Richard Roundtree, Star of Iconic 1970s Movie Shaft, Dead at 81

Richard Roundtree, best known for his starring role in the iconic 1970s Shaft film franchises and TV series Roots, died. He was 81 years old.

His manager Patrick McMinn confirmed to PEOPLE that the actor died Tuesday at his home in Los Angeles with his family at his bedside from pancreatic cancer.

“Artists & Representatives is saddened by the loss of our friend and client Richard Roundtree,” the actor’s agency said in a statement to PEOPLE. “His pioneering career changed the face of entertainment around the world, and his lasting legacy will be felt by generations to come. Our hearts go out to his family and loved ones at this difficult time.”

Gabrielle Union, who starred alongside the actor in the BET TV series, Being Mary Janereflected on her time with Roundtree in a tribute to x. “Working with Richard Roundtree was a dream. To socialize with him and ours Being Mary Jane family was always a good time with the best stories and laughter.”

Richard Roundtree.

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Samuel L. Jackson, Gabrielle Union and More Pay Tribute to Richard Roundtree: ‘Coolest Man in the Room’

She added: “He was ALWAYS the coolest man in the room with the BEST vibes and people would literally run to see him. He was simply the best and we all loved him.”

Samuel L. Jackson, who played Roundtree’s nephew in 2000 and 2019. Shaft sequels, he called the actor “The Prototype, the best to ever do it!!”

“His death leaves a deep hole not only in my heart, but I’m sure in many of you as well🤎👊🏾👊🏾👊🏾I love you bro,” Jackson wrote on Instagram. “I see you walking down the middle of Main Street in heaven and Issac conducting your song🎶🎶👊🏾coat blowing in the wind!!”

Sheryl Lee Ralph too paid tribute Roundtree at X, writing: “When I was a teenager I dreamed of growing up and meeting Richard Roundtree. I am and what a wonderful human being.”

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Richard Roundtree.

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Roundtree was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1993 and became an advocate for early detection and screening for male breast cancer.

“I didn’t have a say, I had to talk about it,” Roundtree told WBUR radio in 2019. “Breast cancer is not gender specific. And men have this cavalier attitude towards health problems. And I’ve gotten such positive feedback because I’ve talked about it and it’s been quite a few years. I am a survivor.”

Roundtree was born on July 9, 1942, in New Rochelle, New York, where he attended the local high school and played on the football team. He received a scholarship to play football at Southern Illinois University in 1961, but dropped out in 1963 to pursue acting and modeling.

Richard Roundtree.

Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty

In that year, Eunice Johnson from Ebony magazine enlisted Roundtree to pose for its annual fashion event Ebony Fashion Fair.

In 1967, Roundtree joined the Negro Ensemble Company and got his big acting break when he was cast as black heavyweight boxing champion Jack Johnson in the company’s production Great white hope.

Roundtree then starred in his most notable role as private detective John Shaft in the 1971 hit Shaft and its sequels. It later appeared in 2000 and 2019 Shaft films in which Jackson played his nephew.

He reflected on the character’s impact on the black community during a 2019 SiriusXM interview with Sway Calloway, sharing a story about meeting a fan at LAX.

“This guy was watching me,” he said. “When I passed, he said, ‘Can I talk to you?’ He says, ‘I’m from Alabama and as a kid we had to sit on the balcony. And because of watching that movie, it made me aspire to something more than Alabama.'”

“People will come up to me and say things like that,” he added later. – I am very proud of that.

In addition to his cult role, he is also known for the year 1974 Earthquake (1974) and series 2000-2004 Food for the soul. His more recent work includes the Netflix series Family gathering and Fox’s Star.

Roundtree is survived by his five children.

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Source: HIS Education