It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Richard Roundtree, popularly known as ‘Shaft’, at the age of 81. He passed away on Tuesday in Los Angeles after a battle with pancreatic cancer.
Roundtree was born in New Rochelle, NY in 1942. After attending Southern Illinois University, he moved to New York City and began his career as an actor, performing on stage and in small television roles. It was in 1971 that Roundtree first appeared in the blaxploitation movie, “Shaft,” playing the title role. The movie was a huge success, and Roundtree instantly became an iconic figure. He went on to appear in two sequels, “Shaft’s Big Score” (1972) and “Shaft in Africa” (1973).
The success of “Shaft” also led to other roles for Roundtree. He starred in the television series “Kojak” (1975-1978) and “Kojak: The Belarus File” (1985). He also appeared in films such as “The Greatest” (1977), “The Great White Hope” (1980), and “The Burning Bed” (1984). In 1993, Roundtree returned to the role of John Shaft in the feature-film “Shaft.” He also appeared in the television movie sequel “Shaft’s Longest Day” (2002).
Throughout his career, Roundtree received numerous awards and honors, including an Image Award from the NAACP in 1996. Roundtree was also inducted into the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame in 1982.
In addition to his acting career, Roundtree was a passionate advocate for the African American community. He served as a mentor for young African American actors, and was a strong supporter of organizations such as the NAACP and the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame.
Richard Roundtree was a true pioneer in the film industry. His career paved the way for future generations of black actors and filmmakers. He will be greatly missed, but his legacy will remain with us forever.
