RIP Chadwick Boseman - 1976-2020

[Benn98]

Chadwick Boseman: Black Panther star dies of cancer aged 43

• 3 hours ago

US actor Chadwick Boseman, best known for playing Black Panther in the hit Marvel superhero franchise, has died of cancer aged 43.

He died at home in Los Angeles with his wife and family by his side, a statement posted on social media said.

Boseman was diagnosed with colon cancer four years ago but had not made the information public.

The news has left fans and the film world stunned. Get Out director Jordan Peele, said it was "a crushing blow".

"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 honor of his career to bring King T'Challa to life in Black Panther."

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Boseman came to prominence playing real-life figures - baseball great Jackie Robinson in 2013's 42, and soul singer James Brown in 2014's Get on Up.

However, it will be as the titular Black Panther in the blockbuster 2018 film he will be best remembered.

Boseman stars as the ruler of Wakanda, a fictional African nation with the most advanced technology on earth.

As well as winning critical praise and taking more than $1.3 billion US dollars (£973m) at cinemas worldwide, the film was widely seen as a cultural milestone for having a largely black cast and a black director, Ryan Coogler.

Boseman said last year that the film had changed what it means to be "young, gifted and black".

Black Panther was the first superhero film to get a nomination for best picture at the Oscars.

He also played the same role in other Marvel films Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame.

A sequel was in the works and due to come out in 2022, with Boseman set to return.

The news of his death came as a shock to many as Boseman never discussed his diagnosis publicly.

However, fans started raising concerns over his health this year due to noticeable weight loss.

Tributes have already begun pouring in for the star, including from actor and fellow Marvel star Mark Ruffalo.

Actor Dwayne Johnson tweeted: "Thank you for shining your light and sharing your talent with the world. My love and strength to your family."

Political figures have also started paying their respects, including Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris.

The hashtag #WakandaForever has also been trending.

Born in South Carolina as the son of a nurse and an upholstery entrepreneur, Boseman graduated from Howard University in Washington DC.

Despite playing roles on television, it wasn't until 2013 that he hit the big time in 42.

In 2018, Boseman returned to his university to speak at its graduation ceremony.

"Some of you here struggled against the university itself," he said to the mostly minority ethnic audience.

"Many of you will leave Howard and enter systems and institutions that have a history of discrimination and marginalisation.

"The fact that you have struggled with this university which you love is a sign that you can use your education to improve the world that you are entering."

BBC

 

[Mercury6181]

Absolutely heartbreaking

 

[MulletProof]

It’s so sad, and I don’t know why it makes me even sadder that he was battling it the entire time at the height of his career..

 

[Benn98]

^That is what makes it such a tragedy! So much promise. apparently he worked really hard to get to that Black Pather breakthrough, and he's not been able to really reap the rewards. But on a positive note, at least he got to experience that accomplishment and the success of that film.

 

[Fiercification]

That's so crazy for me to hear...he has/had really contributed to a huge cultural milestone with 'Black Panther' and was still so young.

RIP .

 

[eugenius]

And his acting teacher, Phylicia Rashad (Claire Huxtable herself), noticed his talent and referred him to Denzel Washington, who paid for his tuition? You truly can’t make this up.

He really did elevate that role to another level. I hope the folks at Marvel don’t bring T’challah back with a different actor.

 

[lauralynn025]

(I know I’m late with this)

This is so heartbreaking!! He has definitely left his mark on the film industry.. I just wish he would have had a chance to do more. RIP

 

[puresoul]

just one of the few stories proving what an incredibly kind-hearted person he truly was:

"Sienna Miller is opening up about her late co-star Chadwick Boseman, by sharing a story of how he helped her get the salary she deserved.

The two actors starred in the 2019 movie 21 Bridges together, however, it almost didn’t happen because she wasn’t able to negotiate the salary she asked for.

That’s when Chadwick stepped in and donated some of his own pay in order to bridge the gap and get her on board for the flick.

“I didn’t know whether or not to tell this story, and I haven’t yet,” Sienna shared with Empire magazine in a recent interview. “But I am going to tell it, because I think it’s a testament to who he was.

Sienna says that the movie was “a pretty big-budget film, and I know that everybody understands about the pay disparity in Hollywood, but I asked for a number that the studio wouldn’t get to, and because I was hesitant to go back to work and my daughter was starting school and it was an inconvenient time, I said, ‘I’ll do it if I’m compensated in the right way’.”

She revealed that “Chadwick ended up donating some of his salary to get me to the number that I had asked for. He said that that was what I deserved to be paid.”

Sienna adds that this was “about the most astounding thing that [she's] experienced…That kind of thing just doesn’t happen. It’s just unfathomable to imagine another man in that town behaving that graciously or respectfully.”" -- justjared​

 

[puresoul]

"Black Panther is paying tribute to the late Chadwick Boseman.
The Marvel film now features a new opening montage highlighting his appearance in the movie in a move announced on his birthday on Sunday (November 29).

Disney Executive Chairman Bob Iger confirmed the news on social media, and the first viewing of the change will be available later in the evening during a Disney+ showing of the film.
He described it as “a special tribute to someone that was and always will be near and dear to our hearts.”

The move comes after a similar effort to honor the late Stan Lee with a montage inserted into the Captain Marvel film."

justjared​