Richard Roundtree

Richard Arnold Roundtree (July 9, 1942 – October 24, 2023) was an American movie actor and fashion model. He portrayed John Shaft in the 1971 movie Shaft and its related sequels. He was also in many other movies.^[1]

Richard Roundtree
Richard Roundtree in February 2007
Born	Richard Arnold Roundtree (1942-07-09)July 9, 1942 New Rochelle, New York, U.S.
Died	October 24, 2023(2023-10-24) (aged 81) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Cause of death	Pancreatic cancer
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1963–2023
Spouses	Mary Jane Grant ​ ​ (m. 1963; div. 1973)​ Karen M. Ciernia ​ ​ (m. 1980; div. 1998)​
Children	5

Early years and education

Roundtree was born on July 9, 1942, in New Rochelle, New York. His parents were John Roundtree and Kathryn Watkins. He graduated from New Rochelle High School in 1961.^[2] During high school, he was a part of the school's highly successful football team. After completing high school, Roundtree went on to attend Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois. In 1963, he decided to leave college and pursue a career in acting.^[2]

Death

At the age of 81, Roundtree died of pancreatic cancer at his home in Los Angeles on October 24, 2023.^[3][4]

Legacy

He has been called "the first Black action hero".^[5] Roundtree was seen to have an impact on the rise of African American leading actors in Hollywood projects, thanks to his successful roles in the blaxploitation genre.^[6] His role as Shaft was seen as a bold, confident, and charismatic person that also inspired cinematic roles of Black men and Black masculinity, whereas before Black men in movies before Shaft were seen as gentle and aimed to please others.^[6]