‘Shaft’ Star Richard Roundtree Dies At 81

Actor Richard Roundtree died on Tuesday at 81 years old.

Roundtree, known for his role as John Shaft in the 1971 film of the same name, first disclosed his health struggles in 1993, when he was diagnosed with breast cancer. He ultimately died after battling pancreatic cancer.

Before he was cast in Shaft, Roundtree started out as a model, posing for Johnson Products’ Duke hair grease and Salem cigarettes. A few years later, he took on his first acting role as Jack Johnson in the play The Great White Hope. He didn’t make it to film until he was cast for a minor role in What Do You Say To A Naked Lady?

A year after his first big-screen role, Roundtree went on to star in Shaft and its sequels, accruing more than 150 movie and television credits throughout his career. His most recent film appearance was in Moving On, with Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin.

He is survived by his five children: Kelli and Nicole from his first marriage with Mary Jane Grant, and Taylor, Morgan and John James, from his second marriage with Karen Michelle Ciernia.