Richard Roundtree, the suave actor who fearlessly blazed a trail for a new era of Black cinema and performers with his iconic role as the unflinching private investigator John Shaft – the man who never backs down when danger lurks, has departed this world on Tuesday. He leaves behind a legacy of ground-breaking influence. He was 81.
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His passing occurred at his Los Angeles residence, where he succumbed to pancreatic cancer, as confirmed by his manager, Patrick McMinn, and reported by The Hollywood Reporter.
In 1993, he faced a breast cancer diagnosis that led him to undergo a double mastectomy. Demonstrating remarkable strength, he emphasized that breast cancer knows no gender boundaries, a sentiment he shared four years later.
“And men have this cavalier attitude about health issues. I got such positive feedback because I spoke out about it, and it’s been quite a number of years now. I’m a survivor.”
Artists & Representatives, the agency that had the honour of representing the late actor, shared heartfelt words in a statement to Deadline, acknowledging how Roundtree’s ground-breaking career transformed the entertainment landscape worldwide. His legacy, marked by innovation and impact, will resonate for generations to come, and our thoughts are with his family and loved ones during this challenging period.
In the 2010s, a new generation of viewers had the pleasure of rediscovering his talents as he took on the role of Gabrielle Union’s father in the BET series “Being Mary Jane.”
“Working with Richard Roundtree was a dream…He was simply the best & we all loved him,” Union tweeted.
The tributes to Roundtree poured in from all corners, with Sheryl Lee Ralph, the star of “Abbott Elementary,” fondly remembering him as a “wonderful human being.”
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Who is Richard Roundtree?
Born on July 9, 1942, Richard Roundtree achieved acclaim as an American actor, earning recognition as “the inaugural Black action hero” for his iconic portrayal of private detective John Shaft in the 1971 film “Shaft” and its subsequent four sequels, spanning from 1972 to 2019. His portrayal in the original movie garnered him a nomination for the Golden Globe Award in the category of New Star of the Year – Actor in 1972.
Initially, he attended Southern Illinois University in the early 1960s on a football scholarship. However, driven by ambition, he made the daring decision to leave college prematurely and venture into the world of modeling. It was in 1967 that he took a pivotal step by joining the Negro Ensemble Company, marking the commencement of his illustrious acting career.
In 2019, Roundtree made appearances in the comedy film “What Men Want” and reprised his iconic role as John Shaft in “Shaft,” a sequel to the 2000 film. He shared the screen with Samuel L. Jackson and Jessie Usher, who played the roles of John Shaft II and John Shaft III, respectively. In this instalment, Roundtree’s character was reimagined as Jackson’s character’s father, while also acknowledging that he had previously posed as Jackson’s Shaft’s uncle in the 2000 movie. Additionally, Roundtree featured in the film “Family Reunion” in 2019.
Richard Roundtree passed away at the age of 81, succumbing to pancreatic cancer at his Los Angeles residence on October 24, 2023.