GONE TO SOON AND NEVER TO BE FORGOTTEN, INSPIRATIONAL ACTOR AND THE BLACK PANTHER'S SUPERHERO CHADWICK BOSEMAN HAS DIED
Chadwick Boseman was born in Anderson, South Carolina, Boseman graduated from Howard University in 2000. He made a global impact in his role as the "Black Panther" in the Marvel Cinematic Universe along with playing Black icons Jackie Robinson and James Brown on the silver screen. Chadwick died Friday of colon cancer at the age of 43.
The star died at his home in the Los Angeles area with his wife and family by his side, Fioravante told the Associated Press. Boseman was diagnosed with colon cancer four years ago, his family said in a statement, which was posted on Boseman's Instagram Friday.
"Chadwick was diagnosed with stage III colon cancer in 2016, and battled with it these last 4 years as it progressed to stage IV," they wrote.
Nicki Fioravante, his publicist confirmed the news Friday to USA TODAY.
"The family thanks you for your love and prayers, and asks that you continue to respect their privacy during this difficult time."
Film critic Shawn Edwards said Boseman had become a "symbol of hope and pride" for Black people around the world, with children dressing up like Black Panther on Halloween.
"For the Black community this is the equivalent of Christopher Reeves dying. No one ever thought Superman would die. Now the Black Panther has died," said Edwards. "It's devastating."
A "Black Panther" sequel had been announced, and was one of the studio's most anticipated upcoming films.
Kevin Feige, the president of Marvel Studios who recruited Boseman to take on the culture-changing role of Black Panther, said he was "devastated" by the news in a statement to USA TODAY.
He was just stepping into the prime of his career: After starting out on TV shows like "Lincoln Heights" and "Persons Unknown," Boseman had his breakthrough playing Robinson in 2013's "42" and then a year later inhabited the colorful wardrobe of R&B superstar Brown in "Get on Up."
Boseman took on his first producing job in last year’s action thriller "21 Bridges," in which he also starred. He had a small but pivotal supporting part in Spike Lee's 2020 Netflix film "Da 5 Bloods," playing the leader of a unit of Black soldiers in Vietnam who decide to keep a golden treasure for themselves.
His final role in Netflix's upcoming "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" cast Boseman as a trumpeter alongside Viola Davis as a 1920s blues singer.
Boseman died on the same day that Major League Baseball was celebrating Jackie Robinson day, the icon who Boseman breathed life into onscreen.
Life In Entertainment pays tribute to the Legendary Chadwick Boseman, "Thank you for your dedication, hardwork and talent, thank you for using your platform and your choice to take on inspirational roles portraying Black Excellence at It's finest. REST in Power King, WAKANDA FOREVER! "
08.29.2020