Black Hollywood has said goodbye to Richard Roundtree who brought John Shaft’s character to life in Shaft, the revolutionary film from 1971. Roundtree passed away at the age of 81, succumbing to pancreatic cancer, confirmed by his manager, Patrick McMinn of McMinn Management and Artists & Representatives Agency. Roundtree breathed his final breath on a Tuesday, surrounded his family.
“Artists & Representatives Agency mourns the loss of our friend and client Richard Roundtree,” said McMinn in a statement, marking the passing of a beloved star who had not only graced the silver screen but also made a profound impact beyond it.
Richard Roundtree in ‘Shaft’ (1971)
Roundtree, a Hollywood icon and breast cancer survivor himself, was a vocal advocate for men’s awareness of the disease. In 1993, Roundtree was diagnosed as having breast cancer. Since then, he has been a strong advocate of raising awareness about this aspect of the disease that is often overlooked.
Roundtree’s journey to fame began in New Rochelle, New York, where he was born. He began his career playing football at Southern Illinois University, and…
