Richard Roundtree

Richard Roundtree (born July 9, 1942) is an American actor. He has been called "the first black action hero" for his portrayal of private detective John Shaft in the 1971 film, Shaft, and its sequels, Shaft's Big Score (1972) and Shaft in Africa (1973).

Personal life

Born in New Rochelle, New York, Richard Roundtree graduated from New Rochelle High School in 1961 and played for the school's undefeated and nationally ranked football team. He attended Southern Illinois. Roundtree was diagnosed with the rare disease male breast cancer in 1993 and underwent a double mastectomy and chemotherapy.

Career

Roundtree was a leading man in early 1970s blaxploitation films, his best-known role being Detective John Shaft in the action movie, Shaft (1971) and its sequels, Shaft's Big Score (1972) and Shaft in Africa (1973). Roundtree also appeared opposite Laurence Olivier and Ben Gazzara in Inchon (1981). On television, he played the slave Sam Bennett in the 1977 television series Roots and Dr. Daniel Reubens on Generations from 1989 to 1991. Before becoming an actor, he was a football player and a model. He played another private detective in 1984's City Heat opposite Clint Eastwood and Burt Reynolds. Although Roundtree worked throughout the 1990s, many of his films were not well-received, but he found success elsewhere in stage plays.