Richard Roundtree, an iconic figure in the world of Blaxploitation cinema, known for his role as detective John Shaft in Gordon Parks’ 1971 action thriller, passed away on Tuesday afternoon following a brief battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 81 years old.
His manager since 1987, Patrick McMinn, confirmed his passing and stated, “Richard’s work and career served as a turning point for African American leading men in film. The impact he had on the industry cannot be overstated.”
Roundtree was a leading man right from the beginning of his career in screen acting. After initially starting as a model, he landed the role of “Shaft” at the age of 28, marking his feature film debut. The MGM release grossed $12 million in ticket sales, far exceeding its $500,000 production budget, which played a vital role in rescuing the studio from bankruptcy. “Shaft” became a breakthrough hit, setting the stage for a prolific decade of Blaxploitation filmmaking and highlighting Hollywood’s historical oversight in recognizing Black talent and their moviegoing audiences.
In a 2019 interview, when asked about the term “exploitation” associated with “Shaft,” Roundtree expressed some ambiguity, saying, “I had the privilege of working with the classiest gentleman possibly that I’ve ever known in the industry, Gordon Parks. So, that word, exploitation, I take offense to with any attachment to Gordon Parks… I’ve always viewed that as a negative. Exploitation. Who’s being exploited? But it gave a lot of people work. It gave a lot of people entry into the business, including a lot of our present-day producers and directors. So, in the big picture, I view it as a positive.”
Two sequels, “Shaft’s Big Score” and “Shaft in Africa,” quickly followed within two years of the original film’s release. In 1973, CBS attempted a “Shaft” television series starring Roundtree, though it only lasted a few episodes. Roundtree later expressed regrets about this attempt to convert the character to television.
Richard Roundtree’s career was long and illustrious. Beyond his star-making role in “Shaft,” he delivered notable performances in various films, including “Earthquake,” “Man Friday” alongside Peter O’Toole, and as a detective in Larry Cohen’s monster comedy “Q — The Winged Serpent.” He also made guest appearances on TV shows like “Roots,” “Magnum P.I.,” and “The Love Boat.”
He returned to the world of “Shaft” in John Singleton’s 2000 revival of the franchise, starring alongside Samuel L. Jackson. Although Jackson played a character named John Shaft, he was portrayed as the nephew of Roundtree’s original private eye. Both actors reprised their roles in 2019 for Tim Story’s comedic take on the series.
Born on July 9, 1942, in Rochester, New York, Roundtree briefly attended Southern Illinois University before dropping out to pursue a modeling career. In the late ’60s, he joined the Negro Ensemble Company and began acting in New York stage productions.
Roundtree’s career spanned over 50 years, with his iconic portrayal of “Shaft,” contributions to genre filmmaking, and compelling on-screen presence in movies like “Se7en,” “Brick,” and “Speed Racer.” He had a supporting role in “Moving On,” a comedy starring Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda, which premiered at the Toronto Film Festival before its theatrical release last summer.
Richard Roundtree was married twice, first to Mary Jane Grant from 1963 to 1973, and later to Karen M. Cierna from 1980 to 1998. He is survived by his four daughters, Nicole, Tayler, Morgan, and Kelli Roundtree, and his son, James.
