Chadwick Boseman, who was the title character in the movie “Black Panther,” passed away on Friday, August 28, 2020. The cause of death was listed as colon cancer, which the actor fought for 4 years, according to a post on his Twitter feed. He was only 43 years old. According to the “Associated Press,” Chadwick had never publicly disclosed his battle with cancer.
The Twitter post last night stated, “It is with immeasurable grief that we confirm the passing of Chadwick Boseman. Chadwick was diagnosed with Stage III colon cancer in 2016, and battled with it these last 4 years as it progressed into stage IV.” The post continued, “A true fighter, Chadwick persevered through it all, and brought you many of the films you have come to love so much. From “Marshall” to “Da 5 Bloods,” August Wilson’s “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” and several more, all were filmed during and between countless surgeries and chemotherapy.” The post also stated that Chadwick died at home, with his wife and family by his side, adding that, “It was the honor of his career to bring King T’Challa to life in ‘Black Panther’.”
The New York Times, in an article about Chadwick, said, “Chadwick Boseman…is mourned as a ‘Superhero’.” Barack Obama also wrote, “You could tell right away that he was blessed. To be young, gifted, and Black; to use that power to give them heroes (someone) to look up to; to do it all while in pain – what a use of his years.” Many others including Joe Biden, Martin Luther King III, Oprah Winfrey, and Mark Ruffalo, used social media platforms to convey their sympathies.
On Saturday, the governor of South Carolina, where Chadwick was born, said he ordered Statehouse flags to be lowered to half-staff on Sunday to “honor the life, contributions, and memory of a truly extraordinary son of South Carolina.”
Chadwick was born the youngest of three boys. His mother was a nurse; his father was a factory worker. During his junior year of high school, Chadwick wrote and staged a play about the shooting death of a basketball teammate, which turned him towards the arts. After high school, Chadwick went to Howard University, to study directing, where he took a class with the Tony Award-winning actress Phylicia Rashad, who helped him enter the elite theatre program at the University of Oxford in England. He later found out that a friend of Rashad’s, Denzel Washington, had financed it all.
After college, Chadwick moved to New York and landed roles in “Law & Order,” “CSI: NY,” and “Cold Case.” Later he garnered a recurring role in the ABC Family series, “Lincoln Heights.” In 2013, he scored the role of Jackie Robinson (the first Black person to play in Major League Baseball), in the film “42”. He went on to star as James Brown in the 2014 film “Get on Up,”; as Thurgood Marshall in 2017’s “Marshall”; as Andre Davis in the 2019 film “21 Bridges” and as Stormin’ Norman in 2020’s “Da 5 Bloods.” His biggest role was as King T’Challa in Marvel’s 2018′ movie, “Black Panther,” as king of the fictional African nation of Wakanda. He also starred in 3 other Marvel movies, in 2016’s “Captain America: Civil War,”; 2018’s “The Avengers: Infinity Wars,”; 2019’s “The Avengers: Endgame,”; and 2017’s “SpiderMan, Homecoming.” Many of these were filmed during treatment for Chadwick’s cancer.
Marvel had just announced that “Black Panther 2” was set to come out in the year 2022, but plans for that may now have changed.
It should be noted that Chadwick died on the day that Major League Baseball celebrated Jackie Robinson Day, which is usually celebrated on April 15.
A friend and actor Josh Gad, posted some of their texts on Twitter after he died that night, to “share some beauty,” and honor his friend, attaching screenshots of their communication. Chadwick had said, “Inhale and exhale this moment and thank God for the unique beauties and wonders of this day. We should take advantage of every moment we can to enjoy the simplicity of God’s creation, whether it be clear skies and sun or clouded over with gloom…”
TBS plans to air Saturday and Sunday showings of “Black Panther” as a tribute to the late star.
Written by Mandie Stevens
