RICHARD ROUNDTREE

(9 July 1942 - 24 October 2023)

The American actor and model Richard Roundtree, who has died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 81, holds a place in the history of cinema as arguably the first black action hero. His success as the private investigator John Shaft in a series of five films (from 1971) made way for other US black actors to be cast in starring roles, rather than as menial sidekicks. There was also a TV series of seven feature-length movies which added to the Blaxploitation movement at that time. The character of Shaft influenced other film and TV producers who often mentioned or referenced the name, as well as using it in commercials or presenting parodies of Shaft, who truly became something of an icon.

Richard Arnold Roundtree was born in New Rochelle, New York, to church minister John Roundtree and his wife Kathryn. He attended his local high school and later studied at Southern Illinois University. In 1963 he quit college and decided to become an actor. However, some modelling work came first for products such as hair lotion and cigarettes. On joining the Negro Ensemble Company in 1967 his first role was as the boxer Jack Johnson in The Great White Hope and then other plays too with the company. His first film was What Do You Say to a Naked Lady? made in 1970 by Allen Funt of Candid Camera fame.

The next year saw the first of the Shaft films, just called Shaft. It was made by the black director Gordon Parks, a former photographer. He also directed the first sequel, Shaft’s Big Score! (1972) for which he also wrote the music. The first film tackled serious problems such as machismo and sexuality alongside a story of organised crime in Harlem and a kidnapping. It was an enormous hit, winning an Oscar for Isaac Hayes’ ‘Theme from Shaft’ and a Golden Globe for best original score. Following the success of the first sequel came Shaft in Africa (1973) which did not do as well. Then, apart from the TV movies, there were no more features until 2000 and Shaft, a reboot with Roundtree as Uncle John Shaft, and in 2019 another Shaft with Roundtree as John Shaft Sr and Samuel L. Jackson as the son of Shaft Sr. The final film was badly received as Shaft had by then had its day of glory.

However, it didn’t stop Roundtree from having a wide-ranging career. Features included Earthquake, Man Friday (in which he had the title role), Q – The Winged Serpent, City Heat, David Fincher’s Se7en, Original Gangstas, George of the Jungle and What Men Want. On TV apart from the Shaft movies, Roundtree was also in Roots, CHIPs, Murder, She Wrote, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Beverly Hills 90210, L.A. Law, Desperate Housewives and Grey’s Anatomy. He even did stage work, playing Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls on Broadway. His last film was Thelma, in which he starred opposite the 94-year-old June Squibb, and which was dedicated to his memory.

Richard Roundtree married Mary Jane Grant in 1963, with whom he has two daughters, Kelli and Nicole. In 1980 he married Karen Cernia with whom he also had two daughters, Taylor and Morgan, and a son John. Both marriages ended in divorce.

MICHAEL DARVELL