Shaft star Richard Roundtree dies aged 81
Richard Roundtree, famous for playing the lead in 1971 thriller Shaft, has died from pancreatic cancer aged 81.
His manager confirmed his death to US sites Variety, Hollywood Reporter and Deadline.
Roundtree’s turn as streetwise private detective John Shaft made him a star – with the famous musical intro by Isaac Hayes also winning an Oscar.
Shaft is the best known of the 1970s Blaxploitation genre – movies by black crews and actors aimed at black audiences – which later influenced directors such as Quentin Tarantino.
The film is a staple of the Blaxploitation sub-genre of the 1970s
The movie sees a Harlem mobster hire Roundtree’s character to rescue his kidnapped daughter and it became a breakthrough hit despite a modest budget.
Shaft’s Big Score followed in 1972 and Shaft In Africa in 1973, while there was also a brief TV series.
“Richard’s work and career served as a turning point for African American leading men in film,” his manager Patrick McMinn told Variety.
“The impact he had on the industry cannot be overstated.”
Roundtree pictured at the Toronto film festival last year
Roundtree worked as a model in his early 20s before joining a black theatre company and landing the Shaft role aged 28.
He also appeared in Roots in 1977 – a landmark miniseries based on the US slavery era – and soap opera Generations from 1989 to 1991.
Roundtree reprised his role as Shaft in a 2000 movie of the same name starring Samuel L Jackson as his nephew, as well as a 2019 Netflix film that continued the franchise.
Jackson paid tribute on Instagram, calling Roundtree “The Prototype” and saying his death “leaves a deep hole”.
Roundtree’s other credits include appearing with Laurence Olivier in 1981’s Inchon, and alongside Clint Eastwood and Burt Reynolds in 1984’s City Heat.
Roundtree married twice and is survived by four daughters and a son.
Entertainment
Britney Spears says paramedics turned up ‘illegally’ after twisting her ankle at Chateau Marmont
Britney Spears has downplayed concerns about her health, after paramedics were called to the Chateau Marmont, a boutique hotel in LA.
The 42-year-old singer shared several posts on social media, addressing the incident in the early hours of Thursday morning at the luxury venue on Sunset Boulevard.
Photographs taken by paparazzi appeared to show Spears wearing pyjama shorts outside the hotel, while wrapped in a blanket and clutching a pillow.
In a lengthy Instagram post, Spears wrote: “Just to let people know… the news is fake!!!,” adding, “I am getting stronger every day!!!”
She went on to detail an injury she had suffered that night, writing: “I also twisted my ankle last night and paramedics showed up at my door illegally. They never came in my room but I felt completely harassed. I’m moving to Boston.”
In a later post, she shared a short video showing her swollen ankle, saying: “I really twisted my ankle last night… It’s so bad… F****** idiot here tries to do a leap here in the living room at the Chateau and I fell, embarrassed myself, and that’s it.
“Paramedics came to my door, illegally, and of course caused this scene, which was so unnecessary, when all it needed was ice. But yeah, it is actually pretty bad.”
Spears is now “safe and at home”, two sources close to Spears told NBC News.
A spokesman for the Los Angeles Fire Department did not identify Spears as the subject of a 911 call at the Chateau Marmont but confirmed paramedics were dispatched to the hotel Thursday morning after a report that an adult female had been injured.
The call was received at 12.42am according to the spokesman, Brian Humphrey.
Humphrey said it was unclear if paramedics encountered the person who had reportedly been injured or offered medical help.
No law enforcement was summoned to the address and paramedics left at 1.17am, Humphrey said.
He said the LAFD has no immediate comment on the claims Spears made in her social media post.
Spears with ex-husband Sam Asghari. Pic: AP
The incident comes in the week Spears’s divorce from Sam Asghari was finalised. The former couple – who were married for just 14 months – recently filed paperwork, indicating they had reached a divorce settlement.
Meanwhile, it was announced last week that Spears had also reached a settlement with her father about her controversial 13-year conservatorship which ended in late 2021.
Late last year, Spears released a tell-all memoir – The Woman In Me – giving insight into her stage career, her relationship with Justin Timberlake, friendships with stars including Madonna and Paris Hilton, and her breakdown in 2007.
Sky News has contacted Britney Spears’s representatives for comment.
Entertainment
Gavin & Stacey to return for ‘last ever episode’ on Christmas Day, James Corden announces
Hit sitcom Gavin & Stacey will return for its “last ever episode” on Christmas Day, James Corden has announced.
Corden posted a picture on his Instagram of himself and co-creator Ruth Jones holding a script.
The text on its cover reads: “Gavin & Stacey: the finale. Written by James Corden and Ruth Jones 2024.”
In the caption, Corden added: “Some news…It’s official!”
“We have finished writing the last ever episode of Gavin & Stacey. See you on Christmas Day, BBC One. Love Ruth and James.”
The series, which is primarily filmed in South Wales, first aired in 2007 and lasted for three series, before returning for a special in 2019.
James Corden and Ruth Jones. Pic: James Corden
The comedy follows the blossoming romance of Gavin Shipman (Matthew Horne) and Stacey West (Joanna Page). Shipman is from Essex and West is from Barry in Wales.
Corden and Jones appear as their respective best friends Smithy and Nessa.
Nessa’s catchphrase – “what’s occurring?” – is one of many widely quoted lines from the programme.
Other well-known actors in the cast include Rob Brydon, Melanie Walters, Alison Steadman and Larry Lamb.
A Christmas Day return for the series had been rumoured earlier this year after reports in US media.
Jones had previously denied the claims, but now the show’s comeback has been officially confirmed.
Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
The last special ended on a cliffhanger as audiences eagerly awaited Smithy’s response to Nessa’s marriage proposal.
The 2019 special was watched by around 18 million viewers.
Entertainment
Dane Baptiste apologises to Jewish community for ‘disturbing’ language – and is dropped by agency
Comedian Dane Baptiste has apologised to the “Jewish community, my colleagues and my fans” following criticism over a now-deleted social media post.
The stand-up star, who has appeared on TV shows including 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown, Live At The Apollo, and Mock The Week, has been dropped by his talent agency Insanity.
The company said the contents of a deleted post were “completely at odds with our values and what we stand for”.
The Metropolitan Police has also been made aware of the post.
Baptiste said he had made “a massive error of judgment” after receiving “a number of threatening and abusive messages from accounts accusing me of antisemitism for having pro-Palestinian views”.
The comedian said his partner had made him aware that “some of these same people” were monitoring her Instagram account.
In an apology posted on social media, Baptiste said: “In a massive error of judgment, I posted an excessive and impulsive response, hoping to dissuade anybody monitoring my family.
“I made a point to say Zionist and not Jewish, but I appreciate how disturbing, threatening and incendiary that language is, I would categorically state I have no ill intention towards the Jewish community and never have.
“I have a loving family of which I am massively protective of; I reacted poorly and emotionally to a perceived threat with no considered thought to the consequences, and I apologise profusely for my actions to the Jewish community, my colleagues and my fans.”
Baptiste was the first black comedian to be nominated for the award for best newcomer at the Edinburgh Comedy Awards in 2014, and also fronted the BBC Three sketch programme Bamous.
Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
In a statement, a spokesperson for Insanity said: “Insanity became aware of a social media post published by Dane on Instagram yesterday.
“The contents of his post are completely at odds with our values and what we stand for. We promptly made this clear to him, and are no longer working with him.
“As an organisation we do not tolerate hate speech of any kind and are committed to the values of respect and tolerance for all.”
Sky News has contacted Baptiste for comment.
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