Richard Roundtree, a US actor best known for his starring role in the Shaft film franchise, has died aged 81.
He died at home in Los Angeles on Tuesday afternoon with his family by his side, his manager Patrick McMinn told The Hollywood Reporter.
His death comes after a short battle with pancreatic cancer.
Born on July 9, 1942 in New Rochelle, New York, Roundtree began his acting career in the early 1960s.
He was seen as a ground-breaking actor with his portrayal of detective John Shaft, which made him a star at the age of 29.
The 1970s movie franchise was iconic as it was among the first of what came to be known as Blaxploitation films, a genre featuring action movies that centred on heroic black characters.
Roundtree also appeared in a number of movies and TV series, which include the films Inchon and Seven as well as the television series Roots, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Desperate Housewives.
