Richard Roundtree was an actor who became the first Black action star when he played an ultra-cool private detective in “Shaft.”
- Died: October 24, 2023 (Who else died on October 24?)
- Details of death: Died at his home in Los Angeles of pancreatic cancer at the age of 81.
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Richard Roundtree’s legacy
Roundtree burst into pop culture legend with his first major on-screen role, playing detective John Shaft. One of the first blaxploitation films, “Shaft” offered movie audiences the story of a Black man who was fully in control of his life and acted with authority and flair in a racist and inequitable world. Playing a ladies’ man with an iconic mustache, Roundtree as Shaft was as effortlessly cool as Sean Connery (1930–2020) in the James Bond films or Steve McQueen (1930–1980) in “Bullitt.” “Shaft” was both a cultural phenomenon and a box office hit, bringing in millions on a shoestring budget and spawning not only four sequels and a TV series – all starring Roundtree – but an entire film genre.
Though “Shaft’s Big Score!” and “Shaft in Africa” didn’t fare as well as the original movie did, Roundtree’s stardom was established. He went on to rack up more than 150 movie and TV credits. Roundtree’s many movies included “Earthquake,” “City Heat,” “Se7en,” “George of the Jungle,” “Speed Racer,” and “What Men Want.” When “Shaft” returned in 2000 for a third sequel, starring Samuel L. Jackson as John Shaft’s nephew, Roundtree was back, playing his original character. He returned for that movie’s 2019 sequel, also called “Shaft.”
On TV, Roundtree had a role in the TV miniseries classic “Roots,” playing Sam Bennett, an enslaved carriage driver. He starred in the TV shows “Outlaws,” “Buddies,” “413 Hope St.,” and “Rescue 77.” Roundtree also had recurring roles on series including “Generations,” “Soul Food,” “Desperate Housewives,” “Heroes,” “Being Mary Jane,” and “Family Reunion.” He appeared widely in guest roles for decades on such shows as “Magnum, P.I.,” “Murder, She Wrote,” “A Different World,” “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” “Beverly Hills, 90210,” “Touched by an Angel,” “Alias,” and “Grey’s Anatomy.”
Notable quote
“Not a day goes by that I’m not somewhere when someone recites the lines from the theme song, or lines from the film, as if I’ve never heard them before. [Tilts his head disapprovingly.] I’m like, ‘Yeah, man. Cool. O.K.’ But that’s what it is. And at the same time, what else would I be doing? I’m still here. A lot of my friends and associates are no longer here, or no longer in the business, and I’m still gainfully employed. So keep it moving, Roundtree.” —from a 2019 interview for The New York Times
Tributes to Richard Roundtree
Full obituary: Los Angeles Times