A shocking, unexpected tragedy. Such is the loss of Chadwick Boseman, who died on Friday at the age of 43 following a private four-year battle with colon cancer. Boseman is best-known for his portrayal of T’Challa/Black Panther, a role which he portrayed in Captain America: Civil War, Black Panther, Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, and one that made him a role model to countless fans worldwide.
His other notable works include starring as Jackie Robinson in 42, as James Brown in Get on Up, and as Thurgood Marshall in Marshall, films in which Boseman brought inspirational African-American legends to the big screen. (He most recently starred in Spike Lee‘s Da 5 Bloods, and will be seen in the upcoming film adaptation of August Wilson’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.
Despite fighting his own battle, Boseman regularly took time to visit terminally ill children in hospitals — illustrating yet again that he was truly a real-life superhero. His co-stars have taken to social media following the announcement of his passing on Friday night:
As these words are being typed it still feels unbelievable that he has left us so soon. Chadwick Boseman was on this planet for a cruelly brief time, but he spent every moment helping to make the world a better, more understanding place, and for that we are eternally grateful.
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