Chadwick Boseman fans received shockingly horrible news on Friday (Aug. 28) evening when they learned that the famed actor sadly lost his battle with colon cancer and died at his Los Angeles.
Having an acting career that spanned many years, as he appeared in groundbreaking movies and entertaining TV shows, Boseman was known around the world for being a phenomenal talent. His star power would reach exponential heights when he obtained the role at T’Challa, the Black Panther. The rest would be cinematic history.
“A true fighter, Chadwick persevered through it all, and brought you many of the films you have come to love so much,” his family said in the statement about his passing. “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.”
Almost immediately after this news broke, fellow entertainment industry stars reacted on social media and paid their respects to the fallen thespian. From Oprah Winfrey to Gabrielle Union, Jordan Peele, Jamie Foxx, Will Packer and more; Hollywood is feeling this tremendous loss as equally as Boseman’s fans — if not more.
Even Oscar award-winning actor Denzel Washington, who shares a special history with Boseman being that the Malcolm X actor paid for Boseman’s tuition to study acting abroad when he attended Howard University as a youth, issued a statement about his passing. “He was a gentle soul and a brilliant artist, who will stay with us for eternity through his iconic performances over his short yet illustrious career,” Washington said. “God bless Chadwick Boseman.”
“It was meant to be for Chadwick and me to be connected, for us to be family. But what many don’t know is our story began long before his historic turn as Black Panther,” Angela Bassett, who played his mother in the movie, commented on Instagram.
“I don’t have words. Rest In Peace, Bruh. Thank you for all you did while you were here. Thank you for being a friend. You are loved. You will be missed,” Sterling K. Brown, who also acted in Black Panther with Boseman, tweeted.
“What a gentle gifted SOUL. Showing us all that Greatness in between surgeries and chemo. The courage, the strength, the Power it takes to do that. This is what Dignity looks like,” Winfrey tweeted.
“A warrior of light til the very end. A true king. I am without words. May he rise in power,” Kerry Washington added.
See other tributes to the now late actor below.