Black Panther Star Chadwick Boseman Passes Away Due To Cancer At Age 43, Shocking Many Colleagues & Fans

2020 has seen the passing of many celebrities who were adored by fans all over the world.

Kobe Bryant, Irfan Khan, and Naya Rivera are among many who have departed this year.

Image: The New York Times

Now, another name has been added to this long, unfortunate list, and it’s one that many fans are struggling to accept.

Black Panther Star Chadwick Boseman Dead at 43

Hollywood has been rocked by the news that Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman has died at the age of 43.

Image: Film Magic

In a shocking statement made on Twitter last night, his family said Boseman had been diagnosed with stage III colon cancer in 2016 and had battled with it these last four years as it progressed to stage IV.

No one knew about Boseman’s cancer diagnosis, and while people expressed shock and concern when they saw an emaciated Boseman on Instagram back in April, there was no confirmation of his illness.

Image: Instagra, (@chadwickbosema), Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

This means that Boseman shot films like Black Panther while he was undergoing treatment.

As his family said, “all (his movies) were filmed during and between countless surgeries and chemotherapy”.

“A true fighter, Chadwick persevered through it all, and brought you many of the films you have come to love so much”.

The 43-year-old died in his home, surrounded by his wife and family.

While Boseman has starred in many films, including 42 (2013), Get on Up (2014), and Marshall (2017), it was his role as T’Challa in Marvel’s Black Panther (2018), that drew fame and admiration.

Black Panther, which features Marvel’s first predominantly Black cast, made $1.3 billion worldwide during its theatrical run.

Tributes Pour in

Tributes poured in on social media as soon as news of his death emerged.

“I’m absolutely devastated. This is beyond heartbreaking”, Chris Evan said.

Who Was Chadwick Boseman?

Boseman was born in 1976 in South Carolina to Carolyn and Leroy Boseman, a nurse and a textile factory worker.

He went on to graduate with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in directing from the Howard University in Washington, D.C.

The Marvel star initially wanted to write and direct, and reportedly only studied acting to learn how to relate to actors.

He wrote his first play in 1995 when he was just 19 and staged it at his school after a classmate was shot and killed.

The 43-year-old has had a 17-year long acting career, with his final film being Netflix’s Da 5 Bloods, released on 12 June 2020.

Image: Netflix

Boseman, though, will undoubtedly be remembered for his role in Black Panther, which had as big a cultural impact as a commercial one.

After appearing in the last two Avengers movies – Infinity War and Endgame – Boseman was supposed to star in a sequel to the film which was announced for a May 2022 release.

“It was an honor of his career to bring King T’Challa to life in Black Panther,” his family’s statement said.

Like many celebrities who have passed on this year, Boseman will truly be missed.