Chadwick Boseman, ‘Black Panther’ Star, Dies of Cancer at 43

Chadwick Boseman, ‘Black Panther’ Star, Dies of Cancer at 43

Chadwick Boseman, the electric young actor who projected so much vitality as the star of such films as Black PantherGet on Up and 42, died Friday. He was 43.

Chadwick Boseman, ‘Black Panther’ Star, Dies of Cancer at 43

Boseman died at his home in the Los Angeles area with his wife, Taylor Simone Ledward, and family by his side, his publicist, Nicki Fioravante, told the Associated Press.

Boseman was diagnosed with colon cancer four years ago, his family revealed in a statement. He had never spoken publicly about his diagnosis.

Chadwick Boseman, ‘Black Panther’ Star, Dies of Cancer at 43

“A true fighter, Chadwick persevered through it all and brought you many of the films you have come to love so much,” his family said in the statement. “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. It was the honour of his career to bring King T’Challa to life in Black Panther.”

Check also:  "I lost my best friend today from the coronavirus" - Project Runway winner Geoffrey Mac cries uncontrollably in heartbreaking video

His death comes amid a national reckoning with racial injustice and on Major League Baseball’s Jackie Robinson Day, in which every player in the big leagues wears the Brooklyn Dodger great’s uniform number one day a season. He portrayed Robinson in the Brian Helgeland-directed drama 42.

In such a short time, Boseman proved eerily adept at capturing the essence of great Americans, whether it be Robinson; soul icon James Brown in Get On Up (2014); or Supreme Court justice Thurgood Marshall in Marshall (2017), directed by Reginald Hudlin.

Most recently, Boseman took a turn in Spike Lee’s latest feature, the June release Da 5 Bloods, as “Stormin’” Norman Earl Holloway, a U.S. freedom fighter in the Vietnam War. The character is portrayed as a ghost and is seen in flashbacks.

Check also:  "My brain refuses to accept that both Kobe and Gigi are gone." - Vanessa Bryant writes on how she's dealing with the tragic loss of her husband and daughter

Chadwick Boseman, ‘Black Panther’ Star, Dies of Cancer at 43

The South Carolina native had his biggest cultural impact with his turn as Black Panther/T’Challa, the proud king and protector of the fictional African nation of Wakanda.

In 2016, Boseman appeared for the first time as Black Panther in Captain America: Civil War, and he went on to headline his own movie two years later. The Disney film, directed by Ryan Coogler, Marvel Studios’ first Black director, became a cultural touchstone with its Black-led cast.

Hollywood Reporter

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.