Samuel L Jackson has paid tribute to Richard Roundtree, best known for the Shaft film series, writing the pioneering star’s death “leaves a deep hole” in his heart.
Jackson, 74, took over the film franchise from Roundtree, remembered as “the first Black action hero” for his portrayal as private detective John Shaft in the movie franchise, in 2000.
Roundtree’s manager Patrick McMinn said the actor died at his home in Los Angeles on Tuesday (24 October) after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 81.
“Richard Roundtree, The Prototype, The Best To Ever Do It!!” Jackson wrote on Instagram, captioning a photograph of him and Roundtree, dressed in matching coats, from the 2019 Shaft reboot.
“SHAFT, as we know it is & will always be His Creation!! His passing leaves a deep hole not only in my heart, but I’m sure a lotta y’all’s, too,” the Django Unchained star added, before sharing a quote from Isaac Hayes’s Oscar-winning “Theme from Shaft”.
In a separate tribute shared on X/Twitter, Jackson said the death of Roundtree “is a real blow”, adding the actor feels “blessed to have an idol live up to who I expected him to be”.
Jackson's character is the nephew of the original Shaft, played by Richard Roundtree in the 1971 film and its two sequels— (Warner Bros)
10 Things I Hate About You star Gabrielle Union remembered Roundtree “as the coolest man in the room”, adding “we all loved him”, in a heartfelt message shared on X.
The duo worked alongside each other in Being Mary Jane, the BET drama in which Roundtree played Union’s on-screen father.
She wrote: “Working with Richard Roundtree was a dream. Getting to hang with him & our Being Mary Jane family was always a good a** time with the best stories & laughs. He was ALWAYS the coolest man in the room with the BEST vibes & [people] would literally run over to come see him.
“He was simply the best & we all loved him.”
Tributes to the Hollywood veteran continued to pour in on Wednesday, with stars such as Sheryl Lee Ralph, Taraji P Henson, Jeffrey Wright, and Loni Love honouring the legacy of Roundtree.
Abbott Elementary actor Ralph tweeted: “When I was a teenager I use to dream about growing up to meet Richard Roundtree. I did and what a wonderful human being.”
“Rest in paradise,” Henson captioned an Instagram post in honour of her What Men Want co-star, sharing a picture of the pair from the 2019 American romcom.
Wright, who starred alongside Roundree in the 2000 Shaft movie, paid tribute to “the OG” in a post on X, while Emmy-winning comdian Love said he put the “sexy and cool in being a detective”.
“Sad to hear of the passing of Richard Roundtree.. He was fabulous as John Shaft at a time when there were few leading Black men in film. He put the sexy and cool in being a detective. Rest well. Condolences to his family,” she tweeted.
Roundtree was born on 9 July 1942 in New York. According to a report in the New York Times, his parents were recorded as a butler and cook in the same household in the 1940 census.
He shot to fame when he landed the starring role in Shaft, released in 1971. His other notable credits include Earthquake, the 1974 disaster film starring Charlton Heston and Ava Gardner, Man Friday (1975), and City Heat (1984).
“His trailblazing career changed the face of entertainment around the globe and his enduring legacy will be felt for generations to come. Our hearts are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time,” the agency that managed Roundtree, Artists & Representatives, said in a statement.
In 1993, Roundtree was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a double mastectomy, with the late actor previously reiterating that the disease is “not gender specific”.
He is survived by five children – four daughters, Kelli, Nicole, Taylor, Morgan, and one son, John.
