Guwahati: Actor Chadwick Boseman, who played Black icons Jackie Robinson and James Brown and made a global impact bringing "Black Panther" to life in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, died Friday of cancer, his representative said. He was 43.
The 'Black Panther' star died at his home in the Los Angeles area with his wife and family by his side, his publicist Nicki Fioravante told the sources.
Boseman was diagnosed with colon cancer four years ago, his family revealed in a statement.
"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. "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."
It was in 2016, that started him on the road to superstardom with a cameo as T'Challa, a young Wakandan prince (later king) and heroic warrior, in Marvel's "Captain America: Civil War." Two years later, he made headlines for the blockbuster "Black Panther," a movie that caused a movement across the globe as Black men and women, boys and girls, took to heart its hero and the cross-armed "Wakanda Forever" salute.
Chadwick reprised his popular role two more times, in 2018's "Avengers: Infinity War" and "Avengers: Endgame."
Boseman also had a small but key supporting role in Spike Lee's "Da 5 Bloods" playing the leader of a unit of Black soldiers in Vietnam who decide to keep a golden treasure for themselves.
His last role in Netflix's upcoming "Ma Rainey" cast Boseman as a trumpeter alongside Viola Davis as a 1920s blues singer.
Chadwick Boseman was born and raised in the manufacturing hub of Anderson South Carolina, and graduated from Howard University and had small roles in television before his first star turn in 2013. His striking portrayal of the stoic baseball star Robinson opposite Harrison Ford in 2013s '42' drew attention in Hollywood and made him a star.
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