Shaft dies: Richard Roundtree has died aged 81

The Blaxploitation and Hollywood icon has flown. Richard Roundtree, the unforgettable Shaft from the 1971 thriller, died this Tuesday, October 24, after a battle with pancreatic cancer.

The 81-year-old actor was celebrated with his status, “A Turning Point for African-American Men in Film”According to a press release from his agent Patrick McMinn Broadcast by VarietyGreetings “Indisputable Influence” A career ranging from Shaft, Harlem’s Red Nights to the 2019 version of Shaft.

“Prototype”, “Absolutely Legendary”

Samuel L. Jackson expressed his respect on social networks “PrototypeAnd show him his admiration. “His passing leaves a deep hole not only in my heart, but in yours too. I am sure I love you, my brother, and see you walking down the middle of Heaven’s high street, with Isaac, led by your song.”.

His young partner in the 2019 Shaft, Jessie T. Usher, also wanted to share his admiration for the man who taught him. “Many things, but above all humility and gratitude” And salute the memory of the man “Absolutely legendary“.

shaft! (famous tune)

After attending the University of Illinois, which he joined as an American football player, Richard Roundtree He first started a modeling career before moving into movies. First, what would you say to a naked woman? by Allen Pound, a docu-comedy about nudity.

Success came a few years later: he took on the costume of the muscular policeman John Shaft and redefined the codes of coolness in front of the camera of Gordon Parks.

It’s 1971, blaxploitation is at its peak, and the character is experiencing a real triumph ($12 million in the United States, almost 600,000 admissions in France), depicted by the iconic song of Isaac Hayes.

The end of blaxploitation and the character attached to it

Richard Roundtree Reprising his role in two films, The New Exploits of Shaft (1972) and Shaft Against the Man Traffickers (1973), and even a television series that lasted only seven episodes. But success is no longer the same and blaxploitation is coming to an end.

In this regard, he said in the New York Times It has in 2019 “I had the privilege of working with the classiest person I’ve ever known in the industry, Gordon Parks. So that word, exploitation, I’m offended by any attachment to Gordon Parks. I’ve always seen that as a negative.

Exploitation. Who is being exploited? (…) But it gave a lot of work. This brought many people into the industry, including many of our current producers and directors. So overall I see it as a positive. “.

this page flipped Richard Roundtree Then it will be difficult to get rid of its iconic character. Nevertheless, he continued to act in small budget films, often reprising his favorite role, such as One down, two to go or Kill Point, experiencing more or less success in film and television.

Seven, George of the Jungle, Speed ​​Racer… and Shaft

70s icon Richard Roundtree Rediscovered twenty years later by a younger generation of fans. He received many awards and took part in ambitious projects, such as David Fincher’s Seven, a delicious role in George of the Jungle or Wachowski’s Speed ​​​​​​​​Racer.

In a flash, he’ll be reprising his iconic character to play the new Uncle Shaft, played by Samuel L. Jackson stars in John Singleton’s 2000 remake… and Shaft’s first generation aka Samuel L. Jackson and Jesse T. 2019 version.

Richard Rantry Also multiplies appearances on the small screen and participates in some famous series: she stands out in Alias, Desperate Housewives, Grey’s Anatomy, Heroes, Mentalist, Chicago Fire or Lethal Weapon, with recurring roles in Diary of a Single Mom and Being Mary Jane.

Three generations of Shaft brought together by Tim Storr in the 2019 version of Shaft