# Richard Roundtree (Shaft) dies at 81 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** movies, celebrity-death\ **Created:** [October 25, 2023, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/richard-roundtree-shaft-dies-at-81/992061 "2023-10-25T04:26:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2023, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/richard-roundtree-shaft-dies-at-81/992061/1 "2023-10-25T04:26:08Z")
Shaft has the ultimate movie title double entendre. You’ll understand if you know the theme song and movie franchise. Richard Roundtree and Pam Grier were the earliest black action stars. Important part of movie history. RIP > **[Reports: Richard Roundtree, 'Shaft' star, has died | CNN](https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/24/entertainment/richard-roundtree-death/index.html)** > > Richard Roundtree, the stage and screen actor best known for his performance as a tough-talking private eye in 1971’s “Shaft,” has died, according to multiple reports. Shaft Who’s the black private dick That’s a sex machine to all the chicks? (Shaft) You’re damn right Who is the man That would risk his neck for his brother, man? (Shaft) Can ya dig it? Who’s the cat that won’t cop out When there’s danger all about (Shaft) Right on You see this cat, Shaft is a bad mother (Shut your mouth) But I’m talking about Shaft (Then we can dig it) He’s a complicated man But no one understands him but his woman ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2023, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/richard-roundtree-shaft-dies-at-81/992061/2 "2023-10-25T04:31:31Z")
Great music [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/kfdW4687b_w/maxresdefault.jpg "Theme From 'Shaft' - Isaac Hayes") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfdW4687b_w) ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2023, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/richard-roundtree-shaft-dies-at-81/992061/3 "2023-10-25T04:54:37Z")
Richard was one baaaaaaad mother-\*\*\*\*\*\*! RIP, sex machine! ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2023, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/richard-roundtree-shaft-dies-at-81/992061/4 "2023-10-25T05:02:28Z")
I saw _Shaft_ in the Theater in 1978. It had been rereleased. The big screen makes a big difference for action films. I saw the Shaft revival in 2000 with Samuel L Jackson and Roundtree. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2023, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/richard-roundtree-shaft-dies-at-81/992061/5 "2023-10-25T05:05:08Z")
“Shaft” won Best Song at the 1972 Oscars. Isaac Hayes was: 1. The first Black person to win that award, 2. The first Black person to win ANY Academy Award besides an acting award, 3. The first person to win the award with a song that was rock or soul, and 4. The first person to win the award who personally both composed and performed the music. Oh, Richard Roundtree. Man was HANDSOME. At his peak, he might have been the handsomest leading man in Hollywood. To have his looks, I’d trade in my body and my kids and I’d throw in some cash. I wonder how many “Handsomest actors” there have been? It’s gotta include Robert Redford, George Clooney, maybe Bradley Cooper at one point. People seemed to think Burt Reynolds was really handsome. Billy Dee Williams was incredibly handsome, but did he lead enough movies to really have the charisma score? Cary Grant held the title for awhile back in the day, right? To me the handsomest man, ya gotta lead movies. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2023, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/richard-roundtree-shaft-dies-at-81/992061/6 "2023-10-25T13:52:19Z")
TIL: Richard Roundtree is his birth name. Richard Arnold Roundtree was born on July 9, 1942, in [New Rochelle, New York](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Rochelle,_New_York), to John Roundtree and Kathryn Watkins.[ I thought it was a made up stage name. Link [Richard Roundtree - Wikipedia](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Roundtree) ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2023, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/richard-roundtree-shaft-dies-at-81/992061/7 "2023-10-25T14:10:45Z")
Bart and Lisa sing tribute to the man: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/R9YvNUmW1kw/maxresdefault.jpg "The Simpsons - Shaft theme song") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9YvNUmW1kw) ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2023, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/richard-roundtree-shaft-dies-at-81/992061/8 "2023-10-25T15:20:30Z")
Does anyone live after finding out they have pancreatic cancer? RIP, handsome man. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2023, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/richard-roundtree-shaft-dies-at-81/992061/9 "2023-10-25T15:29:14Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I saw the Shaft revival in 2000 with Samuel L Jackson and Roundtree. I didn’t watch the original until shortly before Jackson’s version, and I was pleasantly surprised that Roundtree’s Shaft was actually a pretty good movie. I thought it was better than Jackson’s. I’m sorry that Roundtree is gone, but dude had a pretty good run. Not many actors get an iconic character like Shaft. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2023, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/richard-roundtree-shaft-dies-at-81/992061/10 "2023-10-25T15:31:32Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > Does anyone live after finding out they have pancreatic cancer? RIP, handsome man. As I understand it, by the time most people are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer it’s too late. i.e. You just don’t know its there until you get sick. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2023, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/richard-roundtree-shaft-dies-at-81/992061/11 "2023-10-25T15:34:21Z")
LOL 😆 Roundtree made a beer commercial cool. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/NM4T8qfnQVk/hqdefault.jpg "Schlitz Malt Liquor Commercial featuring Richard Roundtree") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NM4T8qfnQVk) ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2023, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/richard-roundtree-shaft-dies-at-81/992061/12 "2023-10-25T15:37:09Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > To have his looks, I’d trade in my body and my kids and I’d throw in some cash. …how do your kids feel about this statement? 😀 ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2023, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/richard-roundtree-shaft-dies-at-81/992061/13 "2023-10-25T15:38:50Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I saw the Shaft revival in 2000 with Samuel L Jackson and Roundtree. I missed the second one but caught the 2019 one with Roundtree, Jackson and Jessie T Usher. Three generations of Shafts in one film! ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2023, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/richard-roundtree-shaft-dies-at-81/992061/14 "2023-10-25T15:42:19Z")
Lets not forget Sam and Kizzie. (Richard and Leslie Uggams) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/MWVbYlHglFM/hqdefault.jpg "Roots Clip | Kizzie getting Holla'd at...") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWVbYlHglFM) ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2023, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/richard-roundtree-shaft-dies-at-81/992061/15 "2023-10-25T17:28:42Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > As I understand it, by the time most people are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer it’s too late. i.e. You just don’t know its there until you get sick. And by the time it actually makes you feel sick, it’s often very advanced and difficult to treat effectively. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2023, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/richard-roundtree-shaft-dies-at-81/992061/16 "2023-10-25T20:33:33Z")
A groundbreaking actor and great talent. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2023, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/richard-roundtree-shaft-dies-at-81/992061/17 "2023-10-25T20:47:58Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > TIL: Richard Roundtree is his birth name. Richard Arnold Roundtree was born on July 9, 1942, in [New Rochelle, New York](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Rochelle,_New_York), to John Roundtree and Kathryn Watkins.[ > > I thought it was a made up stage name. The one that surprised me was Frank Zappa. ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2023, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/richard-roundtree-shaft-dies-at-81/992061/18 "2023-10-25T20:51:46Z")
I have a friend who was diagnosed in his thirties or forties, had surgery (long operation) and is still with us into his late sixties but, yeah, it’s rare. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2023, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/richard-roundtree-shaft-dies-at-81/992061/19 "2023-10-25T21:14:01Z")
My auntie lasted 11 months. Fuck cancer. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2023, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/richard-roundtree-shaft-dies-at-81/992061/20 "2023-10-25T22:27:25Z")
Cancer had Richard’s number. The treatment in 1993 helped him survive another 30 years. From Wikipedia Roundtree was diagnosed with [breast cancer](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Male_breast_cancer) in 1993 and underwent a double [mastectomy](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mastectomy) and [chemotherapy](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemotherapy). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/richard-roundtree-shaft-dies-at-81/992061.md?page=2)