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Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman has died at 43 after a four-year bout with colon cancer.
Boseman played black icons Jackie Robinson and James Brown early in his career before finding fame as the actual black panther in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
His T’Challa character was introduced in the Marvel movies in 2016’s Captain America: Civil War, and his salute to Wakanda Forever became famous after the release of Black Panther two years ago.
Black Panther was the first major studio superhero movie with a predominantly African-American cast.
Boseman died at his home in Los Angeles with his wife and family by his side, said his publicist Nicki Fioravante.
A message on his official Twitter account read: “It is with immeasurable pain that we confirm the passing of Chadwick Boseman.
“Chadwick was diagnosed with stage III colon cancer in 2016 and battled with it for the past four years as he progressed to stage IV.
“A true fighter, Chadwick persevered through it all, bringing you many of the movies you have loved so much. From Marshall to Da 5 Bloods, August Wilson’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and several more, all were filmed during and among countless surgeries and chemotherapy.
“It was the honor of his career to bring King TChalla to life in Black Panther.”
“This is a crushing blow,” actor-director Jordan Peele said on Twitter, while actor-writer Issa Rae said, “This broke me.”
Others to praise Boseman’s career and mourn his death they include Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden.
Always skeptical of Hollywood and the industry that made him famous, he once said, “You don’t have exactly the same experience as a black actor as you do as a white actor. You don’t have the same opportunities. That is obvious and true.
“The best way to put it is: How often do you watch a movie about a black hero who has a love affair, with a black woman or any woman for that matter? She has a spirituality. She has an intellect. Strange to say, but it doesn’t happen that often. “
Boseman, who was born in South Carolina and graduated from Howard University, had not spoken publicly about his diagnosis.
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