“It was the honor of his career to bring King T’Challa to life in Black Panther.” (from the family’s statement)
The actor and playwright died on 28 August 2020, with his wife and family around him, according to a statement they released.
Boseman had been diagnosed with colon cancer in 2016 but had chosen not to make the news public.
— Chadwick Boseman (@chadwickboseman) August 29, 2020
He was best known for his starring role in Marvel’s Black Panther, the first Marvel film with a mostly Black cast. Boseman played T’Challa / Black Panther, ruler of the African nation Wakanda. Black Panther was groundbreaking in many ways, including being the first superhero film to be nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards.
Chadwick Boseman portrayed several notable Black Americans on screen: legendary baseball player Jackie Robinson in 42 (2013), James Brown in 2014’s Get On Up, and Thurgood Marshall in Marshall (2017).
His final film was Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom in which he co-starred with Viola Davis. The film is due to be released by Netflix.
Beyond his superb acting talent, Chadwick Boseman always came across as a superb human being too. It’s clear from the tributes being paid, by artists and fans, that his power as a role model will not diminish.
We have lost one of the Greats – rest in peace, Chadwick Boseman.
As a young man Chadwick Boseman was financially supported by Denzel Washington when he paid for Boseman’s tuition on a UK acting course. His speech in Denzel’s honour is below – you can see what a beautiful writer Boseman was, as well as a brilliant actor: