Richard Roundtree: Movies, Awards & Box Office
- films
- 68
- on screen
- 1970–2024
- box office
- $245M
- nomination
- 1
- average score
- 57
- Born
- July 9, 1942
- Birthplace
- New Rochelle, New York, U.S.
- Full name
- Richard Arnold Roundtree
- Citizenship
- American
- Occupations
- Actor
- Years active
- 1963-2023
- Spouses
- Mary Jane Grant, Karen M. Ciernia
- Children
- 5
The Best Richard Roundtree Movies
The highest-rated films Richard Roundtree is credited on, by the Movie Echo Score that blends critic reviews, audience ratings and lasting impact. Thelma (2024) scores highest, at 80. The full ranking adds the biggest box office hits and the most awarded films.
Richard Roundtree's Career in Numbers
Richard Roundtree's films in numbers — as an actor, not counting appearances as themselves: when they were made, the genres Richard Roundtree works in most and the milestones along the way. The filmography runs from What Do You Say to a Naked Lady (1970) to Thelma (2024), and the 1980s were the busiest decade.
Richard Roundtree Movies by Decade
- 1970s 11
- 1980s 19
- 1990s 18
- 2000s 10
- 2010s 4
- 2020s 3
The 1980s were Richard Roundtree's busiest decade, with 19 films.
Richard Roundtree Movies by Genre
- Action 17
- Drama 12
- Crime 6
- Comedy 5
- Horror 5
- Thriller 5
- Tv movie 4
- Romance 3
- Adventure 2
- Family 1
Action is the genre Richard Roundtree has worked in most, with 17 films, ahead of drama (12).
Richard Roundtree Career Milestones
- First film
- What Do You Say to a Naked Lady 1970
- Biggest box office hit
- Earthquake $79.7M worldwide
- Best-rated film
- Thelma Movie Echo Score 80
- Newest film
- Thelma 2024
Richard Roundtree Filmography: Every Movie
Every film Richard Roundtree is credited on, newest first, with the role, the box office and the Movie Echo Score. Rated films average a score of 57. Re-order the list to see the best-rated films or the biggest hits first.
Richard Roundtree Movies as an Actor
65- 2024
Thelma as Ben · Action Worldwide box office: $13.1M Movie Echo Score: 80 - 2023
Moving On as Ralph · Comedy Worldwide box office: $2.14M Movie Echo Score: 69 - 2020
Haunting of the Mary Celeste as Tulls · Horror Movie Echo Score: 38 - 2019
A Family Reunion Christmas as Jebidiah McKellan · Family - 2019
Shaft as John Shaft, Sr. · Action Worldwide box office: $21.4M Movie Echo Score: 42 - 2019
What Men Want as Skip Davis · Fantasy Worldwide box office: $72.2M Movie Echo Score: 55 - 2018
Duke as J.T. · Drama - 2008
Final Approach as Gary Markash · Action - 2007
Point of Entry as Miles Porter · Crime - 2007
All The Days Before Tomorrow as El Doctor · Comedy - 2006
Brick Drama Worldwide box office: $3.95M - 2006
Wild Seven as Lee Marvin / Cleetus Woods · Drama - 2005
Painkiller Jane as Colonel Watts · Tv movie - 2004
Max Havoc: Curse Of The Dragon as Tahsi · Action - 2003
Vegas Vampires as Rick Apping · Horror - 2002
Al’s Lads as Boom-Boom · Action - 2002
Joe and Max as Jack Blackburn · Drama - 1999
Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters’ First 100 Years as Booker T. Washington · History - 1997
Steel Action Worldwide box office: $1.8M - 1996
Original Gangstas as Slick · Crime Worldwide box office: $3.72M - 1995
Theodore Rex as Commissioner Lynch · Comedy - 1995
Once Upon a Time… When We Were Colored as Cleve · Romance Worldwide box office: $2.29M - 1995
Se7en as Talbot · Mystery - 1995
Ballistic as Harold · Action - 1995
Bonanza: Under Attack as Jacob · Tv movie - 1994
Shadows of Desire as Dunc · Tv movie - 1994
Mind Twister as Frank Webb · Drama - 1993
Bonanza: The Return as Jacob Briscoe · Tv movie - 1993
Sins of the Night as Les · Thriller - 1993
Amityville: A New Generation as Pauli · Horror - 1993
Body of Influence as Harry Reams · Romance - 1992
Christmas in Connecticut as Prescott · Romance - 1992
Bloodfist III: Forced to Fight as Samuel Stark · Action Worldwide box office: $35.2K - 1991
A Time to Die as Captain Ralph Phipps · Thriller - 1990
Bad Jim as July · Western - 1989
Crack House as Lt. Johnson · Drama Worldwide box office: $863K - 1989
Night Visitor as Captain Crane · Horror Worldwide box office: $167K - 1989
Miami Cops as Gamble · Crime - 1988
Angel III: The Final Chapter as Lt. Doniger · Thriller - 1988
Party Line as Captain Barnes · Thriller - 1988
Getting Even as Dundee · Adventure - 1988
Maniac Cop Action Worldwide box office: $671K - 1986
Jocks as Chip · Comedy - 1986
