Iconic 'Shaft' actor Richard Roundtree dies at 81

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Richard Roundtree, renowned for his portrayal of the iconic protagonist in the revolutionary "Shaft" series, peacefully departed on Tuesday, October 24, at the age of 81.

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Following a brief struggle with pancreatic cancer, the demise of Roundtree was confirmed by his dedicated manager, Patrick McMinn, as reported to ABC News.

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Roundtree established himself as the first Black action hero through his portrayal of Detective John Shaft in the 1971 action thriller, despite his career spanning five decades.

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He proceeded to feature in the subsequent installments of "Shaft's Big Score!," "Shaft in Africa," and the short-lived 1973 "Shaft" television series.

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Roundtree reprised the role in the 2000 film "Shaft," directed by John Singleton and featuring Samuel L. Jackson, and the subsequent sequel in 2019, directed by Tim Story.

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Roundtree reprised the role in the 2000 film "Shaft," directed by John Singleton and featuring Samuel L. Jackson.

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And the subsequent sequel in 2019, directed by Tim Story. His final appearance was in the 2022 comedy film "Moving On."

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He played Sam Bennett in "Roots" and appeared in shows like "Generations," "413 Hope St.," "Alias," "Diary of a Single Mom," "Buddies," "Desperate Housewives," "Soul Food," "Being Mary Jane," and "Family Reunion."

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He is set to appear in the upcoming second season of "Cherish the Day" in 2022.

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