On Tuesday October 24, 2023, Hollywood lost a true legend of cool in Richard Roundtree. When speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, Roundtree’s agent Patrick McMinn, divulged that Roundtree had passed away at his home in Los Angeles. His sad passing came at the end of a battle with pancreatic cancer. Roundtree was 81 years old and leaves behind a lasting legacy. In the early 70s, he became known as the first black action hero. To that, he also became one of the most prominent actors in the blaxploitation movement. So, in honour of his name, let’s take a deep dive...
- 10/25/2023
- by Matthew C. F
- TVovermind.com
Tributes have begun to pour in for Richard Roundtree following the revered actor’s death at 81. Roundtree, who starred as the memorable detective in 1971’s Shaft, died at his Los Angeles home of pancreatic cancer.
Roundtree’s manager Patrick McMinn confirmed his death. “Richard’s work and career served as a turning point for African American leading men in film,” McMinn, who was his manager since 1987, said in a statement.
Samuel L. Jackson, who portrayed John Shaft’s nephew in the 2000 sequel to Gordon Park’s 1971 action film, shared an early remembrance on social media.
Roundtree’s manager Patrick McMinn confirmed his death. “Richard’s work and career served as a turning point for African American leading men in film,” McMinn, who was his manager since 1987, said in a statement.
Samuel L. Jackson, who portrayed John Shaft’s nephew in the 2000 sequel to Gordon Park’s 1971 action film, shared an early remembrance on social media.
- 10/25/2023
- by Emily Zemler
- Rollingstone.com
Samuel L. Jackson, Gabrielle Union and Taraji P. Henson are among Hollywood notables remembering Richard Roundtree, who died Tuesday at the age of 81.
His manager, Patrick McMinn, told The Hollywood Reporter that the Shaft star died at his Los Angeles home of pancreatic cancer. Roundtree had other memorable roles in Roots, Once Upon a Time … When We Were Colored and Man Friday.
Jackson, who took over the Shaft film franchise from Roundtree in 2000, also starred as John Shaft’s (Roundtree) nephew in the sequel to the 1971 movie. Apart from appearing together in the 2000 movie, Roundtree and Jackson also teamed up again for the 2019 Shaft sequel.
In a touching tribute on Instagram, Jackson wrote, “Richard Roundtree, The Prototype, The Best To Ever Do It!! Shaft, as we know it is & will always be His Creation!!”
He continued, “His passing leaves a deep hole not only in my heart, but I’m...
His manager, Patrick McMinn, told The Hollywood Reporter that the Shaft star died at his Los Angeles home of pancreatic cancer. Roundtree had other memorable roles in Roots, Once Upon a Time … When We Were Colored and Man Friday.
Jackson, who took over the Shaft film franchise from Roundtree in 2000, also starred as John Shaft’s (Roundtree) nephew in the sequel to the 1971 movie. Apart from appearing together in the 2000 movie, Roundtree and Jackson also teamed up again for the 2019 Shaft sequel.
In a touching tribute on Instagram, Jackson wrote, “Richard Roundtree, The Prototype, The Best To Ever Do It!! Shaft, as we know it is & will always be His Creation!!”
He continued, “His passing leaves a deep hole not only in my heart, but I’m...
- 10/25/2023
- by Carly Thomas
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Samuel L. Jackson, Gabrielle Union and more have paid tribute to “Shaft” icon Richard Roundtree, who died Tuesday afternoon after a short battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 81.
Jackson, who first portrayed detective John Shaft’s (Roundtree) nephew in the 2000 sequel to Gordon Parks’ 1971 action thriller “Shaft,” posted a photo of himself and Roundtree on Instagram from the 2019 action thriller, also titled “Shaft.”
“Richard Roundtree, The Prototype, The Best To Ever Do It!! Shaft, as we know it is & will always be His Creation!!,” Jackson wrote in the caption. “His passing leaves a deep hole not only in my heart, but I’m sure a lotta y’all’s, too.”
“Love you Brother, I see you walking down the Middle of Main Street in Heaven & Issac’s Conducting your song coat blowin’ in wind!! Angels whispering, ‘That Cat Shaft Is A Bad Mutha, Shutcho Mouth!! But I’m Talkin’ Bout Shaft!
Jackson, who first portrayed detective John Shaft’s (Roundtree) nephew in the 2000 sequel to Gordon Parks’ 1971 action thriller “Shaft,” posted a photo of himself and Roundtree on Instagram from the 2019 action thriller, also titled “Shaft.”
