Richard Roundtree, a defining figure of Blaxploitation cinema and widely regarded as cinema’s first black action hero for his portrayal of Detective John Shaft, died on a Tuesday afternoon after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 81 years old.
Patrick McMinn, Roundtree’s longtime agent since 1987, confirmed the actor passed away at his Los Angeles home, surrounded by family. McMinn described Roundtree’s work as a landmark in the history of African American heroes in film, noting that his influence extended well beyond his own era. The agent’s statement echoed the sentiment shared by Roundtree’s representatives at Artists & Partners, who emphasized the enduring legacy he leaves behind for the industry.
Roundtree began as a model before stepping into cinema at age 28, making a powerful entrance as the lead in the 1971 action thriller Shaft, directed by Gordon Parks. The film, sometimes known abroad as Red Nights of Harlem, became a box office success for MGM, earning around $12 million on a $12 million budget. The production is often recalled for keeping the studio afloat financially and for signaling a shift in how Hollywood perceived Black talent and the audiences they could attract.
Following the original success, Roundtree returned as Shaft in the sequel Shaft Returns to Harlem in 1972, with a third installment, Shaft in Africa, arriving the following year. The series also inspired a television adaptation featuring a seven-episode run that further popularized the character beyond the big screen.
The Shaft saga experienced a revival in 2000 with Shaft: The Return, directed by John Singleton, which paired Samuel L. Jackson with Roundtree and introduced a younger generation to the iconic role. In 2019, Roundtree reprised Shaft again for the latest installment directed by Tim Story. He later described this film as his favorite among the installments, praising its energy and noting that it spans three generations of the character and carries a unique blend of fun and reverence for the legacy that preceded it. (Source: Variety)
Beyond the Shaft universe, Roundtree contributed to a wide range of influential projects. He appeared in the landmark television miniseries Roots (1977), a production that is often cited for its profound cultural impact. His filmography also includes Earthquake (1974), Seven (1995), George of the Jungle (1997), Brick (2005), and Speed Racer (2008). On television, he was involved in projects such as Heroes (2006), Chicago Fire (2015), and Family Reunion (2019), among others. His career is celebrated not just for its commercial achievements but for broadening representation in American media and inspiring generations of actors who followed. (Source: Variety)