RIP to Chadwick Boseman
A fantastic actor, taken much too soon
(by Carmichael Phillips)
(Chadwick Boseman in Black Panther)
The world continues to mourn the loss of Chadwick Boseman, the talented young actor we’ve all come to know and love for his incredible portrayals of historical figures, superheroes and ordinary, everyday heroes. The award-winning star of films like 42 (2013), Get on Up (2014), Marshall (2017), Black Panther (2018) and, most recently, Spike Lee’s Da 5 Bloods (2020), passed away after a private, four-year battle with colon cancer.
Chadwick Aaron Boseman (November 29, 1976 – August 28, 2020) was a native of Anderson, South Carolina. He graduated from T. L. Hanna High School in 1995, which is where his journey as an actor began. He wrote his first play, Crossroads, after a schoolmate was shot and killed.
He continued his journey in college, studying at Howard University. It was there where he met actress Phylicia Rashad, known for her role as Clair Huxtable on The Cosby Show. She later became his mentor and friend. He was also aided along the way by actor Denzel Washington, who helped Boseman and his classmates attend the Oxford Mid-Summer Program of the British American Drama Academy in London.
Boseman launched his professional acting career when he moved to Los Angeles in 2008. He landed roles on television shows like All My Children, Law & Order and Lincoln Heights, before landing his breakout role in the film, 42, where he starred as baseball great, Jackie Robinson.
Boseman’s stage III cancer progressed to stage IV and, despite multiple surgeries and chemotherapy, he passed away on August 28, 2020 at his home. He was just 43 years old.