‘Black Panther’ star Chadwick Boseman dies of cancer at 43
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Actor Chadwick Boseman, who played Black icons Jackie Robinson and James Brown before finding fame as the regal Black Panther in the Marvel cinematic universe, died Friday of cancer, his representative said. He was 43.
Boseman died at his home in the
Los Angeles area with his wife and family by his side, his publicist
Nicki Fioravante told The Associated Press.
Boseman was diagnosed with colon cancer four years ago, his family said in a statement.
“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. “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 honor of his career to bring King T’Challa
to life in Black Panther.”
Boseman had not spoken publicly about his diagnosis.
Born
in South Carolina, Boseman graduated from Howard University and had
small roles in television before his first star turn in 2013. His
striking portrayal of the stoic baseball star Robinson opposite Harrison
Ford in 2013′s “42” drew attention in Hollywood and made him a star.
Boseman died on a day that Major League Baseball was celebrating Jackie Robinson day.
“This
is a crushing blow” actor and director Jordan Peele said on Twitter,
one of many expressing shock as the news spread across social media.
“This broke me,” said actor and writer Issa Rae.
His
T’Challa character was first introduced to the blockbuster Marvel
movies in 2016′s “Captain America: Civil War,” and his “Wakanda Forever”
salute reverberated around the world after the release of “Black
Panther” two years ago.
The character was last seen standing
silently dressed in a black suit at Tony Stark’s funeral in last year’s
“Avengers: Endgame.”
Even at the outset of his Hollywood career,
Boseman was clear-eyed about — and even skeptical of — the industry in
which he would become an international star.
“You don’t have the
same exact experience as a Black actor as you do as a white actor. You
don’t have the same opportunities. That’s evident and true,” he told AP
while promoting “42.” “The best way to put it is: How often do you see a
movie about a black hero who has a love story — with a black woman, or
any woman for that matter … he has a spirituality. He has an
intellect. It’s weird to say it, but it doesn’t happen that often.”
In addition to Robinson and Brown, Boseman portrayed U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall in 2017′s “Marshall.“
He
took on his first producing job in last year’s action thriller “21
Bridges,” in which he also starred, and was last seen on-screen in Spike
Lee’s film “Da 5 Bloods” as the leader of a group of Black soldiers in
the Vietnam War.