Richard Roundtree was an American actor best known for his iconic role as Detective John Shaft in the '70s action thriller Shaft.

Roundtree made his silver-screen debut in 1971 with his starring role on Shaft, which earned him a Golden Globe nomination for most promising male newcomer in 1972. Roundtree went on to reprise his role as Shaft in Shaft's Big Score! (1972), Shaft in Africa (1973), and the Shaft TV series.

In 1977, Roundtree starred in the blockbuster miniseries Roots. Roundtree racked up over 150 acting credits over the decades, including appearances on TV shows such as The Love Boat, Magnum P.I., Beverly Hills, 90210 and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. In 2019, Roundtree returned to his iconic Shaft role in the reboot Shaft alongside Samuel L. Jackson and Jessie T. Usher.

Roundtree's longtime manager, Patrick McMinn said, "Richard's work and career served as a turning point for African American leading men. The impact he had on the industry cannot be overstated."