Chadwick Boseman (1976-2020)
Saturday, August 29, 2020 at 12:53AM — Chadwick Boseman (@chadwickboseman) August 29, 2020
Death comes to us all. It doesn't choose and it doesn't spare or take pity on anyone. Even if the temporariness is a necessity of life, loss can take us all by surprise. It also hurts, so much. Often, we don't even need to know a person to grieve their departure, to feel that the world became smaller without them, that there's now a void where a bright star used to shine. Chadwick Boseman was such a star...
Earlier tonight, the actor's family shared on his official twitter account that Chadwick Boseman had died after battling colon cancer for the past four years. He passed in his home, surrounded by a loving family, and he leaves behind an invaluable legacy. It can seem crass to think of cinema at a time like this, but Boseman persevered and worked through his illness, managing to complete a series of movies that will live on far longer than any of us.
Through works like 42, Get on Up, and Marshall, he helped to tell the stories of important Black men of the 20th Century, ensuring their legacy was perpetuated by the Silver Screen. If we die two deaths, one when we depart and another when no one remembers us anymore, Boseman dedicated part of his life to delay the second death of those men. Along the way, he inspired countless people.
Speaking of inspiration, as a white man, it's impossible for me to even imagine what Boseman meant to the Black community. As King T'Challa of Wakanda, he brought to the screen the most significant Black superhero in the current conjecture of pop culture. Black Panther was a historic triumph, taking African tradition and imagery into the Pantheon of popular entertainment seen all around the world.
There are little kids who might've grown surrounded by heroic figures plastered on billboards everywhere, never seeing in them a reflection of what they see in the mirror. Boseman became that hero for them, that reflection, that point of identification that brings with it a ray of precious hope. He did all that, including the strenuous physical work required by an action blockbuster between surgeries and chemotherapy. He was a hero in more ways than one.
One of his last performances was that of Stormin' Norman in Spike Lee's Da 5 Bloods. Another heroic icon whose legacy far outlived him, Boseman played the man in a star turn that now gains added importance and weightiness. In the movie, Norman only persists as a memory embellished by friendly devotion and fractured by trauma. He's a ghost, a harbinger of celestial forgiveness who offers atonement to those he once treated as his brothers in arms.
Looking at it now, it feels like a fatalistic farewell, as decisive as it is heartbreaking. One thing's for sure, like de Bloods never forgot Stormin' Norman, we'll never forget Chadwick Boseman. We'll never forget this performer who seemed to be just getting started and whose future seemed so golden. Just look at the headline on TFE's interview with Boseman at the time of Get on Up's release. He was meant for great things.
To put this sense of loss into words can be difficult, futile even, but it sometimes helps to share the burden of pain. Talk about Chadwick Boseman, remember him, honor him. For now, we can only be thankful that we got to see this great actor and even greater star, that we were privileged enough to live in the same world as this great man. Thank you.
Reader Comments (35)
Thank you for this beautiful piece. What a shock!
Now imagine a Naya Rivera and Chadwick Boseman Oscar vehicle. So much fresh talent diminished this year.
This is a horrific shock. I am so sad. I loved him in "Black Panther". Ironically, he died at age 42, which was the name of the film, about Jackie Robinson, coming on the same day (8/28) MLB celebrated Jackie Robinson Day in honor of the color barrier-breaking Brooklyn Dodgers star, with every player wearing Robinson’s No. 42. Mr. Robinson died too young, too (53 years).
A really stunning loss, I've been in a bit of shock ever since it was announced. He was one of the few male stars that I got excited about seeing in movies, and I thought I'd be feeling that excitement for years to come. Rest in Peace.
There could be some big announcement of "hey, we landed on Mars" or anything and it wouldn't really matter. Especially in this fucking awful year. This was shocking and it hurts. I was in awe of what he could as I thought we were going to get a big time superstar who could do all of the things everyone else had done but better. Yet, he played an iconic character that is going to be hard to replace as I can't imagine anyone playing T'Challa/Black Panther.
The fact that his performance and that film managed to mean something to a group of people, who are continually mistreated in this country, says a lot about the power of cinema. It can bring people together and seeing kids dress up like all sorts of superheroes w/ different skin colors, identities, and ideas all wanting to bring some joy makes me hopeful for the world. Especially in these darkest of times. Rest in Peace Chadwick.
I'm shocked and speechless. Condolences to the family. Such a loss.
I'm heartbroken. I assumed we had another few decades of him doing what he did. He was magnetic onscreen and sounds like he was a truly amazing and generous person.
This puts the small things like the selfish from both sides commenter wars here. R.I.P Chadwick, a star that was still rising.
So heartbreaking. No one knew how sick he was. What a legacy he has left behind.
So sad. Really puts our petty problems into perspective and make us want to take a deep breath, ask if it really matters, then just let it go and focus on the big issues.
I'm in love, I'm in love, I'm in love with..... :(
I'm enraged.
I guess I'm in the minority judging by the volume or lack thereof of comments on this post, but I loved Boseman in everything i saw him in and his career was just kicking into high gear. Rest in Peace. I may be the only TFE reader who cares, but just know you were seen an appreciated.
