On Aug. 28, Chadwick Boseman lost his battle with colon cancer. Best known for his roles as King T’Challa in “Black Panther” and Jackie Robinson in “42,” Boseman had quite an impact both on and off screen.
First appearing on the screen in “All My Children” in 1970, Boseman had a very successful acting career. After short appearances on television shows like “Law & Order,” “CSI: NY” and “The Glades,” Boseman got his big acting break starring as Jackie Robinson in the 2013 movie “42,” After this success, Boseman took on more symbolic roles like John Brown in “Get on Up,” Thurgood Marshall in “Marshall” and King T’Challa (Black Panther) in the Marvel franchise.
Despite being diagnosed with Stage III colon cancer in 2016, Boseman proceeded to make a large impact in the movie industry. Boseman starred in several films during the past four years between surgeries and chemotherapy. Boseman didn’t want his cancer to define who he was, and he persevered through a tough time, bringing the rest of the world characters we adore.
Some actors are known for their ability to act as a wide range of characters; others are known for the amount of movies they star in. But Boseman was known for his ability to portray real life characters in the situations they lived through. In “42,” Boseman’s character was the first African American to play in the major leagues, prompting for the league to become desegregated. In “Marshall,” Boseman portrayed Thurgood Marshall, the first African American Supreme Court Justice. In “Get on Up,” Boseman played James Brown, an American songwriter dubbed as “King of Soul” and one of the first inductees to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Since his passing, many other celebrities and actors have paid tribute to the late Boseman. The Los Angeles Dodgers, along with Major League Baseball, made statements about Boseman. The two paid homage to Boseman passing on the celebration of Jackie Robinson Day in MLB, at 42 years of age, Robinson’s jersey number. Another tribute was made by Marvel’s President, who stated that “with every step on set, Boseman radiated charisma and joy.”
All though this world lost a great actor, the movie industry will carry on his legacy. Boseman’s character of King T’Challa will not be recast for “Black Panther II,” as he is irreplaceable in that franchise and the movie industry. Rest in Power. Wakanda Forever.