Chadwick Boseman, who played T’Challa, king of the fictional, futuristic African kingdom of Wakanda and the crime fighter known as Black Panther in a movie of the same name, is dead.
News Central gathered that the 43-year-old died after a four-year long battle with colon cancer.
Boseman’s death was revealed on Friday in an announcement posted to his social media accounts. The post did not state when he died.
It, however, said the “Third Watch,” “Law & Order” and “ER” actor passed away at his home, with his wife and family at his side.
According to the statement, Boseman was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer in 2016, an illness that progressed ultimately to stage 4 and went publicly undisclosed until his death.
Tributes and expressions of shock poured in on Twitter from fans and fellow Hollywood figures, including Marvel film co-stars Mark Ruffalo (the Incredible Hulk) and Chris Evans (Captain America).
“We never know what people are enduring,” Bernice King, the daughter of the late civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., wrote on Twitter in a salute to the actor.
“Humans … we are wonders. Thank you, Chadwick, for gifting us with your greatness in the midst of a painful struggle.”
“Black Panther” became the second highest grossing movie at box offices worldwide in 2018, heralded for its vibrant celebration of African culture and applauded as a milestone for racial diversity in Hollywood.
The film was nominated for six Oscars, including best picture. It won three Academy Awards – in the best original score, best costume design and best production design categories. It also won the top Screen Actors Guild award that year for best movie ensemble.