Richard Roundtree, best known for his role as Detective John Shaft in the ‘70s action thriller “Shaft,” has died, reports say. He was 81.

Roundtree died Tuesday, the actor’s manager Patrick McMinn confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, and other news outlets. He died following a battle with pancreatic cancer, THR said.

USA TODAY has reached out to Roundtree’s representative for details.

 

Roundtree’s “Being Mary Jane” co-star Gabrielle Union mourned the actor’s death in an X post on Tuesday, writing that working with Roundtree was “a dream.”

“He was ALWAYS the coolest man in the room with the best vibes (and people) would run over to come see him,” Union wrote. “We all loved him.”