Richard Roundtree, an American actor and former model, passed away on October 24, 2023, at the age of 81. He had a net worth of $2 million at the time of his death. Roundtree was best known for his Golden Globe-nominated performance as John Shaft in the 1971 film "Shaft." His role in the film made him "the first black action hero."
Roundtree had an illustrious career with more than 150 acting credits to his name. He appeared in several films, including "Earthquake" (1974), "City Heat" (1984), "Maniac Cop" (1988), "Se7en" (1995), "Antitrust" (2001), "Corky Romano" (2001), "Brick" (2005), "Speed Racer" (2008), and "What Men Want" (2019). He also had roles in various television series, including "Outlaws" (1986-1987), "Generations" (1989-1991), "Buddies" (1996), "413 Hope St." (1997-1998), "Rescue 77" (1999), "Soul Food" (2000-2001), "Desperate Housewives" (2004-2005), "Heroes" (2006-2007), and "Family Reunion" (2019-2022).
Roundtree's talent was not limited to acting. He also voiced the title character in the 1998 video game "Akuji the Heartless." In addition, he played Paul Patterson Sr. on the BET series "Being Mary Jane" from 2013 to 2019.
Roundtree had a solid acting career
Born on July 9, 1942, in New Rochelle, New York, Roundtree was a talented athlete in high school. He was a member of New Rochelle High's undefeated football team, which was nationally ranked. After graduation, he enrolled at Southern Illinois University but left in 1963 to pursue a career in modeling.
In the early '60s, Roundtree was discovered by modeling scout Eunice W. Johnson and started modeling in the Ebony Fashion Fair. He later modeled for products such as Salem cigarettes and Duke hair grease. In 1967, Roundtree became a member of the Negro Ensemble Company, and his first role was boxer Jack Johnson in "The Great White Hope." In 1969, he appeared in a production of J. E. Franklin's "Mau Mau Room" at the Negro Ensemble Company Workshop Festival.
Roundtree's breakout role came in 1971 when he starred in "Shaft." His portrayal of John Shaft was groundbreaking and paved the way for future black action heroes. In an interview with The New York Times in 2019, Roundtree said, "I think it was just time for somebody like me to come along and do that kind of role." He added, "It was important to me to be that kind of person because I knew that there were people out there who needed to see that kind of image."
Roundtree's legacy will live on through his groundbreaking role in "Shaft" and his numerous contributions to film and television. As his fans mourn his passing, they will remember him as a trailblazer and a talented actor who left an indelible mark on the entertainment industry.
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