Black Panther star’s secret marriage days before tragic death
HOLLYWOOD was in mourning last night after Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman lost his fouryear battle with colon cancer, aged just 43.
It emerged last night that Boseman secretly married his long-term girlfriend, singer Taylor Simone Ledward, just days before his death in Los Angeles on Friday.
Oprah Winfrey, Denzel Washington and Lewis Hamilton led the tributes to Boseman after it was revealed he had gone through gruelling chemotherapy sessions while filming the 2018 blockbuster.
Diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer in 2016 – just over a year before he starred as King T’Challa in Black Panther – he kept his illness a secret, but sparked concerns earlier this year when he was seen looking painfully thin.
Born in South Carolina, Boseman made his big-screen debut as baseball star Jackie Robinson in the 2013 biopic, 42, before playing soul legend James Brown in Get On Up a year later.
But it is his portrayal of T’Challa, the ruler of the fictional kingdom of Wakanda, for which he will be best remembered.
Black Panther – which became the first superhero movie to be nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards and took more than £1 billion at the box office – was widely seen as a cultural milestone for having a largely black cast and a black director, Ryan Coogler. Boseman said the film had changed what it means to be ‘young, gifted and black’. Boseman’s family said yesterday: ‘A true fighter, Chadwick persevered through it all and brought you many of the films you have come to love so much... 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.’
TV star Miss Winfrey said: ‘What a gentle gifted soul. Showing us all that greatness in between surgeries and chemo. The courage, the strength, the power it takes to do that. This is what dignity looks like.’
Formula 1 world champion Hamilton said: ‘I woke up today to the sad news, our superhero passed away. I’m so grateful I got to meet you, brother. Thank you for all you have done for us.’
Oscar-winning actor Washington said: ‘He was a gentle soul and a brilliant artist who will stay with us for eternity through his iconic performances over his short yet illustrious career.’
British actor Martin Freeman, who featured alongside Boseman in Black Panther, said: ‘I’m absol utely shocked. Chadwick was thoughtful, watchful, and totally committed in his work. To still do what he did, when he must have been going through some terrible physical and emotional pain, is testament to the man.’
Andy Serkis, another British star of Black Panther, said: ‘It is inconceivable to think you are no longer with us, Chad. This world needs you, now perhaps more than ever. Your quiet steel and raging fire, beautifully tempered by the fact that you are an honourable, generous, humble human being.’
Mark Ruffalo, who played the Hulk in Avengers, said: ‘All I have to say is the tragedies amassing this year have only been made more profound by the loss of Chadwick Boseman. What a man, and what an immense talent.’ Avengers co-star Chris Pratt added: ‘This is such devastating news. The world has lost an immeasurable talent and a great person.’
Black Panther was nominated for seven Oscars, winning three. It is the 12th highest-grossing film of all time. The movie also starred British actor Letitia Wright, who played T’Challa’s sister. A sequel is due to start filming next year.
A source at Marvel said: ‘Black Panther was a defining moment in movie history because, long before Black Lives Matter, it showed audiences of all nations and colours would embrace a black superhero movie. Chadwick was the driving force in its success.’