Shaft Star Richard Roundtree Dies at 81 – Remembering the iconic actor’s legacy. According to Patrick McMinn, Roundtree’s longtime manager, the actor passed away on Tuesday at home in Los Angeles after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. After receiving a breast cancer diagnosis in 1993, he had a double mastectomy.
According to McMinn, “Richard’s work and career served as a turning point for African American leading men.” “It is impossible to overestimate his influence on the industry.”
Born in New Rochelle, New York, Roundtree was hailed as the first Black action hero and rose to prominence in the blaxploitation genre with his astute portrayal of New York street-smart John Shaft in the 1971 film directed by Gordon Parks. After beginning his career as a model, Roundtree made his feature picture debut at the age of 28.
Hollywood’s perception of Black films changed as a result of Roundtree’s “Shaft,” since Black performers were not given credit for starring parts in films at the time. African American viewers were the target demographic for most of the blaxploitation movies.
His character in the movie learned how to live among gangsters. He would often use catchphrases like “It’s my duty to please that booty.”
Roundtree said, “What we were doing was a good, old Saturday afternoon shoot ’em up,” in an Associated Press interview from 2000.
The lyric “You a bad mother—(Shut your mouth)” from Isaac Hayes’ “Shaft” theme song contributed to the original film’s infiltration into mainstream culture. The vocalist, who passed away in 2008, compared the tune to “the shot heard round the world.” In 1971, his song took home the Best Song Oscar and two Grammy Awards the following year.
Following the popularity of the movie, Roundtree made a reappearance in the 1972 and 1973 sequels, Shaft’s Big Score and Shaft in Africa. In the same year, he reprised his role as the astute investigator in the short-lived CBS sitcom “Shaft.”
In a 2000 revival of the Samuel L. Jackson picture “Shaft,” Roundtree played the same character. He made an appearance in the big-budget, mass-market movie as Jackson’s uncle. In the 2019 movie starring Jessie T. Usher, both made repeat appearances in the same roles.
In a social media post, Jackson referred to Roundtree as the “prototype” and the “best to ever do it.”
He described Roundtree as “SHAFT, as we know it is & will always be his Creation.” “Not only does his death leave a deep hole in my heart, but I’m sure it does for a lot of you too.”
Throughout his more than 50-year career, Roundtree starred in several other noteworthy movies, such as “What Men Want,” “Earthquake,” “Man Friday” with Peter O’Toole, “Roots,” “Maniac Cop,” and “Se7en.” His television appearances on “Magnum P.I.”, “The Love Boat,” “Being Mary Jane,” and “The Love Boat” all helped him establish his reputation.
At the MTV Movie & TV Awards in 1995, Roundtree was given a lifetime achievement award.
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