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Richard RoundtreeAmerican actor
Date of Birth: 09.07.1942
Country:  USA |
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Biography of Richard Roundtree
Richard Roundtree is an American actor born in 1942 in New Rochelle, New York, to Catherine and John Roundtree. He attended New Rochelle High School and went on to study at Southern Illinois University. Before becoming an actor, Roundtree was a talented football player and even received a sports scholarship to attend university. He also worked as a male model.
Early Career
Roundtree's debut in the film industry was highly successful. In 1971, he landed the lead role in the action film "Shaft" directed by Gordon Parks. He portrayed the character of Shaft, a skilled private detective working the streets of New York City. The film received numerous awards, including an Oscar for Best Original Song, and Roundtree was recognized as the "most promising newcomer." The success of "Shaft" led to a sequel the following year called "Shaft's Big Score!", which outperformed its predecessor at the box office. This marked the beginning of a franchise that later turned into a television series.
Later Career
In the 1970s, Roundtree appeared in several films with racially charged themes. He played the role of Sam Bennett, a slave, in the miniseries "Roots." He is also known to be a member of the Negro Ensemble Company. In 1973, Roundtree reprised his role as Shaft in the film "Shaft in Africa," which continued the success of the previous films.
During the 1980s, Roundtree appeared in numerous action films, including "City Heat," "Killpoint," "Q," "Young Warriors," and many others. Although these films did not bring him significant recognition, Roundtree consistently played substantial roles, if not the lead.
In the 1990s, Roundtree's popularity resurged, and he appeared in films that attracted a wide audience. He had a role in the 1995 film "Se7en" directed by David Fincher and played a comedic character in the action-comedy film "George of the Jungle" in 1997. In 2000, Roundtree reprised his role as Shaft's uncle in the remake of "Shaft," with Samuel L. Jackson playing the lead role of John Shaft. In 2005, he appeared as the deputy director of a high school in the drama film "Brick" directed by Rian Johnson. The same year, he played the leading role of Colonel Watts in the television action film "Painkiller Jane," which focused on a military operation involving chemical weapons.
In recent years, Roundtree has continued to work in the film industry, appearing in films such as "Set Apart," "This Bitter Earth," and "Retreat!" released in 2009. Throughout his acting career, Roundtree has played over 125 roles, with the majority of them being in action films. He has also appeared in various television projects, including "How to Get Away with Murder," "Love Boat," "Magnum, P.I.," "Murder, She Wrote," "MacGyver," "Blade," "Underworld," "The Wayans Bros," and many others.
Personal Life
In 1993, Roundtree was diagnosed with a rare form of male breast cancer, which required a double mastectomy and chemotherapy. In his free time, he enjoys photography and is an avid golfer.
Since 1980, Roundtree has been married to his second wife, Karen, and currently resides in California with his wife, daughter, and grandson.
