by Stacy M. Brown<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Richard Roundtree, the iconic actor renowned for portraying the suave private detective in the groundbreaking \u201cShaft\u201d film series, has died at 81.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His longtime manager Patrick McMinn, confirmed that Roundtree succumbed to pancreatic cancer at his residence in Los Angeles on Tuesday. The legendary actor, who also battled and triumphed over breast cancer in 1993, underwent a double mastectomy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRichard\u2019s work and career served as a turning point for African American leading men,\u201d McMinn said. \u201cThe impact he had on the industry cannot be overstated.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Roundtree\u2019s legacy extended beyond the 1970s classics. He reprised his iconic role in the 2000 \u201cShaft\u201d film, sharing the screen with Samuel L. Jackson, who portrayed his nephew. The film was a revival that aimed to captivate a wider audience, and Roundtree and Jackson returned in the same roles for the 2019 rendition starring Jessie T. Usher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a heartfelt social media post, Jackson hailed Roundtree as the \u201cprototype\u201d and praised him as \u201cthe best to ever do it.\u201d Jackson added, \u201cSHAFT, as we know it is [and] will always be his Creation. His passing leaves a deep hole not only in my heart, but I\u2019m sure a lotta y\u2019all\u2019s, too.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Born on July 9, 1942, in New Rochelle, New York, to John and Kathryn Roundtree, the young Roundtree showed promise in athletics and academics. He attended New Rochelle High School, earning recognition for his contributions to the school\u2019s nationally ranked football team. In 1961, Roundtree\u2019s athletic prowess earned him a scholarship to Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois. However, his passion for acting and modeling prompted him to leave school in 1963.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Roundtree\u2019s career took off when Eunice Johnson of Ebony magazine recruited him to model at the Ebony Fashion Fair in 1963. He joined the Negro Ensemble Company in 1967, where he delivered a memorable performance as boxing legend Jack Johnson in \u201cThe Great White Hope.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The pivotal moment in Roundtree\u2019s career came in 1971 when he landed the role of Shaft in the Gordon Parks-directed film.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The film\u2019s success catapulted Roundtree to stardom, culminating in two sequels, \u201cShaft\u2019s Big Score\u201d (1972) and \u201cShaft in Africa\u201d (1973). In recognition of his exceptional talent, Roundtree received the Golden Globe Most Promising Newcomer Award in 1972.<\/p>\n\n\n\n