John Shaft is a fictional character created by author/screenwriter Ernest Tidyman for the 1970 novel of the same name. He was portrayed by Richard Roundtree in the original 1971 film and in its four sequels, Shaft's Big Score! (1972), Shaft in Africa (1973), Shaft (2000) and Shaft (2019), and the seven 1973–74 Shaft television films, with Samuel L. Jackson portraying his son (introduced as his nephew), named John Shaft II, in Shaft (2000) and Shaft (2019), and Jessie Usher portraying the character's grandson (named John "J.J." Shaft Jr.) in Shaft (2019). The blurb on the paperback on which the original film is based states Shaft is "Hotter than Bond, cooler than Bullitt." Fictional biography Abilities John Shaft's weapon of choice is a Smith & Wesson Model 36, Beretta 92FS or an M1911 pistol. Shaft is also a practitioner of several styles of martial arts that includes western Boxing, Wing Chun, Judo, Jujitsu, Shotokan, and Kyokushin Karate. Shaft franchise Novel series The franchise began with the novel Shaft, which provides a much more detailed backstory for John Shaft than the one seen in the film series. All of the books in the original 1970s series are credited solely to Shaft creator Ernest Tidyman, but from Shaft's Big Score onward Tidyman wrote them with assistance from ghostwriters Robert Turner and Philip Rock. Shaft (1970) Shaft Among the Jews (1972) Shaft's Big Score (1972) Shaft Has a Ball (1973) Goodbye, Mr. Shaft (1973) Shaft's Carnival of Killers (1974) The Last Shaft (1975) - published only in England Shaft's Revenge (2016) (written by David F. Walker) Recurring relationships in the novels and films Vic Anderozzi: A lieutenant of detectives with the New York Police Department, and Shaft's contact. Rollie Nickerson: Owner of the No Name Bar which Shaft frequents, and a part-time actor. Mrs. Klonsky: Shaft's Polish-American housekeeper. Mildred: The phone operator who handles Shaft's answering service. Ben Buford: A black revolutionary who grew up with Shaft. Marvin Green: Shaft's accountant. Helen Green: Wife of Shaft's accountant. Bumpy Jonas: A mobster turned ally. John Shaft II: Shaft's son. A brash, headstrong, and sharp NYPD detective who quits the force and becomes a private investigator after growing tired of corruption in the legal system. Appears in the 2000 and 2019 films. John Shaft III, a.k.a. "J.J." : Shaft's grandson. A nerdy, well-mannered FBI agent and computer expert who eventually opts to join his father and