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Shaft: Richard Roundtree deceased due to ‘cancer’
Shaft actor dead at age 81.
Blog King, Mass Appeal
LOS ANGELES — “🎵Who is the man that would risk his neck for his brother man? (Shaft) Ya damn right.🎵” Richard Roundtree, who starred as private detective John Shaft in several blaxploitation films, has migrated to that big movie studio in the sky. The negro thespian kicked the bucket on Monday amid complications from pancreatic cancer. He was 81. Not bad. I’d take it. Richard was encircled by family when he passed away peacefully in his Los Angeles home. Social media reaction was melancholic. One commenter wrote, “God bless his soul. Just a wonderful human being❤❤.” Another chimed in with, “Richard was a great actor and there will NEVER be a better Shaft than him. RIP.” A third person added, “Awwww. He was a bad motha… Shut yo mouth!” Samuel L. Jackson, who played “Shaft” in Tim Story’s 2019 film, tweeted his condolences. “The passing of Richard Roundtree is a real blow,” Sam wrote. “Loved being around him, learning, working, laughing & feeling blessed to have an idol live up to who I expected him to be! Thanks for making us feel REAL GOOD about ourselves! Rest in power!”
Richard’s manager, Patrick McMinn, echoed a homogeneous sentiment. “Richard’s work and career served as a turning point for African American leading men,” he said. “The impact he had on the industry cannot be overstated.” Richard’s film credits include the first “Shaft” movie in 1971, “Shaft’s Big Score” in 1972, and “Shaft in Africa” in 1973. He also had his own “Shaft” television series.
Richard, rest in peace.
You’re gone but not forgotten.
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He was the definition of ‘COOL”. I love his movies.
He will be Greatly missed he was the most coolest actor and outstanding role in playing Shaft ❤❤❤
had a crush on this man for years. RIP mr. roundtree.
We can dig it , R.I.P Mr Roundtree
There hadn’t been anything on screen like him before or after, he laid the foundation for those that came after him, another piece of my childhood gone, RIP to our forever “Shaft “..
The First Black Action Hero, Rest in Power 🖤☝
Shaft saved Hollywood from bankruptcy, something the media never mentions. RIP to Richard Roundtree a black american hero we needed on the big screen.
R.I.P Legend G.O.A.T
I remember when he was diagnosed with breast cancer…Still made it to 81, RIP SIR💜
R.I.P. Mr. Roundtree. “The Say This Cat Shaft Is A Bad Mother- Shut Your Mouth But I’m Talking About Shaft And We Can Dig It”
The original black tough guy. Great talent. RIP mr. Roundtree.
Our answer to James Bond, so very sad to hear of his passing, what a gorgeous man, Rest Easy Richard, job well done.
❤❤❤😢He wAS My first MALE arousal, I watched in television! I HAVE learned THAT I am heterosexual!
It’s really a disservice that the (systemically racial) structure of Hollywood referred to the masterpiece SHAFT as a blaxploitation movie — yes it’s a legitimate era by its label — but that’s only surface stuff. Gordon Parks was a master still photographer followed by his superior expertise as a cinemaphotographer and story teller. I saw SHAFT as an underage kid (11 years old) but I was tall for my age so I got in to see the movie. I must have seen SHAFT more than 100 times — if not on DVD then when it’s streaming some channel or app — I stop and watch. From the master shots, wide shots, close ups, transitions, the action sequences and how the classic Issac Hayes soundtrack weaved into the film with beauty and ease. The storyline, the dialogue and the undeniable screen presence of the legend Richard Roundtree — whom Mr. Parks noticed in an advertisement for DUKE Hair pomade. “I want this guy,” Parks was quoted as saying. I had the honor of meeting Mr. Roundtree back in the mid 1990s during my L.A. days. As tall as I thought I am at 6’1 — Mr. Roundtree had an inch on me!! What a treat!! Great man! Superfly with Ron O’Neal would follow (another classic) and Jim Brown with Slaughter and Fred “The Hammer” Williamson with Black Cesar but SHAFT was always the standard for promoting and celebrating the black male image of great pride, strength, power, class and intelligence!
RIP Richard Roundtree
When you can make a character so iconic it seems real, you have done something legendary in entertainment. Much respect.
When I tell you that man was my crush. Such a beautiful black man, a legend for sure. He will be missed. ❤️
He looked really good for 81
He is not dead, he is in the spirit, that goes on and on forever. I have been out of my physical body many times.
I remember putting on my older sister’s makeup and lying about my age to see Shaft in the theater 😅you had to be 16 and I was only 13. That makeup came in handy not to mention I had a 16 year old’s body 😅but I remember there were 3 of us and we were in Awe of this handsome black man being the star and doing it well. Before then we didn’t have many of our people portrayed as strong independent characters. Even through his breast cancer ordeal he still remained that strong sexy super hero we’d become to know and love and his wardrobe was 🔥🔥Every guy I knew wanted a leather coat but no one wore it like Richard Rountree.🥰Rest well. You are loved and have inspired many to play strong characters. 🤴🏽🧥🧥🌹🌹🌹
Rest In Power Shaft!!!✊🏾✊🏾✊🏾
R.I.P. Mr. Roundtree. “They Say This Cat Shaft Is A Bad Mother- Shut Your Mouth But I’m Talking About Shaft And We Can Dig It”