LOS ANGELES (AP) – Actor Chadwick Bozman, who played black characters Jackie Robinson and James Brown before gaining fame as a Regal Black Panther in the Marvel cinematic universe, died of cancer Friday, his correspondent said. He was 43 years old.
Bossman’s death was at his home in the Los Angeles area next to his wife and family, his publicist Nicki Fioravante told the Associated Press.
Boseman was diagnosed with colon cancer four years ago, his family said in a statement.
“A true fighter, Chadwick has been constantly striving for it all, and has brought you into many films that you have loved so much,” his family said. “From Marshall to Da 5 Blood, August Gust Wilson’s mother Ray’s Black Bottom and many more – all were filmed during and between numerous surgeries and chemotherapy. The Black Panther was an honor for his career in bringing King T’Challa to life. “
Boseman did not speak publicly about his diagnosis. He is survived by his wife and parents and has no children, Fiorovante said.
Born in South Carolina, Bozman graduated from Howard University and had small roles in television before his first star turn in 2013. Robinson’s stunning portrayal of a sticky baseball star opposite Harrison Ford in 2013 – “42” – caught the attention of Hollywood and made him a star.
Boseman died on the day Major League Baseball was celebrating Jackie Robinson Day. “His stunning performance in ” ‘will stand the test of time and serve as a powerful vehicle to tell Jackie’s story to audiences up to Pay For,” The league wrote in a tweet.
“This is a crushing blow” Actor and director Jordan Pele said on Twitter, A shocking expression of the news spread on social media.
“This broke me,” Said actor and writer Isa Rai.
Her T’Challa character was first featured in the 2016 blockbuster Marvel Movies in “Captain America: Civil War,” and her “Wacky Forever” salute resurfaced worldwide after the release of “Black Panther” two years ago.
The film’s vision of rhetoric and the technologically advanced culture of Wakanda resonated with the audience, some of whom wore African costumes and helped the “Black Panther” gain more than 1.3 billion dollars in global office fees. This is the only Marvel studio film to receive the best picture for a Picture Scar nomination.
The character last appeared at Tony Stark’s funeral last year in “Avengers: Endgame.” Bho was seen dressed in black. A “Black Panther” sequel was announced, and it was one of the studio’s most anticipated upcoming films.
Even early in his career, Bozman was clear about the industry – and even skepticism – about which he would become an international star.
“You don’t have as much accurate experience as a black actor as you do as a white actor. You don’t have equal opportunities. It is clear and true. “The best way to put it is: how often do you watch a movie about a black hero who has a love story … has spirituality. He has intelligence. That’s weird to say, but it doesn’t happen often. ”
In addition to Robinson and Brown, Bozman won the U.S. Open in 2017. Supreme Court Judge Thurgood Marshall – played the role of “Marshal”. He brought to life the historical figures of life with the same quiet pride – interrupted by the glitter of a shining intellect – that would later bring to T’Challa.
Last year, he got his first production role in the action thriller “21 Bridges”, in which he also acted, and last appeared on screen as the leader of a group of black soldiers in Spike Lee’s film “Da 5 Bloods”. Vietnam War.
Boseman’s moment took a while to come. He first went to the theater, performed and wrote plays as an undergraduate at Howard. Boseman has played roles on TBC shows such as ABC Family’s “Lincoln Heights” and NBC’s “Person Unknown”, but before “3” he only acted in one film, the 2008 football drama “The Express”. Bozman attracted notice, but lost large parts.
“2011 was a rough year,” he said. “I was ready for everything that happened that year, a really good role. I would go down to the end and then he would go to someone else. ”
Boseman completed one last performance in an adaptation of Gust Wilson’s “Maa Reini Black Bottom”. The Netflix movie, including Viola Davis with Boseman Stars, finished shooting last summer.
Asked about his own childhood heroes and symbols, Boseman cited black political leaders and musicians: Malik Olm X, Martin Luther King Jr., Bob Marley, the public enemy, A Tribal Quilt Quest, and Prince. By being cautious in his private and often public presentations and interviews, he made it clear that he understood the importance of his work and its impact on the wider culture.
At the 2019 Screen Ors Cutters Guild Awards, “Black Panther” won the best part, electrifying the room. Before the auditorium full of artists, Chadwick Boseman set foot on the microphone. He quotes Nina Simon: “To be young, smart and black”, then put the moment in context.
“We know what it’s like to say that there’s no screen to show you, which is a platform to show you. … We know what is below and what is not above. And that’s what we go to work with every day, “Bozman said. “We know we can create the world we want, the world we want. We knew we had something to give. ”
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The report was contributed by AP film writer Jack Coyle.
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