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Home · Celebrity

Gone Too Soon: Actor Chadwick Boseman's Life In Pictures

After his tragic death from colon cancer at the age of 43, we remember the life and Hollywood legacy of actor and producer Chadwick Boseman.
Gone Too Soon: Actor Chadwick Boseman’s Life In Pictures
(Photo by Matt McClain for The Washington Post via Getty Images)
By Charli Penn · Updated November 4, 2020

Black Hollywood is in mourning at the sudden loss of award-winning actor and producer Chadwick Boseman, who died on Friday after succumbing to a four-year battle with colon cancer.

Boseman died at his home surrounded by his loved ones. “He died in his home, with his wife and family by his side,” said an Instagram statement from his representatives. “The family thanks you for your love and prayers, and asks that you continue to respect their privacy during this difficult time.”

The beloved actor became a global superstar after playing the titular role in Marvel’s Black Panther, but his most die-hard fans knew his work well long before he became the ultimate big screen superhero. Boseman brought us one critically acclaimed performance after another throughout his Hollywood career, with unforgettable starring roles in three biopics—2014’s Get On Up, a look at musical image of James Brown; 2013’s 42, a film celebrating the baseball legend Jackie Robinson; and 2017 Marshall, a 2017 film about Thurgood Marshall’s life.

The statement continued, “Chadwick was diagnosed with stage III colon cancer in 2016, and battled with it these last 4 years as it progressed to stage IV….A true fighter, Chadwick persevered through it all, and brought you many of the films you have come to love so much. 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.”

The actor’s rep also shared that playing King T’Challa in Black Panther was most certainly “the honor of his career.”