“Richard Roundtree, The Prototype, The Best To Ever Do It!! Shaft, as we know it is & will always be His Creation!!,” Jackson wrote in the caption. “His passing leaves a deep hole not only in my heart, but I’m sure a lotta y’all’s, too.”
“Love you Brother, I see you walking down the Middle of Main Street in Heaven & Issac’s Conducting your song coat blowin’ in wind!! Angels whispering, ‘That Cat Shaft Is A Bad Mutha, Shutcho Mouth!! But I’m Talkin’ Bout Shaft!
- 10/25/2023
- by Michaela Zee
- Variety Film + TV
Richard Roundtree has sadly passed away.
The Shaft and Family Reunion star died at the age of 81 on Tuesday afternoon (October 24), his longtime manager Patrick McMinn confirmed.
Variety reports that the Golden Globe-nominated actor passed after a short battle with pancreatic cancer.
Keep reading to find out more…
“Richard’s work and career served as a turning point for African American leading men in film,” Patrick shared in a statement. “The impact he had on the industry cannot be overstated.”
Richard entered the industry as a model, and booked his feature film debut as the leading man John Shaft in the movie Shaft. He then went on to star in many TV shows and movies.
Most recently, Richard has starred as grandpa Jebidiah McKellan on the Netflix series Family Reunion, as well as on the series Cherish the Day.
Richard is survived by four daughters, Nicole, Tayler, Morgan and Kelli Roundtree,...
The Shaft and Family Reunion star died at the age of 81 on Tuesday afternoon (October 24), his longtime manager Patrick McMinn confirmed.
Variety reports that the Golden Globe-nominated actor passed after a short battle with pancreatic cancer.
Keep reading to find out more…
“Richard’s work and career served as a turning point for African American leading men in film,” Patrick shared in a statement. “The impact he had on the industry cannot be overstated.”
Richard entered the industry as a model, and booked his feature film debut as the leading man John Shaft in the movie Shaft. He then went on to star in many TV shows and movies.
Most recently, Richard has starred as grandpa Jebidiah McKellan on the Netflix series Family Reunion, as well as on the series Cherish the Day.
Richard is survived by four daughters, Nicole, Tayler, Morgan and Kelli Roundtree,...
- 10/25/2023
- by Just Jared
- Just Jared
The actor, whose career spanned more than four decades in Hollywood, died in Los Angeles from pancreatic cancer
Richard Roundtree, known for playing the suave lead role in the 1971 film Shaft died on Thursday, the Hollywood Reporter and Deadline, have reported.
Roundtree, 81, died in Los Angeles after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, Patrick McMinn, Roundtree’s longtime manager told the Hollywood Reporter.
Richard Roundtree, known for playing the suave lead role in the 1971 film Shaft died on Thursday, the Hollywood Reporter and Deadline, have reported.
Roundtree, 81, died in Los Angeles after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, Patrick McMinn, Roundtree’s longtime manager told the Hollywood Reporter.
- 10/25/2023
- by Abené Clayton
- The Guardian - Film News
Richard Roundtree, who starred as the memorable detective in 1971’s Shaft, died Tuesday. He was 81.
“Richard’s work and career served as a turning point for African American leading men in film,” Patrick McMinn, who was his manager since 1987, said in a statement. He told the Hollywood Reporter that the actor died at his Los Angeles home of pancreatic cancer.
Samuel L. Jackson, who portrayed John Shaft’s (Roundtree) nephew in the 2000 sequel to Gordon Park’s 1971 action film, shared a tribute to Instagram following the news of his death.
“Richard’s work and career served as a turning point for African American leading men in film,” Patrick McMinn, who was his manager since 1987, said in a statement. He told the Hollywood Reporter that the actor died at his Los Angeles home of pancreatic cancer.
Samuel L. Jackson, who portrayed John Shaft’s (Roundtree) nephew in the 2000 sequel to Gordon Park’s 1971 action film, shared a tribute to Instagram following the news of his death.
- 10/25/2023
- by Charisma Madarang
- Rollingstone.com
Richard Roundtree, who became known as “the first Black action hero” for his portrayal of detective John Shaft in five films, has died at the age of 81 following a brief battle with pancreatic cancer.
“Richard’s work and career served as a turning point for African American leading men in film,” Roundtree’s manager Patrick McMinn said in his statement confirming the actor’s death. “The impact he had on the industry cannot be overstated.”
Shaft followed the exploits of African American detective John Shaft. While the original screenplay called for Shaft to be white, director Gordon Parks opted to cast Roundtree, then just 28 years old, to play the titular character. The first Shaft film was released in 1971 on a budget of just $500,000. It went on to earn $12 million at the box office, and four sequel films followed.
