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.”
rn— Chadwick Boseman (@chadwickboseman) August 29, 2020
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Most liked Tweet ever.
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rnA tribute fit for a King. #WakandaForever https://t.co/lpyzmnIVoPrn— Twitter (@Twitter) August 29, 2020
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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.
We are devastated by the tragic loss of Chadwick Boseman. His transcendent performance in “42” will stand the test of time and serve as a powerful vehicle to tell Jackie’s story to audiences for generations to come. pic.twitter.com/8oU7QpdLSE
rn— MLB (@MLB) August 29, 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.
I’m told Chadwick couldn’t disclose his battle with cancer, otherwise every project he did would not have happened with him in it. They would not have insured it. I need to research more but…whew. Rest in Power #ChadwickBoseman pic.twitter.com/iucaUJ66pX
rn— Angelica Ross (@angelicaross) August 30, 2020
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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:
You will always be our King. pic.twitter.com/7bb3ST1rl5
rn— Marvel Entertainment (@Marvel) August 31, 2020
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rn— Danai Gurira (@DanaiGurira) August 30, 2020
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I don’t have words. Rest In Peace, Bruh. Thank you for all you did while you were here. Thank you for being a friend. You are loved. You will be missed. ???? https://t.co/8rK4dWmorq
rn— Sterling K Brown (@SterlingKBrown) August 29, 2020
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This 7-year-old wanted to honor Chadwick Boseman — the actor who played his favorite superhero.
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rnSo, he held a small memorial for him in front of his home on Saturday — and all of his Avengers action figures were in attendance. https://t.co/wJGVZR84adrn— CNN International (@cnni) August 31, 2020
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rnrnrnrnrnrnrnA post shared by Angela Bassett (@im.angelabassett) on Aug 28, 2020 at 8:43pm PDT
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