Richard Roundtree, the “Shaft” star who was a pioneer for other black filmmakers and performers, has died.
He was 81.
Roundtree passed away Tuesday at his home in Los Angeles of pancreatic cancer, his manager, Patrick McMinn, told The Hollywood Reporter.
The Post has contacted reps for Roundtree for comment.
Roundtree struggled with his health over the years. He was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1993 and had a double mastectomy after finding a lump on his chest while filming on location in Costa Rica.
“The doctor told me, ‘You have breast cancer,’” Roundtree recalled in 2007.
“I heard the cancer part first — it was only later that I heard the breast part. I couldn’t believe it.”
“Shaft,” considered to be one of the premier films within the 1970s-era Blaxploitation genre, earned Roundtree a Golden Globe nomination in 1972. He later received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 1995 MTV Movie and TV Awards.
Roundtree’s other notable credits include “Roots,” “Once Upon a Time … When We Were Colored,” “Man Friday,” “Shaft’s Big Score!” and “Shaft in Africa,” as well as “Earthquake,” “Escape to Athena,” “Opposing Force,” “Maniac Cop,” “Seven,” George of the Jungle,” “Corky Romano,” “Brick,” “Speed Racer,” and “What Men Want.”
His most recent credit was this year’s “Collar — Directors Cut.”
Roundtree was married to Mary Jane Grant from 1963 to 1973. He then married Karen Michelle Ciernia in 1980 and divorced in 1998.
He is survived by his daughters Kelli, Nicole, Tayler and Morgan, and a son, John.
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