• Richard Roundtree, cult star Shaft, died at age 81 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was an advocate for cancer prevention.
  • Roundtree’s role as Detective John Shaft in the 1971 film made him a cool mid-century black icon and launched the blaxploitation genre.
  • Although he is famous for his role ShaftRoundtree has had a successful career in television and film, starring in Roots and working with famous actors such as Clint Eastwood.

Richard Roundtreewho brought one of cinema’s greatest black heroes to life in 1971. Shaft, has already died. Roundtree was 81 years old. The Hollywood Reporter says Roundtree died yesterday after a brief bout with pancreatic cancer; he was previously a breast cancer survivor in the early ’90s and advocated for men to get tested for the disease.

Roundtree was born on July 9, 1942 in New Rochelle, New York. He was a high school football star and attended Southern Illinois University, but left to pursue a successful modeling career. A few years later, he moved to New York to become an actor, where he landed the role that would define his career and make him a mid-century icon of Black cool.

Who is John Shaft?

Roundtree’s first major screen role was his signature role: private detective John Shaft. Although Shaft was white in Shaftoriginal screenplay, director Gordon Parks saw in Roundtree the embodiment of a hero who, as described in Isaac Hayesiconic musical theme: “You can’t cope when there’s danger all around.” The film was a huge success and started the blaxploitation genre. Roundtree became an icon and returned to the character many times throughout his career. He played Shaft in two sequels in the ’70s. Shaft’s great success And Shaft in Africa, then a series of television films. Much later, he played the character in a supporting role in 2000 and 2019, alongside Samuel L. Jacksonplaying Shaft’s son.

Richard Roundtree in Shaft (1971)
Image via MGM

Although Roundtree never completely escaped the shadow Shaft, he has had a successful career in television and film. He played a key role in the monumental mini-series. Rootsand was part of the all-star ensemble of the disaster film. Earthquakeand filmed together Clint Eastwood And Burt Reynolds V City heat. He played supporting roles in a number of films, including George of the Jungle, RacerAnd Se7enand had recurring roles in Heroes, Be Mary JaneAnd Family reunification. He stated that of all his many projects, his favorite project was the 1996 civil rights drama. Once upon a time… When we were colored. His latest film will be released in 2022. Let’s move onwhere did he film together? Jane Fonda, Lily TomlinAnd Malcolm McDowell.

Many of Roundtree’s former colleagues shared their memories of him after news of his passing broke; Samuel L. Jackson, who starred with him in two films Shaft cinema, called it “the prototype, the best ever created!” Roundtree was married and divorced twice and is survived by five children. Watch him discuss his latest film. Let’s move onwith the collider below.