Richard Roundtree, known for his iconic role in the Shaft movie franchise, passed away at 81 after battling pancreatic cancer.
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According to Deadline, Roundtree’s career spanned five decades, from his first role in As The World Turns to his most famous role as detective John Shaft in the 1971 action film Shaft and its sequels Shaft’s Big Score(1972) and Shaft in Africa(1973) along with the TV series. He was nominated for a New Star of The Year award at the Golden Globes and became known as the first Black action hero. Additionally, the film’s theme, “Theme from Shaft”, written and produced by Isaac Hayes, won the Oscar that year for Best Song-Orginal.
In 2000, he reprised his role in the Shaft reboot starring Samuel L Jackson and directed by John Singleton. Roundtree also appeared in the 2019 sequel. Before his death, Roundtree was one of the prominent cast members for season two of Ava DuVernay’s OWN series Cherish the Day.
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Shaft was selected in 2000 for preservation in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress. It was noted as “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.” Roundtree has appeared in many films and played in major television series such as Roots, Alias, Diary of a Single Mom, Buddies, Desperate Housewives, Soul Food, Being Mary Jane, and Family Reunion.
Roundtree was born in New Rochelle, New York, in 1942. He attended Southern Illinois University on a football scholarship, but after graduating he decided to pursue a career in acting. He moved to New York City and joined the Negro Ensemble Company, where he performed in several off-Broadway plays.
His agency, Artists & Representatives, and long-time manager Patrick McMinn confirmed his death in a statement to the outlet.
“Artists & Representatives Agency mourns the loss of our friend and client Richard Roundtree. His trailblazing career changed the face of entertainment around the globe, and his enduring legacy will be felt for generations to come. Our hearts are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time.”
Fans also expressed their own memories of the actor’s best work on social media.
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