Shaft: America’s first black action hero, Richard Roundtree is dead

Renowned American actor Richard Roundtree, celebrated as the “pioneer of the Black action hero” due to his iconic role in the 1971 blockbuster “Shaft,” passed away at the age of 81 on Tuesday, as reported by U.S. media.

Hollywood magazine Deadline disclosed that the actor, recognized for his pivotal role in paving the way for other Black talents in the entertainment industry, passed away with his family by his side “following a brief battle with pancreatic cancer.”

Roundtree’s portrayal of the titular private investigator, John Shaft, in “Shaft” led to a series of sequels and television spinoffs. Even five decades later, he continued to grace the screen, with recent appearances in the romantic drama series “Cherish the Day” and the comedy film “Moving On” just last year.

“Richard’s work and career served as a turning point for African American leading men in film,” his manager Patrick McMinn said in a statement to Variety. “The impact he had on the industry cannot be overstated.”

Roundtree’s major debut, “Shaft” was hailed as a founding classic in the “Blaxploitation” genre the 1970s were known for — which boosters say tackled race relations while critics blast the style for trafficking in stereotypes.

Either way, the genre was critical to pushing Hollywood to finally cast Black Americans in starring roles.

“I used to look at it as a double-edged sword. But I’ve had so many people from all over the country — and all over the world actually — come up and say what that film meant to them back in ’71,” Roundtree told broadcaster NPR in 2019.

“It’s heavy.”

“The other side of it is I got typecast for quite some time, and then I’ve gone out of my way to establish a different side of my acting,” he said.

He was largely successful in that endeavor, with “his trailblazing career (changing) the face of entertainment around the globe,” his agency told Deadline.

“His enduring legacy will be felt for generations to come. Our hearts are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time.”