Actor Chadwick Boseman, the First Black Superhero, Dies at 43

By N. Jamiyla Chisholm Aug 31, 2020

Actor Chadwick Boseman, the First Black Superhero, Dies at 43

On August 28, Chadwick Boseman’s Twitter account announced the heartbreaking news that the actor had lost his battle with Stage IV colon cancer after four years, at age 43.

“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,” read parts of the tweet, which also confirmed that Boseman passed away in his home with his wife and family by his side. Twitter crowned it the “Most liked Tweet ever.”

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A beloved performer, Boseman filled his acting career with some of the best biopic performances, such as “42” (Jackie Robinson), “Get on Up” (James Brown) and “Marshall” (Thurgood Marshall). He also made comic book fans swoon and Black people proud as “Black Panther,” King T’Challa (the 2018 film was the second-best debut ever, and grossed more than $1.29 billion at the box office worldwide.) During a 2018 SiriusXM video interview about the film’s impact, Boseman shared how he was communicating with two young cancer patients during the course of filming whose parents said the children were “trying to hold on” so that they could witness “Black Panther” before their deaths.

“Seeing how the world has taken this on, seeing how the movement has taken on a life of its own, I realized that they anticipated something great,” an emotional Boseman said. “And I think back now to a kid and waiting for Christmas to come, waiting for my birthday to come…I did live life waiting for those moments.”

Watch the emotional reflection below.

In addition to celebrity friends and fans who took to social media over the weekend to express their deep sorrow and loss, ABC News presented a tribute to the California native called “Chadwick Boseman – A Tribute for a King,” in which host Robin Roberts noted that his death coincided with Major League Baseball’s (MLB) Jackie Robinson Day and the Virtual March on Washington 2020.

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“At this moment in our country’s history, when thousands from all backgrounds protest a demand for social justice, Chadwick Boseman played an instrumental role in defining the current culture,” Roberts said, during the tribute’s opening, which aired on August 30. Peers, from Don Cheadle and the rest of the “Avengers” family to Winston Duke, who starred alongside Boseman (M’Baku) in “Black Panther,” poured their personal stories on the sudden loss into the tribute.

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Below are more tributes to Boseman’s life and groundbreaking work shared across social media, including one from Marvel Entertainment on why he was chosen to play Wakanda’s rightful king:

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“It was meant to be for Chadwick and me to be connected, for us to be family. But what many don’t know is our story began long before his historic turn as Black Panther. During the premiere party for Black Panther, Chadwick reminded me of something. He whispered that when I received my honorary degree from Howard University, his alma mater, he was the student assigned to escort me that day. And here we were, years later as friends and colleagues, enjoying the most glorious night ever! We’d spent weeks prepping, working, sitting next to each other every morning in makeup chairs, preparing for the day together as mother and son. I am honored that we enjoyed that full circle experience. This young man’s dedication was awe-inspiring, his smile contagious, his talent unreal. So I pay tribute to a beautiful spirit, a consummate artist, a soulful brother…”thou aren’t not dead but flown afar…”. All you possessed, Chadwick, you freely gave. Rest now, sweet prince.” #WakandaForever

A post shared by Angela Bassett (@im.angelabassett) on Aug 28, 2020 at 8:43pm PDT



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2020 deathsArchiveArts & CultureBlack PantherCancerChadwick BosemanPassed AwayTributes