CHADWICK BOSEMAN
1976-2020
The actor who found fame as the star of “Black Panther” and who also portrayed pathbreaking Black figures Jackie Robinson, James Brown and Thurgood Marshall died Friday of colon cancer. He was 43.
LOS ANGELES — 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 Los Angeles area home with his wife and family by his side, his publicist Nicki Fioravante said.
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 stoic baseball star Robinson opposite Harrison Ford in 2013’s “42” drew attention in Hollywood and made him a star.
He 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.
“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. Boseman particularly reignited a sense of Oakland pride as the film was partially set in the East Bay city and directed by Oaklandbred Ryan Coogler.
The character was last seen at Tony Stark’s funeral in last year’s “Avengers: Endgame.”
Even at the outset of his Hollywood career, Boseman was cleareyed 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 said while promoting “42.”
In addition to Robinson and Brown, Boseman portrayed Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall in 2017’s “Marshall.”
Boseman told The Chronicle that when he read the script, he loved that “Marshall” didn’t focus on the Brown vs. Board of Education case.
“It wasn’t a cradletograve story and didn’t feel like a biopic or history lesson. It actually felt like more of a Western. That’s why it’s called ‘Marshall’ — he rides into town to implement justice.
“We often compared Marshall to a superhero,” said Boseman of his conversations with director Reginald Hudlin.
Boseman’s range is why Chronicle movie critic Mick LaSalle recently dubbed him “the next real American actor” of this generation.
He took on his first producing job in last year’s action thriller “21 Bridges,” in which he also starred. Boseman was last seen onscreen in Spike Lee’s film “Da 5 Bloods,” which debuted on Netflix in June. He played the younger version of Oakland actor Delroy Lindo’s character, the leader of a group of Black soldiers during the Vietnam War.