Profile Text
Roundtree in 2011, photo by kathclick /Bigstock.com
Date of Birth: July 9, 1942
Place of Birth: New Rochelle, New York, U.S.
Date of Death: October 24, 2023
Place of Death: Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Ethnicity: African-American
Richard Roundtree was an American actor and model. He is known for starring as John Shaft in all five films in the franchise, from 1971 to 2019, and in a series of the same name; his portrayal gave rise to other black action heroes in American cinema. His roles also included the films Charley One-Eye , Earthquake (1974), Man Friday , Inchon , An Eye for an Eye (1981), Q – The Winged Serpent , Killpoint , City Heat , Jocks , Maniac Cop , Party Line , Night Visitor , Crack House (1989), Se7en , Original Gangstas , George of the Jungle , Steel (1997), Antitrust , and Speed Racer , and television’s Roots , Generations , and Desperate Housewives .
Richard was the son of Kathryn Marguerite “Katie” and John James Roundtree. He had two children with his former wife Mary Jane Grant; and three children with his former wife Karen Ciernia.
Richard’s paternal grandfather was Richard Frederick/Fred Roundtree (the son of Fred G. Roundtree and Janie/Janey Slater/Rear). Richard’s grandfather Fred was born in Georgia.
Richard’s paternal grandmother was named Mamie McQueen. Mamie was born in Georgia.
Sources: Genealogy of Richard Roundtree – https://www.findagrave.com
Richard’s father on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org