‘Shaft’ Actor Richard Roundtree Dies After Short Pancreatic Cancer Battle At 81

Shaft actor Richard Roundtree succumbed to pancreatic cancer on Tuesday afternoon, Oct. 24, at 81.

According to Deadline, Roundtree died with his family by his side during his final moments in his Los Angeles home.

Roundtree was known for his role as detective John Shaft in the 1971 action film Shaft and its sequels, Shaft’s Big Score! (1972), Shaft in Africa (1973) and the 1973 Shaft television series.

To some, Roundtree’s performance in Shaft made the film special, which is true. However, to many, Roundtree was one of the Black actors to make Black action heroes more mainstream. Without Detective Shaft, we wouldn’t have Wesley Snipes as Blade or Chadwick Boseman as Black Panther.

The Library of Congress selected Shaft to be preserved in the United States National Film Registry in 2000. 

Roundtree was also in Roots’ 1977 miniseries, Soul Food, Family Reunion, Desperate Housewives, Diary of a Single Mom, Buddies, Being Mary Jane and more.

Actor Samuel L. Jackson took to Instagram to address Roundtree’s passing.

“Richard Roundtree, The Prototype, The Best To Ever Do It!! SHAFT, as we know it is & will always be His Creation!” Jackson wrote. “His passing leaves a deep hole not only in my heart, but I’m sure a lotta y’all’s, too.”

The 81-year-old’s Family Reunion co-star, Tia Mowry, took to social media for a tribute post.

“I have no words for this loss, Richard, you have made such a lasting impact on my life,” Mowry wrote. “I am forever grateful for your warm energy, your light, your heart, and your incredible wisdom.”

While Roundtress died of pancreatic cancer, he advocated for male breast cancer, having recalled his 1993 breast cancer diagnosis in an interview with ABC in the early ’00s.

“The doctor told me, ‘You have breast cancer,’” Roundtree said. “I heard the cancer part first — it was only later that I heard the breast part. I couldn’t believe it.”