Richard Roundtree, who starred in several “Shaft” films beginning in the early 1970s
On Tuesday, Richard Roundtree, renowned for his portrayal of the iconic character in the groundbreaking “Shaft” series, passed away at the age of 81.
His longtime manager, Patrick McMinn, confirmed that Roundtree died after a brief struggle with pancreatic cancer.
McMinn noted that Roundtree’s family was by his side during his final moments.
Over the span of five decades, Roundtree made his mark, notably through his depiction of Detective John Shaft in the 1971 action thriller, which positioned him as the first Black action hero. He later featured in the sequels “Shaft’s Big Score!” and “Shaft in Africa,” along with a short-lived 1973 “Shaft” TV series.
Roundtree would later reprise his role in the 2000 John Singleton film “Shaft,” featuring Samuel L. Jackson, as well as the 2019 Tim Story-directed sequel. Hailing from New Rochelle, New York, Roundtree was recognized as a trailblazer in the blaxploitation genre, especially through his portrayal of the street-smart John Shaft character in the Gordon Parks-directed film of 1971.
Notably, Roundtree’s debut in this film occurred at the age of 28, following his initial foray into the industry as a model.