Chadwick Boseman, ‘Black Panther’ And ‘42’ Star, Has Died At 43
As if this year hadn’t already given us enough grief, we are sad to report thatBlack PantherstarChadwick Boseman, who also played such iconic pop culture figures as James Brown and Jackie Robinson, has suddenly passed away at age 43 after a four-year battle with colon cancer. We have truly lost a king.
Here’s the official announcement about the passing of Chadwick Boseman from his own Twitter account:
pic.twitter.com/aZ2JzDf5ai
— Chadwick Boseman (@chadwickboseman)June 06, 2025
The news was also confirmed byThe Associated Press, who spoke with Chadwick Boseman’s publicist Nicki Fioravantes about the actor’s passing. Boseman died at his him in Los Angeles surrounded by his wife and family. The actor was diagnosed with colon cancer four years ago, but it was not made public. Boseman was working on films during that entire time in between various surgeries and chemotherapy.
Chadwick Boseman’s career began with small roles on TV shows such as the soap operaAll My Children, the medical dramaThird Watch, and crime dramasLaw & OrderandCSI: NY.
After a supporting big screen role as Floyd Little in the football dramaThe Express, Boseman started making more significant appearances on television, includingER,Cold Case,Lie to Me,Lincoln Heights,Persons Unknown,The Glades,Castle,JustifiedandFringe.
But Boesman’s big screen career truly took off after he played the color barrier-breaking baseball player Jackie Robinson in the biographical sports drama42. It’s a cruel twist of fate that today is the day that Major League Baseball was celebrating Jackie Robinson.
From there, Boseman dug into spots even more with the football dramaDraft Day, and he played yet another historical pop culture figure by playing the James Brown, the Godfather of Soul, in the biopicGet On Up.
Starting withMarshall, where Boseman playedAmerican lawyer and civil rights activistThurgood Marshall, the actor was working in front of the camera knowing his cancer diagnosis.
For the next four years, he would shoot movies in between surgeries and treatments. That includes the physically taxing role of playing the chiseled African King T’Challa in the first solo superhero movie for the Marvel Comics character inBlack Panther, a role he would reprise in bothAvengers: Infinity WarandAvengers: Endgame.
Movies like21 Bridges,Da 5 Bloodsand the upcomingMa Rainey’s Black Bottomwere all shot while Boseman was undergoing treatments, and it seems as if the latter will be the last live-action performance that we’ll get from the actor.
Boseman was also slated to voice Black Panther inMarvel’s What If…?animated series, but it’s unclear if that was already completed before his passing. As for where this leaves the previously announcedBlack Panthersequel, we have no idea, but we hope Marvel Studios gives him a proper send-off when they inevitably hand off the throne.
This is soul-crushing news that has sent shockwaves through Hollywood and millions of fans around the world. Honestly, we still can’t believe it. But we’re thankful that Chadwick Boseman gave us so many memorable performances in such a small amount of time. He made history withBlack Panther, and he ensured that a new generation of young Black boys and girls knew that they could be anything they wanted to be, even a superhero. Chadwick Boseman will be missed dearly, and our thoughts go out to his family and friends during this difficult time. Rest in power, King.
