• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Shaft star Richard Roundtree has died aged 81

Home> News> US News

Updated 07:40 25 Oct 2023 GMT+1Published 07:32 25 Oct 2023 GMT+1

Shaft star Richard Roundtree has died aged 81

The lead star of 1970s Shaft, Richard Roundtree, has died at the age of 81 after a battle with cancer.

Gerrard Kaonga

Gerrard Kaonga

The 1970s superstar Richard Roundtree has died at the age of 81.

Roundtree had a long career in Hollywood, his first feature credit coming in 1956, but was most known for his role as John Shaft in the crime thriller Shaft.

Roundtree died on Tuesday afternoon (24 October) after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer.

Richard Roundtree has died at the age of 81.
Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Advert

Roundtree’s manager Patrick McMinn, who had been working with the actor since 1987, confirmed his death.

“Richard’s work and career served as a turning point for African American leading men in film,” McMinn said, reflecting on Roundtree’s work.

“The impact he had on the industry cannot be overstated.”

Despite his first acting credit, playing the leading role in Shaft proved to be a monumental moment for Roundtree in the industry.

Advert

The MGM release earned $12 million in ticket sales off of a $500,000 production budget, helping to save the studio from bankruptcy. Roundtree was only 28 at the time.

The films’ success sparked a wave of prolific Blaxploitation films in the coming decade, increasing the exposure of both black actors and actresses as well as filming staff.

Roundtree was best known for playing the leading role in Shaft.
Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images / CBS via Getty Images

Though Roundtree ‘took offense’ to the term when he was asked about Blaxploitation films during a 2019 interview with the New York Times.

Advert

“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,” he said.

“I’ve always viewed that as a negative. Exploitation. Who’s being exploited? It gave a lot of people work.

"It gave a lot of people entrée into the business, including a lot of our present-day producers and directors. So, in the big picture, I view it as a positive.”

The crime film’s success resulted in two sequels, Shaft’s Big Score and Shaft in Africa, releasing in 1972 and 1973.

Advert

The actor died after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer.
CBS via Getty Images

There was also a Shaft TV series that followed in 1973 to 1974 however, this was short lived with only seven episodes being released.

Reflecting on the attempt of a television series, Roundtree said: “You can’t erase events, but that’s one I wish I could. I had just come back from Shaft in Africa when they tried to convert the character to television.

"It wasn’t going to happen. That was an ugly point in my long, illustrious career.”

Advert

Attempts to revive the ‘bad mother (shut your mouth)’ character have been attempted over the years, however they have had little success.

Most notably director John Singleton’s 2000 revival of the franchise and Tim story’s comedic take on the story in 2019.

Featured Image Credit: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images / CBS via Getty Images

Topics: News, US News

Gerrard Kaonga
Gerrard Kaonga

Gerrard is a Journalist at UNILAD and has dived headfirst into covering everything from breaking global stories to trending entertainment news. He has a bachelors in English Literature from Brunel University and has written across a number of different national and international publications. Most notably the Financial Times, Daily Express, Evening Standard and Newsweek.

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

6 hours ago
10 hours ago
  • 6 hours ago

    93% rated Amazon Prime show had Stephen King labeling it 'really smart' as fans binge all three seasons

    Fans were blown away by the 'unique' show, which even got Stephen King's seal of approval

    Film & TV
  • 10 hours ago

    Coca-Cola responds after Donald Trump makes shocking claim he's changing the recipe

    Americans could soon be tasting a new version of Coke as President Donald Trump intervenes

    News
  • 10 hours ago

    Donald Trump diagnosed with chronic vein condition after recent photos sparked health concerns

    The White House's physician has revealed that the 79-year-old received a chronic venous insufficiency diagnosis

    News
  • 10 hours ago

    Extreme athlete Felix Baumgartner tragically dies during stunt aged 56

    Felix Baumgartner is fondly remembered for one particular impressive stunt

    News
  • Young Frankenstein star Teri Garr has died aged 79
  • Hollywood actor Gene Hackman has died aged 95, along with wife Betsy Arakawa aged 63
  • Coming to America star John Amos has died aged 84
  • Anne Burrell's co-star reveals heartbreaking final conversation with chef before she tragically died aged 55