Actor. He was famous for playing the character of John Shaft, a private detective who became known as the first black action hero. He attended New Rochelle High School and graduated in 1961, where he played football for the school's undefeated and nationally ranked team. He enrolled in Southern Illinois University after high school but dropped out in 1963 to pursue his career. His career began as a model for the Ebony Fashion Fair, and in 1967, he joined the Negro Ensemble Company, where he played the role of boxing legend Jack Johnson in the company's production of "The Great White Hope," marking his first acting role. Throughout his 63-year career, he appeared in numerous productions on television and in films, including "Shaft" (1971) and its four sequels, "An Eye for an Eye" (1981), "A Time to Die" (1991), "The Hollywood Squares," "Magnum, P.I.," "Murder She Wrote," "Generations" and "Lethal Weapon." He received several award nominations and wins for his acting, including a Golden Globe Award nomination for Most Promising Newcomer – Male in 1972 for his role in the movie Shaft. He had two marriages and five children, two from his first marriage and three from his second. Unfortunately, he passed away at the age of 81 due to pancreatic cancer.
Actor. He was famous for playing the character of John Shaft, a private detective who became known as the first black action hero. He attended New Rochelle High School and graduated in 1961, where he played football for the school's undefeated and nationally ranked team. He enrolled in Southern Illinois University after high school but dropped out in 1963 to pursue his career. His career began as a model for the Ebony Fashion Fair, and in 1967, he joined the Negro Ensemble Company, where he played the role of boxing legend Jack Johnson in the company's production of "The Great White Hope," marking his first acting role. Throughout his 63-year career, he appeared in numerous productions on television and in films, including "Shaft" (1971) and its four sequels, "An Eye for an Eye" (1981), "A Time to Die" (1991), "The Hollywood Squares," "Magnum, P.I.," "Murder She Wrote," "Generations" and "Lethal Weapon." He received several award nominations and wins for his acting, including a Golden Globe Award nomination for Most Promising Newcomer – Male in 1972 for his role in the movie Shaft. He had two marriages and five children, two from his first marriage and three from his second. Unfortunately, he passed away at the age of 81 due to pancreatic cancer.
Bio by: Alan
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