Richard Roundtree

Richard Roundtree, born on July 9, 1942, in New Rochelle, New York, is an American actor. He gained fame for his portrayal of private detective John Shaft in the 1971 film Shaft, becoming the first black action hero. Roundtree reprised the role in four sequels released between 1972 and 2019. His performance in the original film earned him a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year - Actor in 1972. Prior to his acting career, Roundtree attended New Rochelle High School and played football for their undefeated team. He briefly attended Southern Illinois University before dropping out to pursue acting. Roundtree began his career in modeling, working for the Ebony Fashion Fair after being scouted by Eunice W. Johnson.