Richard Roundtree, Star Of The Shaft Franchise, Dead At 81
On October 24, the entertainment world lost a big-screen icon. At the age of 81, with his family beside him, Richard Roundtree has died following a pancreatic cancer diagnosis. "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," said his longtime agency, Artists & Representatives, in a statement to Deadline confirming the news of his passing.
Roundtree made waves in Hollywood early in his professional acting tenure, taking the silver screen by storm in the "Shaft" franchise. This series of blaxploitation crime thrillers features Roundtree as the film's namesake, Detective John Shaft, taking it to mobsters, investigating murders, and more. He even appeared in the Samuel L. Jackson-led "Shaft" reboot duology as the uncle of Jackson's John Shaft. Additionally, Roundtree utilized his acting talents in a variety of other productions on both the big and small screen.
Through his efforts in the entertainment world, Roundtree will be remembered as a true trailblazer — one who understood the gravity and importance of his most notable work.
Roundtree appreciated what Shaft means to fans of the character
Born on July 9, 1942, Richard Roundtree wasted little time putting his acting skills to use. After graduating high school, he made his way to college, but he ultimately dropped out in the early 1960s. Thus, he embarked on a brief modeling stint before heading to the stage. This eventually led him to the world of film and television, where he racked up credits left and right in the 1970s and beyond. He added his name to such projects as "Se7en," "Brick," "Heroes," "Being Mary Jane," and many more, though none quite left the same mark on his career and public persona as "Shaft."
Decades after the first "Shaft" film premiered in theaters in 1971, John Shaft remains Roundtree's most famous role. During a 2019 chat with WBUR, he shared that he initially had some issues with being known predominantly as the face of the franchise, with typecasting becoming increasingly difficult to escape. However, in time, he came to understand the importance of Shaft and put in the work to show there was more to him as an actor than that one character. "I've had so many people from all over the country — and all over the world actually — come up and say what that film meant to them back in '71. It's heavy. And I'm appreciative of people speaking to me and sharing that with me," he said.
Richard Roundtree impacted countless moviegoers and TV viewers throughout his time in the entertainment spotlight. Simultaneously, he assembled an incredible filmography that will be enjoyed for years to come. May he rest in peace.