Bill Text: NY J01723 | 2023-2024 | General Assembly | Introduced

---

Bill Title: Mourning the death of Richard Roundtree, actor and star of numerous acclaimed movies and television shows

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Passed) 2024-01-30 - ADOPTED [J01723 Detail]

Download: New_York-2023-J01723-Introduced.html

---

Senate Resolution No. 1723

BY: Senator MAYER

        MOURNING the death of Richard Roundtree, actor and
        star  of  numerous  acclaimed  movies and television
        shows

  WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
citizens of the State of New York  whose  lifework  and  civic  endeavor
served  to  enhance  the  quality  of life in their communities and this
great Empire State; and

  WHEREAS, Richard Roundtree, of  New  Rochelle,  New  York,  died  on
Tuesday, October 24, 2023, at the age of 81; and

  WHEREAS,  Born  July  9, 1942, to parents John and Kathryn (Watkins)
Roundtree, Richard Roundtree went to New Rochelle High School, and later
Southern Illinois University; he enjoyed successful football careers  at
both  schools before moving onto modeling with the Ebony Fashion Fair of
Ebony magazine; and

  WHEREAS, Richard Roundtree moved back  to  New  York  following  his
modeling  career,  and  began  his  theater  career by joining the Negro
Ensemble Company; and

  WHEREAS, His first role was in a 1967 production of Howard Sackler's
"The Great White Hope," starring as  a  fictionalized  version  of  Jack
Johnson,  the  early  20th  century's  first  Black  heavyweight  boxing
champion; and

  WHEREAS, Richard Roundtree distinguished himself in  his  profession
and  by  his  sincere  dedication  and  substantial  contribution to the
welfare of his community; and

  WHEREAS, For his lead role in the popular movie "Shaft,"  which  was
released  in  1971,  Richard  Roundtree  quickly  found his way into the
spotlight at the age of 29; and

  WHEREAS, Richard  Roundtree  returned  to  the  role  for  follow-up
movies, "Shaft's Big Score!" (1972) and "Shaft in Africa" (1973); and

  WHEREAS,  A  testament  to  the  success  and  impact of the "Shaft"
character, in  2019,  another  "Shaft"  was  released,  starring  Samuel
Jackson  (now  said  to  be the original character's son); like the 2000
"Shaft," it included Richard Roundtree in the cast; and

  WHEREAS, The "Shaft" movies were trailblazers of their  time,  being
of  the  first  major  movies  to  shift  from  a  common  stereotypical
narrative, and rather, highlighted the pros of the Black  experience  in
America;  the  character,  John  Shaft,  was noted to be the first Black
character who led his life free from racial torment, truly  opening  the
industry  to  a  wealth of possibilities for narratives that truly honor
Black people in cinema; and

  WHEREAS, Richard Roundtree was in the all-star ensemble cast of  the
1974  disaster movie "Earthquake"; he also played the title role in "Man
Friday" (1975); and

  WHEREAS,  He  additionally held roles in the movies "Inchon" (1981),
"Q" (1982), and "City Heat" (1984), where he notably  starred  alongside
Clint Eastwood and Burt Reynolds; and

  WHEREAS, Richard Roundtree was also widely known for his performance
in  the  acclaimed mini-series "Roots" (1977), which he has described as
transformational regarding pop culture  and  the  changing  of  societal
norms; and

  WHEREAS,  This  renowned  actor was an amoral private detective in a
five-episode story arc of "Desperate Housewives" (2004), appeared in  60
episodes  of  the  soap opera "Generations" (1990), and played Booker T.
Washington in the 1999 television movie  "Having  Our  Say:  The  Delany
Sisters'  First  100  Years"; he was a big-city district attorney in the
film "Seven" (1995) and a strong-willed Mississippi iceman in "Once Upon
a Time... When We Were Colored" (1996); and

  WHEREAS, After the year 2000, he made appearances in more than 25 TV
series (he was a cast member of or had recurring roles in nine of them -
including "Heroes," "Being Mary Jane" and "Family Reunion") and was seen
in half a dozen television movies and more than 20 feature films; and

  WHEREAS, In 2020, Richard Roundtree  starred  as  a  fishing  boat's
gray-bearded  captain  in "Haunting of the Mary Celeste," a supernatural
maritime movie mystery; in 2022, he was a regular in the  second  season
of "Cherish the Day," Ava DuVernay's romantic drama series; and

  WHEREAS,  Richard  Roundtree's  commitment  to  excellence,  and his
spirit  of  humanity,  carried  over  into  all  fields  of  enterprise,
including charitable and civic endeavors; and

  WHEREAS,  Richard  Roundtree  is  survived by four daughters, Kelli,
Nicole, Tayler, and Morgan; a son, John; and at  least  one  grandchild;
and

  WHEREAS,  Armed  with a humanistic spirit and imbued with a sense of
compassion, Richard Roundtree leaves behind a  legacy  which  will  long
endure the passage of time and will remain as a comforting memory to all
he served and befriended; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
mourn the death  of  Richard  Roundtree,  actor  and  star  of  numerous
acclaimed movies and television shows; and be it further

  RESOLVED,  That  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the family of Richard Roundtree.