Chadwick Boseman’s Death At The End Of His Secret Battle With Cancer
Kevin Mazur/Getty ImagesThe recent celebrity death of Chadwick Boseman was particularly shocking as he continued to perform even during his chemotherapy and multiple surgeries.
Chadwick Boseman had been acting in films for years before 2016, but his role as King T’Challa in 2016’s Captain America: Civil War propelled him to international stardom. The ensuing success of Black Panther two years later solidified Boseman’s position as a generational icon.
Boseman not only had the screen presence of a legend but also the real-world characteristics that made him a certifiable role model for the kids who would be influenced by his films. But while the Black Panther was fighting against Thanos in theaters, Boseman was fighting his own battle with cancer.
In 2016, by the time Captain America hit theaters, Boseman was diagnosed with Stage III colon cancer. Even as he continued to perform as an actor over the next four years, he underwent multiple surgeries and rounds of chemotherapy.
All the while, he kept his cancer a secret from everyone except close family members.
In 2018, he visited his alma mater, Howard University, to deliver a commencement speech. In his speech, he talked about a production from which he’d been fired after he questioned why the role he was playing was so stereotypical.
The lesson he imparted on the students in attendance was, “Never forget your principles.”
Hauntingly, Boseman offered a brief glimpse into his battle with cancer during his speech, telling the students, “the struggles along the way are only meant to shape you for your purpose.”
When his death was announced on Aug. 28, 2020, it came as a shock to fans worldwide. Four years into his struggle against cancer, Boseman had still managed to keep it a secret from the world.
Social media was flooded with praise and commemoration for Chadwick Boseman. The final tweet from his Twitter account, announcing his death, became the most liked tweet of all time in less than one day.
Oprah Winfrey wrote that Boseman was a “gentle gifted SOUL” on Twitter. Denzel Washington, who directed Boseman in the film Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, echoed Oprah’s sentiment.
“He was a gentle soul and a brilliant artist who will stay with us for eternity through his iconic performances over his short yet illustrious career,” Washington said. “God bless Chadwick Boseman.”
Throughout his time as a celebrity, Boseman fought strongly to advance moral causes, expressing support for the Black Lives Matter movement and calling on the entertainment industry to cut ties with police departments.
“You want to choose a difficult way sometimes,” he once told The New York Times. “Some days it should be simple, but sometimes you’ve got to take chances.”
