- Richard Roundtree has died
- The actor had cancer
- THIS was his battle with the disease
Roundtree, 81, died in Los Angeles after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, Patrick McMinn, Roundtree’s longtime manager told the 'Hollywood Reporter'.
"I'm very sad to report that our client Richard Roundtree passed away this afternoon after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer. His family was with him at his bedside. 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," Artists & Representatives, the agency that represented the late actor, said in a statement to 'Deadline'.
Richard changed the color of film forever
His career was truly unique for his time. Roundtree shot to fame with the 1971 Blaxploitation movie 'Shaft' about a private detective in the Harlem neighborhood of New York, and he reprised the role in a number of sequels and a short-lived network TV series.
The rugged and streetwise character, who wore flashy leather jackets and who was accompanied by a catchy theme song from Isaac Hayes, helped define cool for a Black leading man and also gained acceptance from white audiences. At the same time, he sparked a cultural revolution that would see more black representation on the screen after 'Shaft' hit the theatres.
Throughout his more than four decade career in Hollywood, Roundtree played numerous roles in films and television shows including the 1977 limited series 'Roots' and 1974’s 'Earthquake' in which he played motorcycle daredevil "Miles". Among his more poignant films was 1996’s 'Once Upon a Time'.
He was also fairly active in recent years as well. In the 2010s he was reintroduced to younger audiences when he played Gabrielle Union’s father in the BET series 'Being Mary Jane'. Gabrielle was one of many celebrities to share her condolences when the news broke out. "Working with Richard Roundtree was a dream … He was simply the best & we all loved him," Union tweeted.
Richard ended up becoming a strong advocate for cancer research way before his time. 23 years before his death from pancreatic cancer, the actor spoke to 'People' magazine about his breast cancer diagnosis and treatment which shocked the world. He was one of the first men to ever speak publicly about having breast cancer.
Richard inspired many to get help
"I'm not embarrassed," he said at the time. "Breast cancer is unusual in men, yes, but you have to be a man to get through this — damn right."
Roundtree underwent a modified mastectomy that removed his left breast from the nipple to the underarm. He then had six months of chemotherapy which left him so sick he struggled to get out of bed. But those were different times, and even "Shaft" had some fear about what it could mean.
He believed he had to keep his health treatment a secret for fear it would end his film career. However, six years after his treatment and being given the all-clear, he decided it was his responsibility to speak up about men with breast cancer, helping many to get treatment by breaking the stigma.
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This was his tragic fate...
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"After my last checkup, the doctors said, ‘You don't have to come back in the foreseeable future.’ That felt wonderful. Wonderful. After those years with the cancer hanging over me."
"For a long time I never talked about the cancer. Nobody ever knew I was even in the hospital. But I tell everyone now. I feel that it's very important that people who are recognizable in the universe, at whatever level, say that they've gone through this and it's okay."
But sadly, cancer would be a feature in his life again. It's still unknown when the pancreatic cancer that eventually took his life started to develop, but his representatives have said his battle was "brief" which is good news.
Now, it's time to look back at the incredible legacy, career, and life of Richard Roundtree...