What a tragic tragic loss. Really gone too soon. I surely will cherish his next (and unfortunately last) role alongside Queen Viola in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Welp. I'm guessing Shuri is probably going to step into the lead role in Black Panther II.
I still have no words but of admiration. Lost two extremely close friends to colon cancer. My husband died also because of a colon illness. The fact that Chadwick has fought during 4 years and still gave us 3 MCU films on the top of his physical game and also his memorable turn in Spike Lee's latest masterpiece, "Da 5 Bloods" while battling with colon cancer is something that makes me almost speechless. Gone too soon, and I really - from the heart - Marvel / Disney doesn't recast the role and choose either Shuri become the new Black Panther or use some alternate dimension trickery (hello, Dr. Strange and the Multiverse of Madness) to give Michael B. Jordan the Black Panther role, while giving T'Challa an honorable send off, off screen.
What a shocking morning? Was my eyes blurry. Such a talent African American actor. I was expecting him to be an Oscar nominee one day.
Such a loss. Grieving.
Devastating. I'm devastated. I can't even imagine what he and his family are going through and what HE went through these last four years. I can only be appreciative of what he has done and in awe of the skill, grace, and determination he had to pull it all off.
Thank you for this, Claudio.
This news absolutely flattened me. He was such a bright light, yet so many of us had no idea he would only burn half as long. Truly a staggering loss.
Such an incredible shock. Chadwick was set to become one of the greatest actors of his generation, and by all accounts a wonderful colleague to work with. I first saw his work in the James Brown biopic 'Get on Up' and would have gladly handed nominations to both him and co-star Nelsan Ellis (who we also lost far too young).
I look forward to seeing his swansong in 'Ma Rainey' and hope that it's a fitting showcase to a first class talent.
I too am in shock because I had no idea he had been sick like this. What a talent and a hero to work so hard to bring such amazing work to life during what must have been a terrible illness.
Just like everyone, I felt that he was just getting into the groove of an illustrious career. I expected years of great roles, award attention, and domination of the red carpet and Hollywood itself.
What a terrible loss for the world of art.
Thank you Claudio for covering this. I was in such shock when I heard very very late last night. I still vividly remember my interview with him for GET ON UP. It was shortly before it was publicly announced that he was cast as Black Panther. But he obviously already knew. I am frankly in awe of how much he accomplished in such a short career.... especially considering he was sick for most of his A-list stardom.
so sad.
Tragic news
The release of Black Panther was such a joyous time for so many people. I hope he felt every ounce of that love, and knew how important and inspiring his art is and will continue to be.
It surely is a tragic loss and discovering that he was quietly suffering with this disease while being a constant worker these past four years is a testament to Boseman as a strong person who really was the perfect casting option for many of the roles he played.
I am glad that even with the pandemic haulting many projects that he was able to complete one last project that we will be getting later this year. I respect him for his work and all that he accomplished in the time he was working in the movies and him being able to be a point of inspiration for many young men across the world.
Sad to hear,I think he was very good in Get On Up,he could have gone on to become a real great.
This is such sad news and he was clearly a star on the rise. Black Panther worked in many many ways but his quiet charisma at its centre made it more special and intriguing. R.I.P.
The greatest loss since the death of Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Chadwick didn't bring it on himself. I'm still in shock since I read the news. A superstar who hadn't even peaked yet. My favorite Boseman performance is in Get On Up, totally underrated at the time and ever since,
😰😰😰
Such a terrible and depressing loss! I couldn't believe what I was reading when I heard the news. What strength and perseverance to film "Black Panther" and everything else he did while battling colon cancer! I can barely muster the energy to get out of bed nowadays. My favorite Chadwick Boseman performance was "Get on Up." Effortless charisma and swagger for days! He should have been Oscar-nominated for it. If he'd been better known at the time and in a better film, I think it might have happened. But then again, that was the glorious year of #OscarsSoWhite with 20 white acting nominees and David Oyelowo couldn't even muster a nod for playing MLK in a BP nominee. Boseman ran circles around anything Rami Malek did in "Bohemian Rhapsody," for example, though that's an incredibly low bar to set. He has a chance for posthumous recognition for "Da 5 Bloods" or "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom," so that's a fitting legacy to a life cut so short. I'm devastated and shaken to my core like I haven't been for a celebrity death in a long time. Rest in power, KING!
Such terrible news. Rest in peace sir.
I am heartbroken. Hearing that he died from cancer just kills me, having seen how devastating that is in person. I was looking forward to another few decades of him being great.
Such incredible work while suffering. Rest in Peace. Wakanda Forever.
I didn't even believe this at first. And then I remembered how thin he was looking... I chalked it up to be for a role.
If they play the campaign game right, he'll win the Oscar posthumously for Ma Rainey's Black Bottom with Viola. Fingers crossed. He had already done so much but I thought for sure he was just getting started. Fully expected many nominations and awards to come.
Shit Phillip H., depending on how this year rolls out Da 5 Bloods could net him the Oscar if the nominees are scattered.