Famous Actor Died On Tuesday At Age 81 Following A Battle With Pancreatic Cancer

Actor Richard Roundtree died Tuesday at age 81 following a battle with pancreatic cancer. Roundtree was best known for his portrayal of private eye John Shaft in the 1971 film Shaft, leading him to be known as the first Black action hero.

Shaft was a hit upon release, grossing $12 million on a $500,000 budget, and it was selected in 2000 for preservation in the United States National Film Registry for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.” Thanks to the success of Shaft, which was his first-ever film credit, Roundtree was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year in 1972. Roundtree starred in two Shaft sequels—Shaft’s Big Score! (1972) and Shaft in Africa (1973)—though neither matched the success of the original. He also led a series of Shaft television films on CBS between 1973 and 1974.

Roundtree’s later roles included the television miniseries Roots (1977), a role opposite Clint Eastwood and Burt Reynolds in City Heat (1984) and an appearance in David Fincher’s Seven (1995). On television, Roundtree appeared in episodes of Beverly Hills, 90210, Desperate Housewives and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Roundtree would later reprise his iconic role as John Shaft in two spinoff films, both starring Samuel L. Jackson: Shaft (2000) and Shaft (2019). In a tribute on Instagram following his death, Jackson called Roundtree “the prototype” and “the best to ever do it.” Roundtree’s manager Patrick McMinn, who confirmed his death to Variety, said: “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.”