Beyond its commercial success, Shaft is credited for being one of the...
“Richard’s work and career served as a turning point for African American leading men in film,” Roundtree’s manager Patrick McMinn said in his statement confirming the actor’s death. “The impact he had on the industry cannot be overstated.”
Shaft followed the exploits of African American detective John Shaft. While the original screenplay called for Shaft to be white, director Gordon Parks opted to cast Roundtree, then just 28 years old, to play the titular character. The first Shaft film was released in 1971 on a budget of just $500,000. It went on to earn $12 million at the box office, and four sequel films followed.
Beyond its commercial success, Shaft is credited for being one of the...
- 10/25/2023
- by Alex Young and Carys Anderson
- Consequence - Film News
Richard Roundtree, the suave star of the Shaft movies who has long been called the first Black action hero, has died at the age of 81 after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer. Roundtree died in his Los Angeles home with his family by his side on Tuesday, October 24, per Deadline. His manager since 1987, Patrick McMinn, said “Richard’s work and career served as a turning point for African American leading men in film,” in a statement to Variety. “The impact he had on the industry cannot be overstated.” Roundtree’s signature role was playing private eye John Shaft in Shaft (1971) and its follow-ups, Shaft’s Big Score! (1972), Shaft in Africa (1973), and the short-lived Shaft TV series (1973). Roundtree’s first screen credit was in As the World Turns in 1956. He broke ground for representation in Hollywood as Shaft‘s leading man at the age of 28. Directed by Gordon Parks and based...
- 10/25/2023
- TV Insider
Richard Roundtree, the ultracool actor who helped open the door to a generation of Black filmmakers and performers with his portrayal of private eye John Shaft, “the cat that won’t cop out when there’s danger all about,” died Tuesday. He was 81.
Roundtree died at his home in Los Angeles of pancreatic cancer, his manager, Patrick McMinn, told The Hollywood Reporter.
He was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1993 and had a double mastectomy. “Breast cancer is not gender specific,” he said four years later. “And men have this cavalier attitude about health issues. I got such positive feedback because I spoke out about it, and it’s been quite a number of years now. I’m a survivor.”
Roundtree also portrayed the title character opposite Peter O’Toole as Robinson Crusoe in Man Friday, was featured as an army sergeant opposite Laurence Olivier as Gen. Douglas MacArthur in the Korean...
Roundtree died at his home in Los Angeles of pancreatic cancer, his manager, Patrick McMinn, told The Hollywood Reporter.
He was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1993 and had a double mastectomy. “Breast cancer is not gender specific,” he said four years later. “And men have this cavalier attitude about health issues. I got such positive feedback because I spoke out about it, and it’s been quite a number of years now. I’m a survivor.”
Roundtree also portrayed the title character opposite Peter O’Toole as Robinson Crusoe in Man Friday, was featured as an army sergeant opposite Laurence Olivier as Gen. Douglas MacArthur in the Korean...
- 10/25/2023
- by Chris Koseluk
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Richard Roundtree, an icon of Blaxploitation film who starred as detective John Shaft in Gordon Parks’ 1971 action thriller, died Tuesday afternoon after a short battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 81 years old.
His death was confirmed by Patrick McMinn, his manager since 1987.
“Richard’s work and career served as a turning point for African American leading men in film,” McMinn said in his statement. “The impact he had on the industry cannot be overstated.”
Roundtree was a leading man from the very start of his lifetime in screen acting. After beginning his career in modeling, he secured “Shaft” at the age of 28, marking his feature debut. The MGM release earned $12 million in ticket sales off of a $500,000 production budget, helping to save the studio from bankruptcy. A breakthrough hit, “Shaft” set the tone for a prolific decade of Blaxploitation filmmaking and demonstrated Hollywood’s historical failure to consider Black talent...
His death was confirmed by Patrick McMinn, his manager since 1987.
“Richard’s work and career served as a turning point for African American leading men in film,” McMinn said in his statement. “The impact he had on the industry cannot be overstated.”
Roundtree was a leading man from the very start of his lifetime in screen acting. After beginning his career in modeling, he secured “Shaft” at the age of 28, marking his feature debut. The MGM release earned $12 million in ticket sales off of a $500,000 production budget, helping to save the studio from bankruptcy. A breakthrough hit, “Shaft” set the tone for a prolific decade of Blaxploitation filmmaking and demonstrated Hollywood’s historical failure to consider Black talent...
