Richard Roundtree
- 78 years old
Richard Roundtree is an American actor and former model. He was born in New Rochelle, New York, and is regarded as being “the first black action hero”. His role as detective John Shaft in the 1971 film Shaft earned him a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year – Actor in 1972.
Roundtree started his professional career in the 1960s and began modeling in the Ebony Fashion Fair after being scouted by Eunice W. Johnson. However, a few years later, he joined the Negro Ensemble Company and his first role was portraying boxing legend Jack Johnson in the company’s production of The Great White Hope.
