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Richard Roundtree, the American actor greatest recognized for his roles within the Shaft movie franchise, has died aged 81.

His supervisor, Patrick McMinn, stated Roundtree was surrounded by his household in his Los Angeles house on Tuesday afternoon when he died.

He handed away following a quick battle with pancreatic most cancers.

“Richard’s work and profession served as a turning level for African American main males in movie,” Mr McMinn advised The Hollywood Reporter.

“The influence he had on the business can’t be overstated,” he added.

In 1993, Roundtree was recognized with breast most cancers and had a double mastectomy.

He later stated: “Breast most cancers isn’t gender particular. And males have this cavalier angle about well being points. I bought such constructive suggestions as a result of I spoke out about it, and it’s been fairly quite a few years now. I’m a survivor.”

Roundtree was married twice and is survived by 4 daughters and a son.

Roundtree was born on 9 July 1942 in New Rochelle, New York. His dad and mom, John Roundtree and Kathryn (Watkins) Roundtree, have been recorded as a butler and a cook dinner in the identical family within the 1940 census, based on The New York Occasions.

He attended New Rochelle Excessive College and performed for its soccer staff.

Shaft, launched in 1971, catapulted Roundtree to stardom on the age of 29.

Following Shaft, Roundtree essayed a various vary of roles in different films. He featured as a part of the star-studded forged within the catastrophe movie Earthquake (1974) alongside Charlton Heston and Ava Gardner.

He additionally assumed the title function in Man Friday (1975), portraying a vibrant, beneficiant associate to Peter O’Toole’s Seventeenth-century explorer Robinson Crusoe.

In Inchon (1981), Roundtree performed an Military officer on Common Douglas MacArthur’s (Laurence Olivier) workers in Korea. He shared the display screen with Clint Eastwood and Burt Reynolds in Metropolis Warmth (1984) and confronted off towards a colossal flying lizard in Q (1982).

The Hollywood Reporter quoted him as as soon as saying that his father “was out visiting me in LA, and I used to be complaining about [how] 24/7, the Shaft character comes up,”. His father advised him: “Son, let me let you know one thing. Lots of people go away this Earth not being recognized for something. Shut up.”

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“Artists & Representatives Company mourns the lack of our good friend and shopper Richard Roundtree,” the company stated in an announcement.

“His trailblazing profession modified the face of leisure across the globe and his enduring legacy can be felt for generations to return. Our hearts are together with his household and family members throughout this tough time.”

Samuel L Jackson, who took over the Shaft film franchise in 2000, paid tribute to the actor on his social media. “Richard Roundtree, The Prototype, The Greatest To Ever Do It!! SHAFT, as we all know it’s & will at all times be His Creation!!,” he wrote.

“His passing leaves a deep gap not solely in my coronary heart, however I’m certain a lotta y’all’s, too. Love you Brother, I see you strolling down the Center of Fundamental Road in Heaven & Issac’s Conducting your music” referring to the late Isaac Hayes’ well-known Theme from Shaft, which gained an Oscar.