Richard Roundtree
Richard Arnold Roundtree (July 9, 1942 – October 24, 2023) was an American movie actor and fashion model. He portrayed John Shaft in the 1971 movie Shaft and its related sequels. He was also in many other movies.[1]
Richard Roundtree | |
|---|---|
 Richard Roundtree in February 2007 | |
| Born | Richard Arnold Roundtree July 9, 1942 |
| Died | October 24, 2023 (aged 81) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Pancreatic cancer |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1963–2023 |
| Spouses | Mary Jane Grant
(m. 1963; div. 1973)Karen M. Ciernia
(m. 1980; div. 1998) |
| Children | 5 |
Early years and education
changeRoundtree was born on July 9, 1942, in New Rochelle, New York. His parents were John Roundtree and Kathryn Watkins. He graduated from New Rochelle High School in 1961.[2] During high school, he was a part of the school's highly successful football team. After completing high school, Roundtree went on to attend Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois. In 1963, he decided to leave college and pursue a career in acting.[2]
Death
changeAt the age of 81, Roundtree died of pancreatic cancer at his home in Los Angeles on October 24, 2023.[3][4]
Legacy
changeHe has been called "the first Black action hero".[5] Roundtree was seen to have an impact on the rise of African American leading actors in Hollywood projects, thanks to his successful roles in the blaxploitation genre.[6] His role as Shaft was seen as a bold, confident, and charismatic person that also inspired cinematic roles of Black men and Black masculinity, whereas before Black men in movies before Shaft were seen as gentle and aimed to please others.[6]
References
change- ↑ Richard Roundtree Biography Archived 2010-09-14 at the Wayback Machine Yahoo! Movies; accessed April 30, 2014.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Richard Roundtree". HistoryMakers. 3 January 2018. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
- ↑ Koseluk, Chris (24 October 2023). "Richard Roundtree, Suave Star of 'Shaft,' Dies at 81". The Hollywood Reporter.
- ↑ "Richard Roundtree, star of the 1970s 'Shaft' film franchise, has died at 81". Los Angeles Times. 2023-10-25. Retrieved 2024-10-25.
- ↑ Tweedle, Sam, "I'm Just Talkin' About Shaft (And We Can Dig It)," Confessions of a Pop Culture Addict, Internet website [1], accessed August 20, 2014.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Fulwood III, Sam (October 28, 2023). "Opinion: After 'Shaft,' Black Americans in film were never portrayed the same way". CNN. Warner Bros. Discovery Company. Archived from the original on October 29, 2023. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
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