- 10/25/2023
- by J. Kim Murphy
- Variety Film + TV
Richard Roundtree, who broke ground with his signature role in the Shaft movie franchise, died October 24 after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer with his family at his bedside. He was 81.
Roundtree’s career spanned five decades and included everything from his most popular blaxploitation role to a very early appearance on As the World Turns in 1956 to being a Season 2 main cast member on Ava DuVernay’s OWN series Cherish the Day last year.
He is best known for playing detective John Shaft in the 1971 action thriller and its sequels, Shaft’s Big Score! (1972) and Shaft in Africa (1973) as well as the short-lived 1973 Shaft TV series.
For his performance in the original film, Roundtree was nominated for a New Star of the Year Golden Globe and hailed as the first Black action hero. More importantly, the films made Shaft a cultural hero, a symbol of Black power onscreen, at the box office and beyond.
Roundtree’s career spanned five decades and included everything from his most popular blaxploitation role to a very early appearance on As the World Turns in 1956 to being a Season 2 main cast member on Ava DuVernay’s OWN series Cherish the Day last year.
He is best known for playing detective John Shaft in the 1971 action thriller and its sequels, Shaft’s Big Score! (1972) and Shaft in Africa (1973) as well as the short-lived 1973 Shaft TV series.
For his performance in the original film, Roundtree was nominated for a New Star of the Year Golden Globe and hailed as the first Black action hero. More importantly, the films made Shaft a cultural hero, a symbol of Black power onscreen, at the box office and beyond.
- 10/25/2023
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: 93-year-old Oscar nominee June Squibb (Nebraska) has found her first, long overdue leading role in Thelma, an upcoming “action” comedy written and directed by Josh Margolin, which has wrapped production. The actress is joined in the ensemble by Fred Hechinger (The White Lotus), Richard Roundtree (Shaft), Parker Posey (The Staircase), Clark Gregg (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) and Malcolm McDowell (A Clockwork Orange).
Margolin’s first feature, based on a real-life experience involving his grandmother, is (half-jokingly) billed as Nebraska meets Mission: Impossible. It centers on 90-year-old grandmother Thelma Post (Squibb), who gets duped by a phone scammer pretending to be her grandson and sets out on a uniquely treacherous quest to reclaim what was taken from her.
Zoë Worth, a longtime collaborator of Margolin’s, and producing partner Chris Kaye started developing Thelma after reading an early draft in their writer’s group, Rock & Roll Universe. The film will be their first produced together.
Margolin’s first feature, based on a real-life experience involving his grandmother, is (half-jokingly) billed as Nebraska meets Mission: Impossible. It centers on 90-year-old grandmother Thelma Post (Squibb), who gets duped by a phone scammer pretending to be her grandson and sets out on a uniquely treacherous quest to reclaim what was taken from her.
Zoë Worth, a longtime collaborator of Margolin’s, and producing partner Chris Kaye started developing Thelma after reading an early draft in their writer’s group, Rock & Roll Universe. The film will be their first produced together.
- 11/21/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda have committed to a big screen reteam in Moving On, a comedy written and to be directed by Paul Weitz.
Malcolm McDowell and Richard Roundtree join them in a film about two old friends who reconnect at a funeral, and decide to exact revenge on the widower who wronged them decades before. Production will begin this fall in Los Angeles. The film’s co-financed by Limelight and Boies/Schiller Film Group.
Andrew Miano, Stephanie Meurer & Weitz are producing through Depth of Field. Limelight’s Chris Parker and Dylan Sellers are financing the film and are also producing. Boies/Schiller Film Group is also financing, and David Boies and Zack Schiller are exec producing. Depth of Field’s Dan Balgoyen & Britta Rowings are the executive producers. Weitz most recently directed the Kevin Hart-starrer Fatherhood for Netflix.
Tomlin and Fonda are currently shooting the seventh...
Malcolm McDowell and Richard Roundtree join them in a film about two old friends who reconnect at a funeral, and decide to exact revenge on the widower who wronged them decades before. Production will begin this fall in Los Angeles. The film’s co-financed by Limelight and Boies/Schiller Film Group.
Andrew Miano, Stephanie Meurer & Weitz are producing through Depth of Field. Limelight’s Chris Parker and Dylan Sellers are financing the film and are also producing. Boies/Schiller Film Group is also financing, and David Boies and Zack Schiller are exec producing. Depth of Field’s Dan Balgoyen & Britta Rowings are the executive producers. Weitz most recently directed the Kevin Hart-starrer Fatherhood for Netflix.
Tomlin and Fonda are currently shooting the seventh...
- 9/24/2021
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
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