In 1971, the world met John Shaft, a private detective who revolutionized the world of action cinema in The Red Nights of Harlem (Shaft). A role that could be like any other if it weren’t for the fact that Richard Roundtree, who gave life to the intrepid detective on the big screen, not only dazzled the public with his acrobatics and street fights in the problematic New York neighborhood of Harlem; He also served as an image to talk about topics that were so relevant at that time such as the Black Power movement, race, masculinity and sexuality itself.
A character who became an icon for the black community, who now says goodbye to Roundtree, who has died at the age of 81 due to pancreatic cancer that he had been suffering from for months.
As confirmed by his representative to The Hollywood Reporter, the actor died at his home in Los Angeles, surrounded by his family.
The actor leaves behind a vast cinematographic legacy. Along with the legendary Sidney Poitier, he is credited as one of the pioneering black actors in the Hollywood film industry, serving as an inspiration and reference for many of today’s actors of African American origin who have managed to make a place for themselves in the competitive world. of action cinema.
“Richard’s work and career served as a turning point for African American protagonists in film. The impact he had on the industry cannot be underestimated,” says Patrick McMinn, the actor’s representative, in a statement to Variety.
Roundtree rose to fame with Shaft, a film that changed the destiny of black actors in the world of action films. The actor played John Shaft, a private detective in the Harlem section of New York who faced all kinds of dangers and criminals; reprising the role in several sequels, and even a television series.
An attractive, sensual, rude and cunning character; that in addition to being intelligent, skillful, decisive and effective when it came to solving any case that came his way, he also became a style icon with his striking leather jackets.
A saga that marked an era, and that was accompanied by a catchy song by Isaac Hayes, which won no less than two Grammy Awards and the Academy Award for Best Original Song.
Roundtree also had a role in the groundbreaking television slavery drama Roots (1977), in addition to almost two hundred other notable projects, such as Seven (1995) and the anti-racism film Once Upon A Time When We Were Colored (1996). ) or the series Heroes (2006), Chicago Fire (2015), Being Mary Jane (2019) or her latest project, Collar (2023).
He also returned to his role as John Shaft in 2000, playing the uncle of the “new” Shaft, Samuel L. Jackson, in the remake of the same name.
The actor was married twice, and the result of his marriages is his four children – James, Nicole, Tayler, Morgan and Kelli Roundtree.
