Black Panther actor Chadwick Boseman dies at 43 after fight with colon cancer

Source: News Corp Australia Network:

August 30, 2020 at 07:20

Chadwick Boseman has died at age 43. Picture: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty ImagesSource:AFP

Hollywood stars and shell-shocked fans are paying tribute to actor Chadwick Boseman, who has died after a four-year fight with colon cancer.

Black Panther actor Chadwick Boseman has died at 43 after a four-year fight with colon cancer.

A statement about his death was published on his Instagram page, saying the star died at home with his wife and family by his side.

Boseman had not spoken publicly about his diagnosis.

Chadwick most famously was the first black Marvel superhero to headline his own movie in Black Panther and starred in a string of Avengers movies.

Recently he sparked concern among fans, appearing very thin in videos on social media.

Boseman played black icons Jackie Robinson and James Brown before finding fame in the Marvel franchise.

While his diagnosis was kept under wraps, the actor reportedly filmed movies between surgeries and chemotherapy.

He was slated to star in Black Panther 2 to be released in 2022.

#WakandaForever is already trending on Twitter as shocked fans react to the star’s death and post tributes.

Wakanda is the fictional country located in sub-Saharan Africa, home to Black Panther.

Co-star Chris Hemsworth wrote that he would miss his friend.

“This is a crushing blow” actor and director Jordan Peele said on Twitter.

Marvel Entertainment and Walt Disney Studios tweeted: “Our hearts are broken and our thoughts are with Chadwick Boseman’s family. Your legacy will live on forever. Rest In Peace.”

Many commented how Boseman was a real life superhero continuing to work while undergoing treatment.

Thank you for bringing this little guy’s favorite superhero to life. #WakandaForever @chadwickboseman pic.twitter.com/jEQKabaKKh
— Nick Foster (@nick_mario) August 29, 2020

I can’t believe these 2 stars are gone and looking down on us in 2020?. RIP #ChadwickBoseman pic.twitter.com/IEfTwMIlsR
— Akbar Gbajabiamila (@Akbar_Gbaja) August 29, 2020

1 of my all time favorite people on the planet Chadwick Boseman has passed away after a 4 years of fighting cancer. An wonderful actor & a truly nice man. R.IP. condolences to his family
— Whoopi Goldberg (@WhoopiGoldberg) August 29, 2020

His last posts to social media were on August 12 when he shared a photo with Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris.

Harris has tweeted that she is “heartbroken” over the news.

“Boseman was brilliant, kind, learned, and humble. He left too early but his life made a difference,” she said.

BOSEMAN’S LAST FILM APPEARANCES

Boseman most recently appeared in the Spike Lee’s Vietnam War drama Da 5 Bloods and this year he’s due to appear opposite Viola Davis in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, a feature adaptation of the August Wilson play, directed by George C. Wolfe.

He posted in July a clip of actors using water pistols during a hot day of filming for Da 5 Bloods.

His dramatic weight loss was reportedly for that role.

When Black Panther premiered, to an emotional standing ovation for the cast, Boseman said he hoped people would watch the movie and see the hero in themselves.

“Even if it’s a white person who sees it, if they can see a Black character and identify with them, it changes a little bit about how our society is,” he said.