Richard Roundtree died Tuesday afternoon at the age of 81 after a brief bout with pancreatic cancer.
Known as the “first black action hero,” the actor had a career in front of the camera that spanned five decades.
He was undoubtedly best known for his portrayal of private investigator John Shaft in the 1971 film Shaft and its four sequels.
However, the star appeared in numerous other films and TV shows throughout his career, including Desperate Housewives and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
While Hollywood mourns the actor, MailOnline looks back on his career in photos.
Shaft (1971-2019)
Limelight: Richard Roundtree Richard first starred as detective John Shaft in 1971’s Shaft, directed by photographer and composer turned filmmaker Gordon Parks
Reception: The film initially received mixed reviews, with some critics objecting to the film’s harsh language and sometimes brutal violence
Richard first played the role of detective John Shaft in 1971’s Shaft, directed by photographer and composer and filmmaker Gordon Parks, with a classic soundtrack recorded by Isaac Hayes.
The film initially received mixed reviews, with some critics objecting to the film’s harsh language and sometimes brutal violence.
Even though Shaft polarized critics, it was a hit with audiences, as the film earned an astonishing $12 million (equivalent to more than $373 million when inflation is taken into account) against a budget of just $500,000.
The film made Roundtree a star and he was nominated for the Golden Globe award for New Star of the Year for the 1971 film.
The following year he was back to reprise his role in Shaft’s Big Score! which was also a commercial success and is now regarded by some modern critics even more favorably than the original.
Roundtree returned to play Shaft again in 1973’s Shaft In Africa, this time with John Guillermin in the director’s chair, but that film was a commercial and critical bomb.
Part of its failure was attributed to the rise of other Blaxploitation films inspired by the 1971 original and now competing with it, while even James Bond – to whom the later incarnations of Shaft were compared – incorporated elements of the controversial genre had taken over with the 1973 films. Live and Let Die.
Take two: Richard was back the next year to reprise his role in Shaft’s Big Score! which was also a commercial success and is now regarded by some modern critics even more favorably than the original.
Franchise: Decades later, Richard would accept supporting roles as John Shaft in 2000’s Shaft (pictured with co-star Busta Rhymes)
The spy thriller starring Roger Moore was released just a week after Shaft In Africa debuted in theaters.
After the film’s failure, MGM attempted to keep the series alive with a TV series with a similar release structure to Colombo, in which the character starred in small seasons of various TV movies, rather than in regular hour-long episodes half an hour.
Seven of the TV movies were produced for the series in 1973 and ’74, but the series was canceled after just one season, and Roundtree later criticized the perceived pro-police stance, which contrasted sharply with the edgier theatrical features.
Decades later, Richard would accept supporting roles as John Shaft in 2000’s Shaft, a sequel directed by Boyz N The Hood’s John Singleton and starring Samuel L. Jackson as Shaft’s nephew, who later turned out to be his son.
The veteran star’s last turn as the iconic private investigator was in 2019’s Shaft, a sequel to the 2000 film that saw Jackson reprise the role of Shaft’s son, with Jessie T. Usher now playing a third generation of the Shaft family.
Man Friday (1975)
Film: Richard memorably appeared in the 1975 film Man Friday, playing the titular character of Friday
Story: The adventure film was an adaptation of the 1973 play of the same name, which was itself based on Daniel Defoe’s novel Robinson Crusoe
Richard memorably appeared in the 1975 film Man Friday, where he played the titular character of Friday.
The adventure film was an adaptation of the 1973 play of the same name, which was itself based on the novel Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe.
Richard starred opposite Peter O’Toole as Crusoe. The film inverts the characters in the novel, with Crusoe being a blunt Englishman and Friday being more empathetic and intelligent.
The film premiered at the 1975 Cannes Film Festival, with director Jack Gold receiving a nomination for the Palme d’Or.
Being Mary Jane (2013–19)
Show: Richard is also known for his portrayal of Paul Patterson on the BET series Being Mary Jane
‘The coolest guy in the room’: Show star Gabrielle Union shared a tribute to Richard following news of his death
Richard is also known for his portrayal of Paul Patterson on the BET series Being Mary Jane.
The actor played the father of the show’s main character, played by Gabrielle Union.
Gabrielle shared a tribute to Richard following the news of his death, writing: ‘Working with Richard Roundtree was a dream. Hanging out with him and our Being Mary Jane family was always a fun time with the best stories and laughter.
“He was ALWAYS the coolest guy in the room with the BEST vibes and people literally ran to come see him. He was just the best and we all loved him.”
Family reunion (2019-2022)
Role: One of Richard’s last roles was in the sitcom Family Reunion about a family who attends a reunion in Columbus, Georgia and then decides to move there to be closer
Character: Richard portrayed the grandfather of the family, known simply as Grandpa, a preacher and a prostate cancer survivor
One of Richard’s last roles was in the sitcom Family Reunion about a family who attends a reunion in Columbus, Georgia and then decides to move there to be closer.
Richard portrayed the grandfather of the family, known simply as Grandpa, a preacher and a prostate cancer survivor.
His son Moz was played by Anthony Alabi, while former Sister, Sister star Tia Mowry played his daughter-in-law Cocoa.