Shaft' Star Richard Roundtree Dead At 81

'Shaft' Star Richard famous for playing the lead role in "Shaft," is dead after a battle with cancer. The actor died Monday as a result of pancreatic cancer, according to his manager Patrick McMinn. We're told Richard was diagnosed two months ago, and his family was with him when he died at his home in Los Angeles. Richard is best known for playing detective John Shaft in the original 'Shaft' movie franchise including the 1971 OG film, "Shaft," the 1972 sequel "Shaft's Big Score!" and the 1973 trilogy, "Shaft In Africa. He was regarded as the first Black action hero in Hollywood and his breakthrough performance in "Shaft" saw him nominated for New Star of the Year at the Golden Globe Awards. The face of the 'Shaft' franchise, Richard also starred in the 1973 'Shaft' TV series. 

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