Shaft' star Richard Roundtree, considered the first Black action movie hero, has died at 81

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Richard Roundtree, the trailblazing actor who starred as the ultra-smooth private detective in several “Shaft” films beginning in the early 1970s, has died. He was 81.

Richard Roundtree, who played John Shaft in the 1971 film Shaft

Shaft' star Richard Roundtree, considered the first Black action movie hero, has died at 81 – Hartford Courant

Shaft' star Richard Roundtree, considered the first Black action movie hero, has died at 81, KSEE24

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Richard Roundtree - Wikipedia

Richard Roundtree Dead: 'Shaft' Actor Was 81

Shaft' star Richard Roundtree, considered the first Black action movie hero, has died at 81, Arts & Entertainment

Shaft' star Richard Roundtree, considered the first Black action movie hero, has died at 81

Shaft' star Richard Roundtree, considered the first Black action movie hero, has died at 81 - American Press

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Shaft' star Richard Roundtree, considered the first Black action movie hero, has died at 81 - The Philadelphia Sunday Sun

Shaft' star Richard Roundtree, considered the first Black action