Richard Roundtree, Star of Iconic 1970s Movie “Shaft”, Dead at 81

The actor's manager confirmed to PEOPLE that he died Tuesday at his home in Los Angeles from pancreatic cancer

Richard Roundtree, best known for his leading role in the iconic 1970s Shaft film franchise and the TV series Roots, has died. He was 81.

His manager Patrick McMinn confirmed to PEOPLE that the actor died Tuesday at his home with his family by his bedside in Los Angeles from pancreatic cancer.

"Artists & Representatives Agency mourns the loss of our friend and client Richard Roundtree," the actor's agency said in a statement to PEOPLE. "His trailblazing career changed the face of entertainment around the globe and his enduring legacy will be felt for generations to come. Our hearts are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time."

Gabrielle Union, who starred alongside the actor in the BET TV series, Being Mary Jane, reflected on her time with Roundtree in a tribute on X. “Working with Richard Roundtree was a dream. Getting to hang with him & our Being Mary Jane family was always a good ass time with the best stories & laughs.”

Related: Samuel L. Jackson, Gabrielle Union and More Pay Tribute to Richard Roundtree: 'The Coolest Man in the Room'

She added, “He was ALWAYS the coolest man in the room with the BEST vibes & ppl would literally run over to come see him. He was simply the best & we all loved him.”

Samuel L. Jackson, who played Roundtree's nephew in the 2000 and 2019 Shaft sequels, called the actor "The Prototype, The Best To Ever Do It!!"

"His passing leaves a deep hole not only in my heart, but I’m sure a lotta y’all’s, too🤎👊🏾👊🏾👊🏾Love you Brother," Jackson wrote on Instagram. "I see you walking down the Middle of Main Street in Heaven & Issac’s Conducting your song🎶🎶👊🏾coat blowin’ in wind!!"

Sheryl Lee Ralph also paid tribute to Roundtree on X, writing, “When I was a teenager I use to dream about growing up to meet Richard Roundtree. I did and what a wonderful human being.”

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Roundtree was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1993 and became an advocate for early detection and screening of breast cancer in men.

“I didn’t have a vote, I had to speak about it,” Roundtree told radio station WBUR in 2019. “Breast cancer is not gender specific. And men have this cavalier attitude about health issues. And I got such positive feedback because I spoke out about it and it’s been quite a number of years now. I’m a survivor.”

Roundtree was born on July 9, 1942, in New Rochelle, New York, where he attended the local high school and played on the football team. He won a scholarship to play football at Southern Illinois University in 1961 but dropped out in 1963 to pursue acting and modeling.

That year, Eunice Johnson from Ebony magazine hired Roundtree to pose for his annual fashion event Ebony Fashion Fair.

In 1967, Roundtree joined the Negro Ensemble Company and got his big acting break when he was cast as Black heavyweight boxing champion Jack Johnson in the theater company’s production of The Great White Hope.

Roundtree then starred in his most notable role as private eye John Shaft in the 1971 hit Shaft and its sequels. He later appeared in the 2000 and 2019 Shaft films, which starred Jackson as his nephew.

He reflected on the impact that the character had on the black community during a SiriusXM interview with Sway Calloway in 2019 by sharing a story about an encounter with a fan at LAX.

"This guy was watching me," he said. "As I got through, he said, 'Can I have a word with you?' He says, 'I'm from Alabama and as a kid, we had to sit up in the balcony. And because of watching that film, it made me strive for something more than Alabama.'"

"People will come up to me and tell me things like that," he later added. "I'm very proud of that."

Apart from the iconic role, he was also known for 1974's Earthquake (1974) and the 2000-2004 series Soul Food. His more recent credits include the Netflix series Family Reunion and Fox's Star.

Roundtree is survived by his five children.

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