Richard Roundtree, Star of the “Shaft” Series, Died Yesterday – Confirms His Manager
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THE SOIL – Richard Roundtree, widely remembered for his depiction as John Shaft in the 1971 film adaptation of the “Shaft” series, dies yesterday. The cinema industry mourns the loss of this legendary personality.
He was 81 years old when he passed away.
Richard Roundtree’s official death has been announced by his manager, Patrick McMinn of McMinn Management and the Artists & Representatives Agency. Mr. McMinn said that on a Tuesday afternoon, Roundtree passed away from pancreatic cancer.
As McMinn said, his loved ones stood at his side.
“Artists & Representatives Agency mourns the loss of our friend and client Richard Roundtree,” he stated.
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Roundtree Was As Well Honoured As A Breast Cancer Survivor
Roundtree was also honoured as a breast cancer survivor, even though it was not the cause of his death. After learning that he had breast cancer in 1993, he committed his life to raising men’s awareness of the condition.
The birthplace of Roundtree is New Rochelle, New York. According to his IMDb biography, he played football while attending Southern Illinois University and also tried a career in modelling.
He joined the esteemed Negro Ensemble Company in New York after discovering his calling in the theatre. Eventually, after his memorable performance in an off-Broadway production of “The Great White Hope” as Jack Johnson, he was given the chance to play John Shaft, as the biography describes.
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The Way Richard Roundtree Prtrayed John Shaft Changed Hollywood History
Thanks to the legendary Isaac Hayes, who provided his abilities to the film’s title track and other musical elements, the famous Gordon Parks-directed cinematic masterpiece won Academy Awards in 1971 for Best Original Music and Best Original Song. The way that Richard Roundtree portrayed John Shaft—that private eye who had more sex than Bond and a level of coolness that rivals Bullitt—changed Hollywood history and permanently altered Roundtree’s career. It presented him as a resolute hero and a stealthy fighter against the powers of crime.
In its Online Film Festival, the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, emphasises how “Shaft” broke the mould of action heroes being mostly played by white actors by putting an African American action hero in the forefront and becoming a groundbreaking force in mainstream cinema.
Roundtree Also Played Relatives or Older Versions Character.
The box gross and critical praise of “Shaft” precipitated a brief but significant wave of big Hollywood studio productions featuring strong Black female leads. Roundtree also had a tonne of acting opportunities during this time, and his face appeared on screens all over the place, giving him a constant presence in the film industry.
Popular TV series including “CHiPs,” “Magnum P.I.”, “Desperate Housewives,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” and “Chicago Fire” are among his other triumphs. In addition, he starred in a number of action films in the 1980s and 1990s, such as “Original Gangstas.”
Of course, in later seasons of “Shaft,” starring Samuel L. Jackson, Roundtree played relatives or older versions of his character.
For his outstanding narration in the PBS documentary “The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow,” which aired in 2002, Roundtree was presented with a coveted Peabody Award.
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