Opposing Force as Stafford · Action - 1985
A.D. as Serpenius · Drama - 1984
City Heat Action Worldwide box office: $38.3M - 1984
The Baron and the Kid as Frosty · Drama - 1984
Killpoint as Agent Bill Bryant · Drama - 1983
Young Warriors as Sergeant John Austin · Drama - 1983
The Big Score as Gordon · Action - 1982
One Down, Two to Go as Ralph · Crime - 1982
Q as Powell · Horror - 1981
An Eye for an Eye Action Worldwide box office: $17 - 1981
Inchon as Sgt. Augustus Henderson · War Worldwide box office: $5.2M - 1979
Day of the Assassin as Fessler · Action - 1979
Game for Vultures as Gideon Marunga · Action - 1979
Escape to Athena as Nat Judson · Adventure - 1979
Portrait of a Hitman as Coco Morrell · Drama - 1975
Diamonds as Archie · Crime - 1974
Earthquake Action Worldwide box office: $79.7M - 1973
Shaft in Africa as John Shaft · Thriller - 1972
Shaft’s Big Score! as John Shaft · Drama - 1972
Embassy as Dick Shannon · Crime - 1971
Shaft Action - 1970
What Do You Say to a Naked Lady as Interracial Couple · Comedy
Richard Roundtree in Documentaries & Specials
3Richard Roundtree: Awards & Nominations
1 nomination across 1 award body. Every ceremony is listed newest first, with the category and the film.
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29th Golden Globe Awards- Richard Roundtree: Nominated New Star of the Year – Actor Shaft
Who Is Richard Roundtree?
Richard Roundtree was born in New Rochelle, New York, U.S. in 1942. Credited on films since 1970, as an actor. The background, training and the roles that shaped the career.
Richard Arnold Roundtree was an acclaimed American actor born on July 9, 1942. He gained significant fame for his portrayal of private detective John Shaft in the 1971 film Shaft and four of its sequels. Besides his work in cinema, he also demonstrated his versatility across TV series like Roots, Generations, and Desperate Housewives.
Cemented as 'the first Black action hero', Roundtree was instrumental to the rise of African American leading actors in Hollywood. His embodiment of Shaft as a bold, assertive, and charismatic character remoulded the depiction Black men and Black masculinity in the cinema. He commenced his acting career in 1963, after dropping out of Southern Illinois University. He joined the Negro Ensemble Company in 1967 and made his first big-screen appearance in the film, What Do You Say to a Naked Lady?, in 1970. His career spanned across numerous highly-rated films and TV series, contributing significantly to the film industry until his demise in 2023.
Who Richard Roundtree Makes Movies With
The actors and directors Richard Roundtree shares the most films with. Charles Napier comes first, with 3 films together, followed by Samuel L. Jackson (2).
Richard Roundtree: Questions & Answers
How many movies Richard Roundtree has made, the biggest hit, the best-rated film, the award record and more, answered from the filmography above.
How many movies has Richard Roundtree been in?
Richard Roundtree is credited on 68 films, from 1970 to 2024. The filmography on this page lists every one of them, newest first, with the role and the Movie Echo Score.
What is Richard Roundtree's highest-grossing movie?
Earthquake (1974) is Richard Roundtree's biggest box office hit, with $79.7M worldwide, ahead of What Men Want (2019) ($72.2M). Across every film with box office figures, Richard Roundtree's movies have made $245M.
Richard Roundtree's biggest hits What is the best Richard Roundtree movie?
By the Movie Echo Score, which blends critic reviews, audience ratings and lasting impact, Richard Roundtree's best-rated film is Thelma (2024) with a score of 80, followed by Moving On (2023) (69).
Best Richard Roundtree movies, ranked Has Richard Roundtree won an Oscar?
Richard Roundtree has not been nominated for an Oscar. Across every ceremony in the awards database, Richard Roundtree has 0 wins from 1 nomination.
What is Richard Roundtree's newest movie?
The most recent film on Richard Roundtree's filmography is Thelma (2024), in the role of Ben.
Who does Richard Roundtree work with most often?
Richard Roundtree shares the most films with Charles Napier (3 films), Samuel L. Jackson (2 films) and Jesse Jackson (2 films).
The Best Richard Roundtree Movies, Ranked
Top rated, most awarded and biggest box office hits from 68 credits.
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