Richard Roundtree died on Tuesday afternoon aged 81 after a short bout with pancreatic cancer.
The actor, noted as being the ‘the first black action hero’ had a career in front of the camera spanning five decades.
He was undoubtedly best known for his portrayal of private detective John Shaft in the 1971 film Shaft and its four sequels.
However, the star appeared in a host of other films and TV shows throughout his career including the likes of Desperate Housewives and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
As Hollywood mourns the actor, MailOnline takes a look back at his career in photos.
Shaft (1971-2019)
Limelight: Richard Roundtree Richard first starred as the detective John Shaft in 1971’s Shaft, which was directed by the photographer and composer–turned–filmmaker Gordon Parks
Reception: The film initially received mixed reviews, with some critics objecting to the films harsh language and occasionally brutal violence
Richard first starred as the detective John Shaft in 1971’s Shaft, which was directed by the photographer and composer–turned–filmmaker Gordon Parks and featured a classic soundtrack recorded by Isaac Hayes.
The film initially received mixed reviews, with some critics objecting to the films harsh language and occasionally brutal violence.
Even if Shaft polarized critics, it was a hit with audiences, at the film went on to earn an astounding $12 million (equivalent to over $373 million when accounting for inflation) 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.
He was back the following year to reprise his role in Shaft’s Big Score!, which was also a commercial success and is now viewed even more favorably than the original by some modern critics.
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 that were inspired by the 1971 original and now competed with it, while even James Bond — whom the later incarnations of Shaft were compared to — had adopted elements of the controversial genre with 1973’s Live And Let Die.
Take two: Richard was back the following year to reprise his role in Shaft’s Big Score!, which was also a commercial success and is now viewed even more favorably than the original by some modern critics
Franchise: Decades later, Richard would accept supporting roles as John Shaft in 2000’s Shaft (pictured with co-star Busta Rhymes)
The Roger Moore–starring spy thriller hit theaters just a week after Shaft In Africa debuted.
Following 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 several TV movies, rather than regular hour or half-hour episodes.
Seven of the TV films were produced in 1973 and ’74 for the series, but the series was canceled after just one season, and Roundtree later criticized its supposed pro-police attitude, which was in stark contrast to 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, later revealed to be his son.
The veteran star’s final turn as the iconic private eye was in 2019’s Shaft, a sequel to the 2000 film that again starred Jackson as 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 where he played the titular character of Friday
Story: The adventure flick 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 flick was an adaptation of the 1973 play of the same name which was itself based on Daniel Defoe’s novel Robinson Crusoe.
Richard starred opposite Peter O’Toole as Crusoe. The film reverses the characters in the novel, with Crusoe being a blunt Englishman and Friday being more empathic and intelligent.
The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 1975 with its 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 man in the room’: Show star Gabrielle Union shared a tribute to Richard after the 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 lead character, played by Gabrielle Union.
Gabrielle shared a tribute to Richard after the news of his death, writing: ‘Working with Richard Roundtree was a dream. Getting to hang with him & our Being Mary Jane family was always a good ass time with the best stories & laughs.
‘He was ALWAYS the coolest man in the room with the BEST vibes & ppl would literally run over to come see him. He was simply the best & 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 attend a reunion in Columbus, Georgia and then decide to move there to be closer
Character: Richard portrayed the family grandfather, simply known as Grandpa, a pastor and a survivor of prostate cancer
One of Richard’s last roles was in the sitcom Family Reunion about a family who attend a reunion in Columbus, Georgia and then decide to move there to be closer.
Richard portrayed the family grandfather, simply known as Grandpa, a pastor and a survivor of prostate cancer.
His son Moz was portrayed by Anthony Alabi while former Sister, Sister star Tia Mowry played his daughter in law Cocoa.
