Richard Roundtree: First Black Movie Action Star Dies at 81

Richard Roundtree, the legendary actor known for his role as detective John Shaft in Gordon Parks' 1971 action thriller "Shaft," has passed away at the age of 81 after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer.

His manager since 1987, Patrick McMinn, confirmed his death, according to Variety.

Richard Roundtree was a trailblazing leading man in the world of film from the very outset of his screen career.

Following a start in modeling, he secured the role of "Shaft" at the age of 28, making his feature film debut.

The MGM production, made on a modest budget of $500,000, achieved ticket sales of $12 million, effectively saving the studio from financial turmoil.

"Shaft" marked a breakthrough hit and set the stage for a prolific decade of Blaxploitation filmmaking.

This era exposed Hollywood's historical failure to recognize Black talent and the untapped potential of Black audiences.

Richard Roundtree

"Richard's work and career served as a turning point for African American leading men," noted Patrick McMinn. "The impact he had on the industry cannot be overstated."

Hailing from New Rochelle, New York, Roundtree is celebrated as the first Black action hero, and his portrayal of the street-smart John Shaft became emblematic of the Blaxploitation genre, AP reports.

His work was pivotal in shifting the landscape of Black cinema, which had previously been overlooked by Hollywood, particularly for leading roles. Blaxploitation films primarily catered to African-American audiences.

In "Shaft," Roundtree's character navigated a world of thugs, often delivering memorable one-liners such as "It's my duty to please that booty."

Roundtree explained in a 2000 interview with The Associated Press, "What we were doing was a good, old Saturday afternoon shoot 'em up."

The theme song from "Shaft," composed by Isaac Hayes and featuring the famous line "You a bad mother- (Shut your mouth)," played a significant role in embedding the original movie in pop culture.

The song won an Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1971 and two Grammy Awards the following year. Isaac Hayes, the renowned singer, declared the song as the "shot heard round the world." He passed away in 2008.

Following the success of "Shaft," Roundtree reprised the role in sequels "Shaft's Big Score" (1972) and "Shaft in Africa" (1973).

In the same year, he portrayed the savvy detective in the CBS television series "Shaft," which ran for just seven episodes.

Throughout his illustrious career spanning five decades, Roundtree amassed over 150 screen credits. Notable television appearances include "Roots," "Desperate Housewives," and "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air." He also featured in films such as "Se7en," "Speed Racer," and "Brick," per CNN.

In 2000, Roundtree returned to his iconic role in the film "Shaft," alongside Samuel L. Jackson. He also appeared as Jackson's uncle in the 2019 sequel, continuing to leave a lasting mark on the world of cinema.

Samuel Jackson Reacts to Richard Roundtree's Passing

Samuel L. Jackson, who co-starred with Richard Roundtree, paid tribute to the late actor on Instagram, describing him as "The Prototype, The Best To Ever Do It!!" Geo News noted.

Jackson also acknowledged the enduring impact of Roundtree's creation of "SHAFT" and expressed his deep sense of loss with heartfelt words: "Love you, Brother, I see you walking down the Middle of Main Street in Heaven & Issac's Conducting your song coat blowin' in wind!! Angels whispering, 'That Cat SHAFT Is A Bad Mutha, Shutcho Mouth!!"

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Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Shaft Star Richard Roundtree Dead at 81 - From Entertainment Tonight