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Roundtree was best known for playing the iconic private investigator John Shaft in the 1971 movie “Shaft” and its sequels.
LOS ANGELES — Richard Roundtree, who played the iconic title character in the 1971 film “Shaft,” has died at age 81, his manager has confirmed to media outlets.
Roundtree’s manager told The Hollywood Reporter he passed away Tuesday after a short battle with pancreatic cancer.
Roundtree began his long career as a model and stage actor, and struck it big with his first film role, the private detective John Shaft in Gordon Parks’ 1971 Blaxploitation film “Shaft,” which was a smash hit. Soon after, he reprised the role in two sequels, “Shaft’s Big Score!” and “Shaft in Africa,” and appeared in the 2000 remake starring Samuel L. Jackson and its 2019 sequel.
Roundtree had a notable performance as Sam Bennett in the 1977 miniseries “Roots.” He made appearances on hit shows such as “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” “Heroes” and “Desperate Housewives.”
Gabrielle Union, who worked with Roundtree on the BET series “Being Mary Jane,” shared a tribute on social media.
“He was ALWAYS the coolest man in the room with the BEST vibes,” she wrote. “He was simply the best & we all loved him.”
“Richard’s work and career served as a turning point for African American leading men in film,” his manager, Patrick McMinn, said in a statement to Variety. “The impact he had on the industry cannot be overstated.”
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