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㽶ƵֱShaft㽶Ƶֱ star Richard Roundtree, considered the first Black action movie hero, has died at 81

Richard Roundtree, the trailblazing actor who starred as the ultra-smooth private detective in several 㽶ƵֱShaft㽶Ƶֱ films beginning in the early 1970s, has died. He was 81.

Roundtree㽶Ƶֱs longtime manager, Patrick McMinn, said the actor had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and died at his home in Los Angeles on Tuesday. He was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1993 and underwent a double mastectomy.

㽶ƵֱRichard㽶Ƶֱs work and career served as a turning point for African American leading men,㽶Ƶֱ McMinn said. 㽶ƵֱThe impact he had on the industry cannot be overstated.㽶Ƶֱ

Roundtree, who was born in New Rochelle, New York, was considered as the first Black action hero and became one of the leading actors in the blaxploitation genre through his New York street smart John Shaft character in the Gordon Parks-directed film in 1971. At age 28, it was Roundtree㽶Ƶֱs first feature film appearance after starting his career as a model.

Roundtree㽶Ƶֱs 㽶ƵֱShaft㽶Ƶֱ was part of a change in how Black movies were viewed in Hollywood, which failed to consider Black actors 㽶Ƶֱ especially for leading roles 㽶Ƶֱ in projects at the time. The blaxploitation films were primarily aimed at the African American audiences.

In the film, his character navigated the world of thugs. He regularly whipped out popular one-liners like 㽶ƵֱIt㽶Ƶֱs my duty to please that booty.㽶Ƶֱ

㽶ƵֱWhat we were doing was a good, old Saturday afternoon shoot 㽶Ƶֱem up,㽶Ƶֱ Roundtree said in a 2000 interview with The Associated Press.

Isaac Hayes㽶Ƶֱ 㽶ƵֱShaft㽶Ƶֱ theme song 㽶Ƶֱ which included the line 㽶ƵֱYou a bad mother㽶Ƶֱ (Shut your mouth)㽶Ƶֱ 㽶Ƶֱ helped insinuate the original movie into the pop-cult consciousness. The singer, who died in 2008, said the song was 㽶Ƶֱlike the 㽶Ƶֱshot heard round the world.㽶Ƶֱ His single won an Academy Award for best song in 1971 and two Grammys the following year.

After the film㽶Ƶֱs success, Roundtree returned in sequels 㽶ƵֱShaft㽶Ƶֱs Big Score㽶Ƶֱ in 1972 and 㽶ƵֱShaft in Africa㽶Ƶֱ in 1973. That same year, he played the savvy detective once again on the CBS television series 㽶ƵֱShaft,㽶Ƶֱ which lasted only seven episodes.

Roundtree reprised his role in the 2000 㽶ƵֱShaft㽶Ƶֱ film, a revival that starred Samuel L. Jackson. He appeared as Jackson㽶Ƶֱs uncle in the big-budget film that was aimed at the general audience. Both appeared again in the same roles in the 2019 film starring Jessie T. Usher.

Jackson called Roundtree the 㽶Ƶֱprototype㽶Ƶֱ and the 㽶Ƶֱbest to ever do it㽶Ƶֱ in a social media post.

㽶ƵֱSHAFT, as we know it is & will always be his Creation,㽶Ƶֱ he said of Roundtree. 㽶ƵֱHis passing leaves a deep hole not only in my heart, but I㽶Ƶֱm sure a lotta y㽶Ƶֱall㽶Ƶֱs, too.㽶Ƶֱ

Through his 50-plus year career, Roundtree appeared in a number other notable films including 㽶ƵֱEarthquake,㽶Ƶֱ 㽶ƵֱMan Friday㽶Ƶֱ with Peter O㽶ƵֱToole, 㽶ƵֱRoots,㽶Ƶֱ 㽶ƵֱManiac Cop㽶Ƶֱ 㽶ƵֱSe7en㽶Ƶֱ and 㽶ƵֱWhat Men Want㽶Ƶֱ starring Taraji P. Henson. He also made his mark with television roles on 㽶ƵֱMagnum P.I.,㽶Ƶֱ 㽶ƵֱThe Love Boat,㽶Ƶֱ 㽶ƵֱBeing Mary Jane㽶Ƶֱ and 㽶ƵֱThe Love Boat.㽶Ƶֱ

In 1995, Roundtree received a lifetime achievement award at the MTV Movie & TV awards.

Jonathan Landrum Jr., The Associated Press

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