Trivia

Diagnosed with breast cancer in 1993, he was an advocate and talked to men's groups about early detection.

Has tried to disassociate himself as a "black action hero" ever since he portrayed his famed role as John Shaft in the three Shaft films, from playing Miles Quade, the motorcycle stuntman in an Evel Knievel mold in Earthquake (1974), to a senior citizen in Soul Food (2000). However, he eventually came to terms with the fact that he will always be known as Shaft.

His performance as John Shaft in Shaft (1971) is ranked #62 on Premiere Magazine's 100 Greatest Movie Characters of All Time.

Former Ebony Fashion Fair model.

A member of New York's renowned Negro Ensemble Company, one of his best early stage roles was as black heavyweight boxing champ 'Jack Johnson (VIII)_ (1878-1946) in "The Great White Hope.".

Went to Southern Illinois University on a football scholarship.

In a 1999 interview with Dateline NBC, Roundtree opened up about his diagnosis, saying, "Breast cancer? Solely it was a totally a female thing," he told the outlet, admitting that he'd never known about male breast cancer prior to his own battle. Within days of his diagnosis, surgeons performed a radical mastectomy at the Motion Picture and Television hospital outside of Los Angeles.

Son, John James, b. 3 November 1998.

Sidelines: Photographer and golfer.

Roundtree was an American actor, noted as being "the first black action hero" for his portrayal of private detective John Shaft in the 1971 film Shaft, and its four sequels, released between 1972 and 2019.

In 2019, Roundtree co-starred in the comedy film What Men Want, and returned to the role of John Shaft in Shaft, a sequel to the 2000 film, opposite Samuel L. Jackson and Jessie Usher, who portray John Shaft II and John Shaft III, respectively. This time, Roundtree's character was described as Jackson's character's father, while acknowledging that Roundtree had pretended to be Jackson's Shaft's uncle in the 2000 movie.

Although Roundtree worked throughout the 1990s, many of his films were not well-received, but he found success elsewhere in stage plays.

A member of New York's renowned Negro Ensemble Company, one of his best early stage roles was as black heavyweight boxing champ Jack Johnson (1878-1946) in "The Great White Hope.".

For his performance in the original "Shaft" film, Roundtree was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year - Actor in 1972.

Father of Kelli Roundtree, and Tayler Roundtree.

He played another private detective in 1984's City Heat opposite Clint Eastwood and Burt Reynolds.

On television, he played the slave Sam Bennett in the 1977 television series Roots and Dr. Daniel Reubens on Generations from 1989 to 1991.

Roundtree appeared in David Fincher's critically acclaimed 1995 movie Seven.

The star told The Times in 2019 that he could still recall the interview with director Parks that took his career from modeling for the Ebony Fashion Fair to being the guy everyone wanted to be. "I was sitting in his office and he's saying, 'We're kind of looking for a guy who looks like this,'" said Roundtree. "And I look over, and it's an ad that I had done. 'That's me!'".

Roundtree began his professional career around 1963. Roundtree began modeling in the Ebony Fashion Fair after being scouted by Eunice W. Johnson. After his modeling success with the Fashion Fair, Roundtree began modeling for such products as Johnson Products' Duke hair grease and Salem cigarettes.

During high school, Roundtree played for the school's undefeated and nationally ranked football team.

Following high school, Roundtree attended Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois.

Roundtree was a leading man in early 1970s blaxploitation films, his best-known role being detective John Shaft in the action movie, Shaft (1971) and its sequels, Shaft's Big Score! (1972) and Shaft in Africa (1973).

His voice was utilized as the title character in the hit PlayStation game Akuji the Heartless, where Akuji must battle his way out of the depths of Hell at the bidding of the Baron.

In 1961, he was voted "Most Popular," "Best Dressed," and "Best Looking" in his senior class poll at New Rochelle High School in New Rochelle, New York,.

Roundtree attended New Rochelle High School; graduating in 1961.

Roundtree's career spanned five decades and included everything from his most popular blaxploitation role to a very early appearance on As the World Turns in 1956 to being a Season 2 main cast member on Ava DuVernay's OWN series Cherish the Day last year.

Roundtree dropped out of college in 1963 to begin his acting career.

In 1967, Roundtree joined the Negro Ensemble Company. His first role while a part of the company was portraying boxing legend Jack Johnson in the company's production of The Great White Hope.

Cousin of Maxine Austin.

According to J. E. Franklin, he acted in the Off-Off-Broadway production of her play Mau Mau Room, by the Negro Ensemble Company Workshop Festival, at St. Mark's Playhouse in 1969, directed by Shauneille Perry.

Survived by his four daughters, Kelli, Nicole, Taylor, and Morgan, one son, John, and one grandchild.