US actor Richard Roundtree, best known for his role in the Shaft film franchise, has passed away at the age of 81.
He died at his home in Los Angeles on Tuesday afternoon, surrounded by his family, following a brief battle with pancreatic cancer.
Roundtree’s manager, Patrick McMinn, emphasized the significant impact Roundtree had on the representation of African American leading men in the film industry, calling it a turning point.
Born on July 9, 1942, in New Rochelle, New York, Roundtree began his acting career in the early 1960s.
He gained fame at the age of 29 for his groundbreaking portrayal of detective John Shaft in the 1970s movie franchise, which was one of the pioneering works in the Blaxploitation film genre.
In addition to his role as Shaft, Roundtree appeared in various films and TV series, including Inchon, Seven, Roots, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and Desperate Housewives.
Samuel L. Jackson, who worked with Roundtree on the 2000 Shaft reboot and a 2019 installment of the franchise, paid tribute to him, calling him “the prototype, the best to ever do it.”
Roundtree’s passing leaves a void not only in the hearts of those who knew him but also in the broader film industry.
He is survived by four daughters – Kelli, Nicole, Taylor, Morgan – his son John, and at least one grandchild.
Source-BBC
