‘Shaft’ Star Richard Roundtree Dead at 81
Richard Roundtree
Richard Roundtree, perhaps most famous for her role in the Shaft film series, has died. He was 81.
The actor died on Oct. 24, his agency, Artists & Representatives, and manager, Patrick McMinn, confirmed to Deadline. He briefly battled pancreatic cancer, and he was surrounded by his family leading up to his death.
“Artists & Representatives Agency mourns the loss of our friend and client Richard Roundtree,” his agency said in a statement. “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."
Roundtree starred in a series of projects throughout the '70s dubbed blaxploitation films, which were "made mainly in the early to mid-1970s that featured Black actors in a transparent effort to appeal to Black urban audiences," according to Britannica.
This includes Shaft, in which he starred as John Shaft and for which he earned a New Star of the Year Golden Globe nomination. He went on to star in two sequels and a spin-off television series, and many have called him the first Black action hero for the role.
Nearly 30 years after the original, he returned to the role in the Samuel L. Jackson-led Shaft in 2000, and its 2019 sequel. Others of his many film credits include Se7en, George of the Jungle, and What Men Want.
He was also a television regular, playing Paul Patterson, Sr. in the Gabrielle Union-led Being Mary Jane and Chief Boden's father on the beloved Chicago Fire. He also had major roles in Alias, Desperate Housewives and more.
Following news of Roundtree's death, Union took to Twitter with a sweet tribute to her late costar, calling working with him "a dream."
"He was ALWAYS the coolest man in the room with the BEST vibes & ppl would literally run over to come see him," she remembered. "He was simply the best & we all loved him."