Chadwick Boseman, Who Starred in ‘Black Panther,’ Is Mourned as a ‘Superhero’

Oprah Winfrey and Joseph R. Biden Jr. were among those who praised the actor, who died on Friday at 43, for his portrayals of Black leaders and his perseverance against cancer.

After the announcement late Friday that the “Black Panther” star Chadwick Boseman had died, tributes began pouring in on social media from prominent figures in entertainment, politics and beyond.

Mr. Boseman, 43, had portrayed pathbreaking Black Americans onscreen, including Jackie Robinson, James Brown and Thurgood Marshall. He died on Friday after a yearslong battle with colon cancer, his publicist, Nicki Fioravante, told The Associated Press.

Within minutes, Martin Luther King III, a human-rights activist and the eldest son of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., said that the actor had “brought history to life on the silver screen » in his portrayals of Black leaders.

“As Black Panther, he was also a superhero to many,” Mr. King wrote. “And despite his 4 year long battle with cancer, he kept fighting and he kept inspiring. He will be missed.”

Former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., the Democratic nominee for president, struck a similar note, saying that Mr. Boseman’s “true power” stretched far beyond Hollywood, and that he had “inspired generations and showed them they can be anything they want — even super heroes.”

Others, like the HuffPost editor Philip Lewis, called Mr. Boseman a “superhero” for having filmed so many movies while undergoing treatment for cancer.

Still other tributes, including one from Mr. Biden’s running mate, Senator Kamala Harris of California, called attention to Mr. Boseman’s humility. Oprah Winfrey described him as a “gentle gifted soul.”

Mr. Boseman portrayed the baseball icon Jackie Robinson in “42,” in 2013, the soul singer James Brown in “Get On Up,” in 2014, and the Supreme Court justice Thurgood Marshall in “Marshall,” in 2017.

But he was best known for his role as T’Challa, king of the fictional African nation of Wakanda, in “Black Panther,” the 2018 Marvel superhero movie.

“Black Panther,” which smashed box office records, was the first major superhero film with an African protagonist, a majority Black cast and a Black writer and director. Some African-American moviegoers planned special outings to see it and came dressed in African-inspired clothing and accessories.

Mr. Boseman played T’Challa in three other Marvel films, including two of the “Avengers” movies. On Friday, many of his co-stars from those films tweeted about him in personal terms.

“You were always light and love to me,” wrote Don Cheadle, who played a superhero called War Machine.

“What a man, and what an immense talent,” wrote Mark Ruffalo, who played the Hulk. “Brother, you were one of the all time greats and your greatness was only beginning.”

Marvel’s rival DC Comics, the home of Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman, praised Mr. Boseman in a tweet with a photo of the actor in his “Black Panther” role. “To a hero who transcends universes,” the company said. “Wakanda Forever.”

As midnight came and went, tributes to Mr. Boseman’s talents and character were piling up from other actors, celebrities and politicians. The list included Mariah Carey, Chosen Jacobs, Samuel L. Jackson and many more.

SOURCE: https://www.w24news.com