His role as John Shaft in particular made him an icon of 1970s cinema – now the actor Richard Roundtree has died. The 81-year-old had been suffering from cancer for a long time.
US actor Richard Roundtree has died at the age of 81. He earned a reputation as the first African-American action hero with his starring role in the “Shaft” film series. As his manager Patrick McMinn told The Hollywood Reporter magazine, the cause of death was a recently diagnosed pancreatic cancer.
Other US media such as “Rolling Stone” and “The New York Times” also reported on the death. Back in 1993, Roundtree had undergone a successful mastectomy, in which tissue was removed from both breasts, following a breast cancer diagnosis.
Director Parks chose Roundtree
Born in New Rochelle, New York, Roundtree became one of the leading actors in the blaxploitation film genre, which had its heyday in the 1970s and is predominantly based on his role as John Shaft, a cool and clever private detective aimed at African American audiences.
“Shaft” was released in 1971 and directed by Gordon Parks. It was the first role in a feature film for Roundtree, then 28 years old. Based on a novel by Ernest Tidyman, “Shaft” was originally intended for a white actor. But Parks insisted on casting Roundtree after seeing him at a casting. Roundtree reprized his role in the sequels “Shaft’s Big Score!” and “Shaft in Africa.”
Lead roles for African Americans were very rare
With the “Shaft” films, Roundtree contributed to a change in the way productions with African-American protagonists were viewed in Hollywood. Back then, the big studios often ignored her when it came to casting leading roles.
In this climate, cinema sent a signal of self-empowerment with blaxploitation films. After “Shaft,” Roundtree starred in a number of films, including “Earthquake” (1974) opposite Charlton Heston and Ava Gardner and “Man Friday” (1975) opposite Peter O’Toole.
Manager describes work as a turning point
Roundtree’s work and career marked a turning point for African-American leading actors, explained manager McMinn. “The impact he has had on the industry cannot be overstated.”
Fellow actor Samuel L. Jackson expressed his sadness at Roundtree’s death. “His death leaves a deep hole not only in my heart, but certainly in many of you as well,” Jackson wrote in an Instagram post.