‘Shaft’ star Richard Roundtree, considered the ‘first Black action movie hero’, has died at 81

Richard Roundtree, a US actor best known for his starring role in the Shaft film franchise, has died aged 81.

He died at home in Los Angeles on Tuesday afternoon with his family by his side, his manager Patrick McMinn told The Hollywood Reporter.

His death comes after a short battle with pancreatic cancer.

He was seen as a ground-breaking actor with his portrayal of detective John Shaft, which made him a star at the age of 29.

Samuel L Jackson, who appeared in the 2000 Shaft reboot as well as an 2019 instalment of the franchise with Roundtree, described the late actor as “the prototype, the best to ever do it”.

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Roundtree was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1993 and underwent a double mastectomy

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Source: ameyawdebrah.com