Richard Roundtree, who became known as “the first Black action hero” for his portrayal of detective John Shaft in five films, has died at the age of 81 following a brief battle with pancreatic cancer.
“Richard’s work and career served as a turning point for African American leading men in film,” Roundtree’s manager Patrick McMinn said in his statement confirming the actor’s death. “The impact he had on the industry cannot be overstated.”
Shaft followed the exploits of African American detective John Shaft. While the original screenplay called for Shaft to be white, director Gordon Parks opted to cast Roundtree, then just 28 years old, to play the titular character. The first Shaft film was released in 1971 on a budget of just $500,000. It went on to earn $12 million at the box office, and four sequel films followed.
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Beyond its commercial success, Shaft is credited for being one of the defining films of the blaxploitation genre. By focusing on a suave Black private detective, as well as Black nationalists, the film tipped Hollywood off to an audience hungry for more diverse stories — even if they leaned into stereotypical depictions of Black crime and sexuality while also promoting Black Power.
Roundtree reprised the character in 1972’s Shaft’s Big Score!, 1973’s Shaft in Africa, 2000’s Shaft, and finally, in 2019’s Shaft.
Though best known for Shaft, Roundtree appeared in a number of notable films and television shows throughout his long career, including Earthquake, Man Friday, Roots, Magnum P.I., The Love Boat, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Beverly Hills, 90210, Desperate Housewives, and Private Practice.
