Richard Roundtree, the actor best known for his role as Detective John Shaft, has died of pancreatic cancer. He was 81 years old.
Richard Roundtree has sadly passed away at the age of 81. pic.twitter.com/mAt2X4Cbyo
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) October 25, 2023
Richard Roundtree, who broke ground with his signature role in the Shaft movie franchise, passed away this afternoon, Oct. 24, after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer with his family at his bedside. He was 81.
Roundtree’s career spanned five decades and included everything from his most popular blaxploitation role to a very early appearance on As the World Turns in 1956 to being a Season 2 main cast member on Ava DuVernay’s OWN series Cherish the Day last year.
For his performance in the original film, Roundtree was nominated for a New Star of the Year Golden Globe and hailed as the first Black action hero. More importantly, the films made Shaft a cultural hero, a symbol of Black power onscreen, at the box office and beyond. Even the Academy took notice, as Isaac Hayes’ propulsive “Theme from Shaft” won the Oscar that year for Best Song – Original for the Picture.
Roundtree and his signature role had a profound effect on filmmakers both Black and white.
Decades later, the actor reprised his role in the 2000 John Singleton movie Shaft starring Samuel L. Jackson and the 2019 Tim Story-directed sequel.
He had quite the career and influence.
RIP Shaft. I still play my LP soundtrack of the Shaft movie with awesome Isaac Hayes music.
— Seahorse (@Shakes19Berry) October 25, 2023
The soundtrack is iconic.
Sad to hear Richard Roundtree has passed away. I see people calling him the original Shaft but to me, he is Shaft. RIP 😢 https://t.co/IRqZ6HIu31
— *Baseball Chickie!* (@baseballchickie) October 25, 2023
He is shaft.
He may have been the coolest man to ever grace the big screen.
— Erik Swann (@SwannErik) October 25, 2023
RIP Richard Roundtree, and thank you for your body of work. We'll miss you. https://t.co/chMOShpFX3
It was a significant body of work, spanning 50 years.
He was was one bad mother….RIP Richard Roundtree https://t.co/D7SOzsilIc
— Josh the Monster (@darknite125) October 25, 2023
Shut your mouth.
(C'mon, we had to put that in here somewhere).
The world is less cool tonight. #RIPRichardRoundtree #RIPShaft https://t.co/SDiBvs5V4b
— ฿ł₲ ฿Ɇ₳ⱤĐ ฿ØØ₮Ɏ Đ₳ĐĐɎ (@AceOfTheIndies) October 25, 2023
Just a little bit, yes.
THEY DONE TOOK SHAFT 😭 https://t.co/ZbUmlNjGZ5
— The Waco Kid (@_TheSonOfMars_) October 25, 2023
We mourn too, Waco Kid.
Richard Roundtree Dies: ‘Shaft’ Star Was 81 – not John Shaft! He was bad MFr, shut yo mouth! https://t.co/mYrBYZsksX
— Steve Mudflap McGrew’s REMASCULATE podcast (@REMASCULATE) October 25, 2023
Shaft will always remain a pop culture icon.
Who’s the cat that won’t cop out when there’s danger all about? https://t.co/QujeHhkyLv
— AG Gancarski (@AGGancarski) October 25, 2023
Shaft.
Oh man. That one stings.#RIP Shaft. https://t.co/7SyIYwolzX
— Torrey M. Spears 🇺🇸 (@torreymspears) October 25, 2023
Yes, it does.
The New Rochelle, NY born-and-raised Richard Roundtree became a cult icon in the 1970s.
— Mike Zimmelman (@MZimmel) October 25, 2023
Director Gordon Parks fought to have #Shaft changed from white to black because he believed in Roundtree's ability to be his star.
The film went on to make $12 million at the box office. https://t.co/d8DbdqJQNe
For the record, $12 million in 1971 is about $95 million today.
Damn. RIP to one of our trailblazer heroes. pic.twitter.com/ZuMN76kmrr
— Philip Michael Tommy Mabson (@323skyline) October 25, 2023
Roundtree is survived by daughters Kelli, Nicole, Tayler and Morgan, and a son, John.
Our condolences to his family and loved ones.
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