Mourning for “Shaft” Star Richard Roundtree

His portrayal of John Shaft, in particular, made him an icon of 1970s cinema – now actor Richard Roundtree has passed away. The 81-year-old had been battling cancer for some time.

US actor Richard Roundtree has died at the age of 81. He gained fame as the first African-American action hero through his leading role in the “Shaft” film series. According to his manager Patrick McMinn, recently diagnosed pancreatic cancer was the cause of death, as reported by “The Hollywood Reporter” magazine.

Other US media outlets, such as “Rolling Stone” and “The New York Times”, also reported on his death. In 1993, Roundtree underwent a successful mastectomy, removing tissue from both breasts, after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

Director Parks insisted on casting Roundtree

Born in New Rochelle, New York, Roundtree became one of the leading actors in the Blaxploitation film genre thanks to his role as John Shaft, a cool and cunning private detective. Blaxploitation films flourished in the 1970s and were aimed primarily at African-American audiences.

“Shaft” was released in 1971 under the direction of Gordon Parks. For the then 28-year-old Roundtree, it was his first role in a feature film. Originally, “Shaft” was intended for a white actor, but Parks insisted on casting Roundtree after seeing him at an audition. Roundtree reprised his role in the sequels “Shaft’s Big Score!” and “Shaft in Africa”.

Lead roles for African Americans were very rare

Through the “Shaft” films, Roundtree contributed to a shift in how productions with African-American protagonists were viewed in Hollywood. The major studios often overlooked them for lead roles at the time.

In this climate, the cinema made a statement of empowerment with Blaxploitation films. After “Shaft,” Roundtree appeared in a number of films, including “Earthquake” (1974) alongside Charlton Heston and Ava Gardner, and “Man Friday” (1975) alongside Peter O’Toole.

Manager describes his work as a turning point

Manager McMinn stated that Roundtree’s work and career were a turning point for African-American lead actors. “The impact he had on the industry cannot be overstated.”

Actor Samuel L. Jackson expressed his sadness over Roundtree’s death. “His passing leaves a deep hole not only in my heart, but certainly in many of yours as well,” Jackson wrote in a post on Instagram.