“Shaft” actor Richard Roundtree has died aged 81. Best known for starring as John Shaft in the 1971 thriller, he died after a quick battle with cancer.Richard Roundtree has passed away on Tuesday afternoon after a quick two-month battle with pancreatic cancer. The actor was 81 at the time of his death.
His manager, Patrick McMinn, confirmed his passing. He released a statement celebrating the life his client lived. “Richard’s work and career served as a turning point for African American leading men in film. The impact he had on the industry cannot be overstated,” he wrote.
Roundtree was born to be a star. From the beginning of his career, he was always a leading man. At 28, he starred in “Shaft,” which was a box-office hit.
With a $500,000 production budget, it earned $12 million in ticket sales, which helped save MGM from bankruptcy. They continued producing “Shaft” movies and even tried to turn it into a T.V. production.
From then, Roundtree starred in the likes of “Earthquake,” “Man Friday,” and “Q – The Winged Serpent.” On TV, he was in “Magnum P.I.,” “Roots,” and “The Love Boat.”
In 2000, a “Shaft” reboot was born with Samuel L. Jackson playing Roundtree’s character’s nephew. It was called a lighthearted movie that tugged on nostalgia.
His most recent work was in “Moving On” last April. His final Instagram post was about the movie, encouraging his fans to watch it in theaters.
The actor had always been vocal about his life, noting days before he turned 80 back in 2022 that he felt “blessed” and “grateful.” He’s lived a colorful, fulfilled life, and he paved the way for Black actors to have a solid space in Hollywood.
Two months prior to Roundtree’s death, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He died in his home in Los Angeles, surrounded by family. May he rest in peace.