Richard Roundtree, the trailblazing actor who starred as the ultra-smooth private detective in several 害羞草研究所淪haft害羞草研究所� films beginning in the early 1970s, has died. He was 81.

Roundtree害羞草研究所檚 longtime manager, Patrick McMinn, said the actor had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and died at his home in Los Angeles on Tuesday. He was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1993 and underwent a double mastectomy.

害羞草研究所淩ichard害羞草研究所檚 work and career served as a turning point for African American leading men,害羞草研究所� McMinn said. 害羞草研究所淭he impact he had on the industry cannot be overstated.害羞草研究所�

Roundtree, who was born in New Rochelle, New York, was considered as the first Black action hero and became one of the leading actors in the blaxploitation genre through his New York street smart John Shaft character in the Gordon Parks-directed film in 1971. At age 28, it was Roundtree害羞草研究所檚 first feature film appearance after starting his career as a model.

Roundtree害羞草研究所檚 害羞草研究所淪haft害羞草研究所� was part of a change in how Black movies were viewed in Hollywood, which failed to consider Black actors 害羞草研究所� especially for leading roles 害羞草研究所� in projects at the time. The blaxploitation films were primarily aimed at the African American audiences.

In the film, his character navigated the world of thugs. He regularly whipped out popular one-liners like 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 my duty to please that booty.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淲hat we were doing was a good, old Saturday afternoon shoot 害羞草研究所檈m up,害羞草研究所� Roundtree said in a 2000 interview with The Associated Press.

Isaac Hayes害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所淪haft害羞草研究所� theme song 害羞草研究所� which included the line 害羞草研究所淵ou a bad mother害羞草研究所� (Shut your mouth)害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所� helped insinuate the original movie into the pop-cult consciousness. The singer, who died in 2008, said the song was 害羞草研究所渓ike the 害羞草研究所榮hot heard round the world.害羞草研究所� His single won an Academy Award for best song in 1971 and two Grammys the following year.

After the film害羞草研究所檚 success, Roundtree returned in sequels 害羞草研究所淪haft害羞草研究所檚 Big Score害羞草研究所� in 1972 and 害羞草研究所淪haft in Africa害羞草研究所� in 1973. That same year, he played the savvy detective once again on the CBS television series 害羞草研究所淪haft,害羞草研究所� which lasted only seven episodes.

Roundtree reprised his role in the 2000 害羞草研究所淪haft害羞草研究所� film, a revival that starred Samuel L. Jackson. He appeared as Jackson害羞草研究所檚 uncle in the big-budget film that was aimed at the general audience. Both appeared again in the same roles in the 2019 film starring Jessie T. Usher.

Jackson called Roundtree the 害羞草研究所減rototype害羞草研究所� and the 害羞草研究所渂est to ever do it害羞草研究所� in a social media post.

害羞草研究所淪HAFT, as we know it is & will always be his Creation,害羞草研究所� he said of Roundtree. 害羞草研究所淗is passing leaves a deep hole not only in my heart, but I害羞草研究所檓 sure a lotta y害羞草研究所檃ll害羞草研究所檚, too.害羞草研究所�

Through his 50-plus year career, Roundtree appeared in a number other notable films including 害羞草研究所淓arthquake,害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所淢an Friday害羞草研究所� with Peter O害羞草研究所橳oole, 害羞草研究所淩oots,害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所淢aniac Cop害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所淪e7en害羞草研究所� and 害羞草研究所淲hat Men Want害羞草研究所� starring Taraji P. Henson. He also made his mark with television roles on 害羞草研究所淢agnum P.I.,害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所淭he Love Boat,害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所淏eing Mary Jane害羞草研究所� and 害羞草研究所淭he Love Boat.害羞草研究所�

In 1995, Roundtree received a lifetime achievement award at the MTV Movie & TV awards.

Jonathan Landrum Jr., The Associated Press