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Westchester Native Richard Roundtree, Known For 'Shaft' Film Series, Dies
Westchester native Richard Roundtree, who was known for portraying John Shaft in the popular "Shaft" film series and broke ground as one of the first Black action heroes, has died after a battle with cancer.
Roundtree, who was born in New Rochelle in 1942, died on Tuesday afternoon, Oct. 24 at the age of 81 after a battle with pancreatic cancer, according to numerous reports.
After beginning his acting career in 1963, Roundtree landed what many consider to be his most iconic role in the 1971 film "Shaft," in which he played Detective John Shaft. He also starred in several sequels to the f…