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Remembering The Life and Legacy of Chadwick Boseman
Actor Chadwick Boseman at the Los Angeles World Premiere of Marvel Studios’ BLACK PANTHER at Dolby Theatre on January 29, 2018 in Hollywood, California.
Gone Too Soon: Actor Chadwick Boseman’s Life In Pictures
(Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney)
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Remembering The Life and Legacy of Chadwick Boseman
Actor Chadwick Boseman at the Los Angeles World Premiere of Marvel Studios’ BLACK PANTHER at Dolby Theatre on January 29, 2018 in Hollywood, California.
Gone Too Soon: Actor Chadwick Boseman’s Life In Pictures
(Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney)
03
Remembering The Life and Legacy of Chadwick Boseman
Actor Chadwick Boseman arrives for the premiere of Disney and Marvel’s “Black Panther” held at the Dolby Theatre on January 29, 2018 in Hollywood, California.
Gone Too Soon: Actor Chadwick Boseman’s Life In Pictures
(Photo by Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images)
04
Remembering The Life and Legacy of Chadwick Boseman
Boseman and his Black Panther co-stars covered the March 2018 issue of ESSENCE to celebrate the film’s much anticipated release.
Gone Too Soon: Actor Chadwick Boseman’s Life In Pictures
Chadwick Boseman | ESSENCE
05
Remembering The Life and Legacy of Chadwick Boseman
Sterling K. Brown, Angela Bassett, Lupita Nyong’o, Chadwick Boseman, Danain Gurira, Michael B. Jordan and Andy Sirkis winners of Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture for ‘Black Panther,’ pose in the Winner’s Gallery during the 25th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on January 27, 2019 in Los Angeles, California.
Gone Too Soon: Actor Chadwick Boseman’s Life In Pictures
(Photo by Terence Patrick/Getty Images for Turner)
06
Remembering The Life and Legacy of Chadwick Boseman
Chadwick Boseman attends the 25th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on January 27, 2019 in Los Angeles, California.
Gone Too Soon: Actor Chadwick Boseman’s Life In Pictures
Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Turner
07
Remembering The Life and Legacy of Chadwick Boseman
Michael B. Jordan and Chadwick Boseman attend the 2018 State Farm All-Star Saturday Night at Staples Center on February 17, 2018 in Los Angeles, California.
Gone Too Soon: Actor Chadwick Boseman’s Life In Pictures
(Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage)
08
Remembering The Life and Legacy of Chadwick Boseman
NBA player Victor Oladipo of the Indiana Pacers puts on Marvel’s Black Panther mask from Chadwick Boseman during the 2018 State Farm All-Star Saturday Night at Staples Center on February 17, 2018 in Los Angeles, California.
Gone Too Soon: Actor Chadwick Boseman’s Life In Pictures
(Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage)
09
Remembering The Life and Legacy of Chadwick Boseman
Chadwick Boseman attends The Cinema Society with Ravage Wines & Synchrony host a screening of Marvel Studios’ “Black Panther” at The Museum of Modern Art on February 13, 2018 in New York City.
Gone Too Soon: Actor Chadwick Boseman’s Life In Pictures
(Photo by Paul Bruinooge/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)
10
Chadwick Boseman
The late Black Panther actor received posthumous nominations for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role for his role as Leevee in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, and Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role for Da 5 Bloods.
Gone Too Soon: Actor Chadwick Boseman’s Life In Pictures
(Photo by Allen Berezovsky/FilmMagic)
11
Remembering The Life and Legacy of Chadwick Boseman
Chadwick Boseman, Angela Bassett, and Danai Gurira, winners of Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture for ‘Black Panther,’ attend the 25th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on January 27, 2019 in Los Angeles, California.
Gone Too Soon: Actor Chadwick Boseman’s Life In Pictures
Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for People Magazine
12
Chadwick Boseman
Gone Too Soon: Actor Chadwick Boseman’s Life In Pictures
13
Chadwick Boseman
Chadwick Boseman
Gone Too Soon: Actor Chadwick Boseman’s Life In Pictures
Chadwick Boseman | Photo by Dennis Leupold
14
Chadwick Boseman, August 28
A superhero and forever our King. Chadwick Aaron Boseman, best known for his role as King T’Challa in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film, Black Panther, died at the age of 43 after a four-year battle with colon cancer. A true fighter, from Black Panther to 21 Bridges, Marshall, Da 5 Bloods and several more, the Howard alum persevered and brought us these films while undergoing countless surgeries and chemotherapy. He died at home with his wife and family by his side.
Gone Too Soon: Actor Chadwick Boseman’s Life In Pictures
Photo by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
15
Remembering The Life and Legacy of Chadwick Boseman
Chadwick Boseman attends the Heavenly Bodies: Fashion & The Catholic Imagination Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 7, 2018 in New York City.
Gone Too Soon: Actor Chadwick Boseman’s Life In Pictures
(Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)
16
Remembering The Life and Legacy of Chadwick Boseman
Gone Too Soon: Actor Chadwick Boseman’s Life In Pictures
(Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for CinemaCon)
17
Remembering the Life and Legacy of Chadwick Boseman
Gone Too Soon: Actor Chadwick Boseman’s Life In Pictures
18
Remembering The Life and Legacy of Chadwick Boseman
Actor Chadwick Boseman attends the “Get On Up” premiere at The Apollo Theater on July 21, 2014 in New York City.
Gone Too Soon: Actor Chadwick Boseman’s Life In Pictures
(Photo by Jim Spellman/WireImage)
19
Remembering The Life and Legacy of Chadwick Boseman
Chadwick Boseman, winner of Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture for ‘Black Panther,’ attends the 25th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on January 27, 2019 in Los Angeles, California.
Gone Too Soon: Actor Chadwick Boseman’s Life In Pictures
Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for People Magazine
20
Remembering The Life and Legacy of Chadwick Boseman
Gone Too Soon: Actor Chadwick Boseman’s Life In Pictures
Photo by Paul Drinkwater/NBCUniversal via Getty Images
21
Remembering The Life and Legacy of Chadwick Boseman
Gone Too Soon: Actor Chadwick Boseman’s Life In Pictures
(Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
22
Remembering The Life and Legacy of Chadwick Boseman
Chadwick Boseman filming on location for 42 on July 18, 2012 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City.
Gone Too Soon: Actor Chadwick Boseman’s Life In Pictures
(Photo by Bobby Bank/WireImage)
23
Remembering the Life and Legacy of Chadwick Boseman
Chadwick Boseman
Gone Too Soon: Actor Chadwick Boseman’s Life In Pictures
24
Remembering The Life and Legacy of Chadwick Boseman
Chadwick Boseman attends the 2018 MTV Movie And TV Awards at Barker Hangar on June 16, 2018 in Santa Monica, California.
Gone Too Soon: Actor Chadwick Boseman’s Life In Pictures
(Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for MTV)
25
Remembering The Life and Legacy of Chadwick Boseman
Boseman produced and starred in 2019 suspense drama 21 Bridges.
Gone Too Soon: Actor Chadwick Boseman’s Life In Pictures
26
Remembering The Life and Legacy of Chadwick Boseman
Boseman played Thurgood Marshall in 2017 drama Marshall.
Gone Too Soon: Actor Chadwick Boseman’s Life In Pictures
27
Remembering The Life and Legacy of Chadwick Boseman
Boseman played the legendary James Brown in 2014’s Get On Up.
Gone Too Soon: Actor Chadwick Boseman’s Life In Pictures
28
Remembering The Life and Legacy of Chadwick Boseman
Boseman starred in 2014’s Draft Day alongside Kevin Costner.
Gone Too Soon: Actor Chadwick Boseman’s Life In Pictures
29
Remembering The Life and Legacy of Chadwick Boseman
Chadwick Boseman attends the European Premiere of Marvel Studios’ “Black Panther” at the Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith on February 8, 2018 in London, England.
Gone Too Soon: Actor Chadwick Boseman’s Life In Pictures
(Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images for Disney)
30
Remembering The Life and Legacy of Chadwick Boseman
Gone Too Soon: Actor Chadwick Boseman’s Life In Pictures
(Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images)
31
Forever our King.
Boseman’s most iconic role was that of Black Panther in Marvel’s Black Panther, which bowed at $1.237 billion in global ticket sales and became the number three superhero movie of all time.
Gone Too Soon: Actor Chadwick Boseman’s Life In Pictures
TOPICS:  black panther Chadwick Boseman death
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