‘Shaft’ star Richard Roundtree, considered the ‘first Black action’ movie hero, has died at 81

By JONATHAN LANDRUM Jr.
Associated Press

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Richard Roundtree, the trailblazing actor for Black filmmakers who starred as the ultra-smooth private detective in the 1971 action movie “Shaft” and several sequels, has died. He was 81. Roundtree’s longtime manager, Patrick McMinn, says the actor had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and died at his Los Angeles home on Tuesday. He was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1993 and underwent a double mastectomy. Roundtree was considered as the “first Black action hero” and became one of the leading actors in the blaxploitation genre through his New York street smart John Shaft character in the Gordon Parks-directed film. At age 28, it was Roundtree’s feature film debut after starting his career as a model.