Actor Chadwick Boseman, who played the role of the regal Black Panther in the Marvel cinematic universe, died Friday of cancer, the Washington Post reports.his representative said. He was 43.
Boseman was diagnosed with colon cancer four years ago, his family said in a statement. He died at his home in the Los Angeles area with his wife and family by his side, his publicist Nicki Fioravante told reporters.
“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 in the statement. “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.”
Boseman died on a day that Major League Baseball was celebrating Jackie Robinson day.
“This is a crushing blow” actor and director Jordan Peele said on Twitter, one of many expressing shock as the news spread across social media.
“This broke me,” said actor and writer Issa Rae.
