Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman, 43, died
on August 28th, 2020, following a four-year
battle with colon cancer. In a statement,
his family said,
"A true fighter, Chadwick persevered through
it all, and brought you many of the films
you have come to love so much. [...] 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's acting career had transcended just
entertainment. Through his roles and through
his reputation off the screen, Boseman had
become a respected actor, activist, and an
example of a celebrity helping to rewrite
what it means to be a Black artist in Hollywood.
While promoting 42, he told the Associated
Press,
"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."
News of Boseman's passing shocked fans around
the globe. Many were unaware he was sick,
as he had not spoken publicly about his illness.
He died at his home in the Los Angeles area,
surrounded by his wife and his family.
Even as his fame soared, Boseman continued
to keep his private life out of the spotlight,
including his relationship with singer Taylor
Simone Ledward. Newsweek reported that the
couple was first spotted together in 2015,
reportedly got engaged in 2019, and are believed
to have quietly married in 2020.
Though they'd occasionally attended events
together, details about their dynamic remained
out of the headlines. He did break character
in March 2019 at the 50th NAACP Image Awards
in Los Angeles, however, when he addressed
Ledward as he accepted the award for Outstanding
Actor in a Motion Picture.
Though we now know Boseman and his loved ones
were battling his cancer diagnosis in private,
the actor had continued to work hard to inspire
others in the weeks and months before his
passing. One of his final messages on Instagram
resonated with new meaning as fans grappled
with his death.
On April 15th, 2020, Jackie Robinson Day,
Boseman posted a stirring video to social
media to raise awareness for frontline workers
battling COVID-19 through producer Thomas
Tull's Operation 42.
Boseman's starring role as baseball legend
Jackie Robinson in 2013's 42 was a breakout
moment for the actor, and his death on August
28, 2020, coincidentally occurred on the same
day that Major League Baseball was celebrating
Jackie Robinson Day after months of delays
due to COVID. Boseman had a deep respect for
the first Black man to play in the major league,
saying,
"We still stand on his shoulders. [...] He
carried the torch. And he carried it alone
for a period of time before other people could
help him."
Boseman had clearly picked up that torch.
As he worked to distribute vital equipment
to frontline workers during the pandemic,
he acknowledged Robinson's legacy in a caption
with his video message.
"Thank you, Jackie, for refusing to accept
the world as it is, for showing us that we
can make a difference."
After that video, fans were more concerned
about what they saw than what they heard,
as they couldn't help but notice that Boseman
looked uncharacteristically thin. While some
questioned whether or not the star was ill,
others suggested that he was preparing for
an upcoming role.
At the time, he was training with a martial
arts expert for his upcoming role as the African
samurai in Yasuke. Others guessed that Boseman's
weight loss was the result of his work on
Da 5 Bloods.
In hindsight, however, we know that Boseman's
drawn appearance was the result of his years-long
fight against colon cancer. Boseman's cancer
progressed and ultimately cost him his life.
But through his iconic roles, Boseman will
live on just like the legends he portrayed on-screen.
