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[Mz iMac]

Richard Roundtree, a Hollywood icon who played John Shaft in the 1971 introduction to the "Shaft" film franchise, has died after a battle with cancer at age 81.

His manager, Patrick McMinn of McMinn Management and Artists & Representatives Agency, confirmed his passing in a statement. He said Roundtree had pancreatic cancer and died Tuesday afternoon.

His family was at his side, McMinn said.

"Artists & Representatives Agency mourns the loss of our friend and client Richard Roundtree," he said.

Though it was not his cause of death, Roundtree was also a well-known breast cancer survivor. He was diagnosed in 1993, and throughout his survival he advocated for greater breast cancer awareness among men.

Roundtree was born in New Rochelle, New York, played football for Southern Illinois University and did some modeling, according to his biography.

He was drawn to theater and joined New York's acclaimed Negro Ensemble Company, then starred as Jack Johnson in "The Great White Hope" off-Broadway before the role of John Shaft presented itself, according to the bio.

The 1971 film, directed by the legendary Gordon Parks, won Oscars for best music and original song for Isaac Hayes' eponymous hit and other music he created for it. The role of John Shaft, the "hotter than Bond, cooler than Bullitt" private detective, changed Roundtree's life and the course of Hollywood by introducing him as an unapologetic protagonist and subterranean fighter of crime.

Actor Richard Roundtree in Toronto on Sept. 13, 2022

The film "introduced into mainstream cinema the African American action hero; until then, action-hero roles had been reserved for white actors."

The critical and commercial success of "Shaft" launched a short-lived and small wave of major studio films focused on strong Black protagonists in Hollywood. And it provided Roundtree an array of acting opportunities, his face sometimes seeming to be everywhere on screen.

His other credits include television hits such as "CHiPs," "Magnum P.I.," "Desperate Housewives," "Grey's Anatomy" and "Chicago Fire." And he appeared in countless 1980s and 1990s action films, including "Original Gangstas."

SOURCE:  CBSNews dot com

                    R.I.P. SHAFT

[SloopJohnB]

@Mz iMac   Shut your mouth....... RIP 💔

[beckyb1012]

I can still hear the music in my head.  I loved watching him.  Time to rest now.

[meallen616]

[CANDLEQUEEN]

I can still hear the song as well.....RIP Mr. Roundtree!!! 

[Goodie2shoes]

@ SloopJohnB wrote: @ Mz iMac Shut your mouth..

I'm just talking bout Shaft !! 

Loved that movie !  May he rest in peace

[PickyPicky3]

RIP Richard Roundtree and Isaac Hayes who wrote and performed the Shaft theme.

[Luvitorleaveit1]

I was so sad and in disbelief when I heard he passed.  I am listening to the news now and his manager said he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer a couple of months ago.

He was also a model back in the day.

RIP

[Snowpuppy]

The man had swag, no doubt. 💝

[Tique]

Mr. Roundtree's episode of Unsung is airing tonight on TV1 @ 7P CT.