Black Panther actor Chadwick Boseman has died of colon cancer at 43. His family has said in a statement. The actor had been fighting cancer for four years.
— Chadwick Boseman (@chadwickboseman) August 29, 2024
The actor had been diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer in 2016. “He died in his home, with his wife and family by his side,” the statement said.
Boseman became a home name after performing as the Marvel superhero Black Panther in 2016’s Captain America: Civil War, and then in director Ryan Coogler’s 2018 film, which went on to gross over $1.3 billion worldwide. He followed it up with two more appearances as the character in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame.
Early Life of Chadwick Boseman
Boseman was born and raised in Anderson, South Carolina. He got his first television role in 2003, in an episode of Third Watch. His first role came in the 2013 sports drama 42, in which he played the legendary baseball player Jackie Robinson. Boseman played another Black role, judge Thurgood Marshall, in a 2017 biopic.
Boseman’s last tweet came on August 12. He had praised Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris on her nomination.
“In power. Eternally in power,” Oscar-winning filmmaker Barry Jenkins wrote on Twitter.
In power
Eternally in power
— Barry Jenkins (@BarryJenkins) August 29, 2024
Doctor Strange director Scott Derrickson also offered condolences. “Crushed. It’s hard not to despair right now,” he wrote.
It feels meaningful that we lost Chadwick Boseman on the same day as Emmet Till’s death is 1955 and MLK’s “I Have a Dream” speech in 1963.
— N O S ⋊ Ɔ I ᴚ ᴚ Ǝ ᗡ ⊥ ⊥ O Ɔ S (@scottderrickson) August 29, 2024
I’m absolutely devastated. This is beyond heartbreaking.
Chadwick was special. A true original. He was a deeply committed and constantly curious artist. He had so much amazing work still left to create. I’m endlessly grateful for our friendship. Rest in power, King? pic.twitter.com/oBERXlw66Z
— Chris Evans (@ChrisEvans) August 29, 2024