miniseries
  • Sam Bennett, Roots, ABC, 1977
  • Serpenius, A.D.(also known as A.D.--Anno Domini), NBC, 1985
  • Movies
  • Shelly Forsythe, Firehouse, ABC, 1972
  • Mean Willy, Masquerade,1983
  • Walter "Frosty" Frost, The Baron and the Kid,1984
  • Outlaws,1986
  • Frederick Bryce, The Fifth Missile(also known as The Gold Crew), NBC, 1986
  • Outlaws,1986
  • Mr. Prescott, Christmas in Connecticut,1992
  • Jacob Briscoe, Bonanza: The Return, NBC, 1993
  • Dunc, Shadows of Desire(also known as The Devil's Bed),CBS, 1994
  • Jacob Briscoe, Bonanza: Under Attack, NBC, 1995
  • Agent Gil Oberman, Any Place but Home, USA Network, 1997
  • Booker T. Washington, Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years(also known as Having Our Say), CBS, 1999
  • Episodic
  • Sergeant Aikens, "Sharks," CHiPs, NBC, 1981
  • Peter Jordan, "Two Birds of a Feather," Magnum, P.I., CBS, 1983
  • Major Kevin Cooper, "The Last Flight of the Dixie Damsel," Murder, SheWrote, CBS, 1988
  • Cleon Manning, "Ceremony of Innocence," Beauty and the Beast,1989
  • Clinton Reese, "Great Expectations," A Different World,1989
  • Clinton Reese, "Answered Prayers," A Different World,1989
  • Cleon Manning, "Though Lovers Be Lost," Beauty and the Beast,1989
  • Cleon Manning, "Nevermore," Beauty and the Beast,1989
  • Ben, "La Bizca," 21 Jump Street, Fox, 1990
  • R. T. Hines, "Tough Boys," MacGyver, ABC, 1990
  • "Little Orphan Eddie," Dream On, HBO, 1990
  • "Finale, Part One," Dream On, HBO, 1990
  • "Finale with a Vengeance," Dream On, HBO, 1990
  • Dr. No, "Clubba Hubba," The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, NBC, 1990
  • "Kansas," The Young Riders, ABC, 1991
  • Robinson Ashe III, "Ashes to Ashes," Beverly Hills, 90210, Fox, 1991
  • Xavier Burns, Hearts Are Wild,1992
  • "Love on the Rox," L.A. Law,1992
  • Chester Cooper (Mark's dad), "Hangin' with Mrs. Cooper," Hangin' with Mr. Cooper, ABC, 1993
  • Dr. Saunders, "ER," The Wayans Bros., The WB, 1995
  • Murray, "Rock 'n' Roll Dad," Touched by an Angel, CBS, 1996
  • Reverend Gordon Sims, "Here Today...," The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, NBC, 1996
  • Detective James Henegar, "Power Corrupts," Profiler, NBC, 1997
  • Barracuda Jim Barnes, "The Fight," Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman,1998
  • Jake, "Real Time," Linc's,1999
  • Mr. Lester, "The More Things Stay the Same," Soul Food, Showtime,2000
  • Mr. Lester, "What Women Want," Soul Food, Showtime, 2000
  • Mr. Lester, "Truth Be Told," Soul Food, Showtime, 2000
  • Also appeared in The Dean Martin Show, NBC; and The Merv Griffin Show, NBC, syndicated, and CBS.
  • Specials
  • Circus of the Stars #2,1977
  • Sergeant Matthew Gideon, Cadets(also known as Rotten to the Corps), ABC, 1988
  • Jason Ruigh, "Daddy Can't Read," ABC Afterschool Specials, ABC1988
  • The World's Funniest Hypnotist, ABC, 1996
  • Christmas in Hollywood, syndicated, 1998
  • Narrator, Intimate Portrait: Pam Grier, Lifetime, 1999
  • Awards Presentations
  • The 13th Annual Stellar Awards,1998
  • Presenter, The 29th NAACP Image Awards,1998
  • Presenter, The 2000 Trumpet Awards,2000
  • Other Television Appearances
  • Appeared in Inside Bedford-Stuyvesant and The New Yorkers.
  • Stage Appearances
  • Appeared in Kongi's Harvest, Man, Better Man, The Mau Mau Room, and as Jack Johnson, The Great White Hope, Philadelphia, PA, all with the Negro Ensemble Company, New York City.
  • RECORDINGS
  • Albums
  • Recorded The Man from Shaft. Singles include "Street Brother."
  • Video Games
  • Captain Barnes, Party Line, Sony Video Software, 1988

Further Reference

OTHER SOURCES

    Periodicals:
    • Jet, May 1, 2000 .
    • New York Times, March 12, 1972 .
    • People Weekly, April 24, 2000 .
    Electronic:
    • Richard Roundtree Official Web Site, http://www.theoriginalshaft.com.

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