Chadwick Boseman, the Black Panther movie star died on Friday of cancer. It is reported that Boseman, who was 43, died in his home in the presence of his wife and family. Boseman was first diagnosed of colon cancer in 2016, but had not made his condition public.
“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 a statement.
Boseman had a few small roles before his lead role in Marvel’s 2018 groundbreaking superhero film- Black Panther. The film made Boseman the first Black super hero to get his own standalone film. He played ‘T’challa’ the young prince who would step into his father’s shoes and lead his nation.
On its release in 2018, the film had great cultural impact, portraying ‘Wakanda’ a secret place in Africa, as a bustling futuristic metropolis with ‘Vibranium’ as its precious mineral. This was a refreshing take of Africa in a film given that most Hollywood films present Africa as a savage and backward civilization.
Boseman also stared in other movies including Get On Up, Gods of Egypt, 21 Bridges and latest Da 5 Bloods.
Apart from his biggest film role, what else do you know about the late Chadwick Boseman?
Here are 5 least known things about Boseman.
Chadwick Boseman in Marvel's Black Panther costume
African Descent
It is reported that Boseman wanted to get to his African roots to better prepare for the Black Panther role. Through the website Africanancestry.com, he traced his lineage to the specific ethnic groups of his ancestral homes: Yoruba from Nigeria, Limba and Mende from Sierra Leone and Jola from Guinea-Bissau.
Childhood dream
The multitalented actor loved to draw and wanted to become an Architect before his acting and writing career took off. Not only was he in front of the camera, he was also involved in film directing. Boseman said that he was involved in acting so that he could advise actors better as a director.
Perfect Fit for the ‘Black Panther’ character
Boseman is said to have been the perfect fit for Prince ‘T’challa’ in Black Panther that he didn’t even have to read for his role, unlike Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans. Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige quickly knew he was good fit: “I think it was 24 hours between saying his name in a creative story meeting and talking to his agent and getting on the phone with him,” said Feige.
Baby Face
In his healthy days, Boseman looked younger than his actual age. Black Panther movie director, Ryan Coogler claimed this was one of the reasons Boseman was the perfect character for the movie. He is quoted saying “His physicality, his reserved personality, the way he looks younger than he is, wise beyond his years.”
Black Panther Suit Mishap
When he first appeared in Marvel’s film Captain America: Civil War in 2016, Boseman said that his spandex suit felt too restricting, he could hardly breathe. However in the standalone film Black Panther, he felt more comfortable in the suite saying that “It begins to feel like skin” adding that “it just takes time to feel that way.”
