Hollywood Stars React To The Death Of Shaft Star Richard Roundtree

As the actor who took up the Shaft reins in 2000, Samuel L. Jackson is especially indebted to Richard Roundtree’s legacy. The pair reunited again for the 2019 sequel. Jackson offered effusive praise of his former co-star on Instagram. «Richard Roundtree, The Prototype, The Best To Ever Do It!!» he wrote under a still of the two in 2019’s «Shaft.» «SHAFT, as we know it is & will always be His Creation!! His passing leaves a deep hole not only in my heart, but I’m sure a lotta y’all’s, too.»

Jackson also shouted out Isaac Hayes’ famous «Theme From Shaft.» «Love you Brother, I see you walking down the Middle of Main Street in Heaven & Issac’s Conducting your song … coat blowin’ in wind!! Angels whispering, «That Cat SHAFT Is A Bad Mutha, Shutcho Mouth!! But I’m Talkin’ Bout SHAFT!! THEN WE CAN DIGIT.»

Other celebrities shared their praise, including Sheryl Ralph, Taraji P. Henson, and Deion Sanders. «I just heard, the icon that is Richard Roundtree is gone,» wrote Carl Weathers in a post on X. Roundtree was widely considered the first Black action hero, a mantle that Weathers took up in the 1980s. «The original SHAFT!!! His performance influenced so many and so much. And he was a great guy!»