Richard Roundtree, Black action hero who played 'Shaft,' dead at 81

FILE PHOTO: Cast member Richard Roundtree poses at the premiere of the movie "What Men Want" in Los Angeles, California, U.S. January 28, 2019. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni/File PhotoOct 24 - Richard Roundtree, a trailblazing Black actor who played the private eye John Shaft in the "Shaft" films of the 1970s and also took on dramatic roles dealing with race relations in America, died on Tuesday aged 81, the Hollywood Reporter said, citing his manager.

"Richard's work and career served as a turning point for African American leading men in film. The impact he had on the industry cannot be overstated," McMinn said in a statement, according to Variety, another show business trade publication. The rugged and streetwise character, who wore flashy leather jackets and who was accompanied by a catchy theme song from Isaac Hayes, helped define cool for a Black leading man and also gained acceptance from white audiences.

Among his more poignant films was 1996's "Once Upon a Time ... When We Were Colored", the story a tight-knit Black community confronting the racism of post-war Mississippi.

Source: Entertainment Trends (entertainmenttrends.net)

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