Chadwick Boseman

Chadwick Boseman
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Name:
Chadwick Boseman
Real name:
Chadwick Aaron Boseman
Who is:
Birth date:
Place of birth:
Anderson, South Carolina, U.S.
Death date:
28 August (43 y.o.)
Cause of death:
find out
Place of bury:
find out
Height:
6'0 ft ()
Birth Sign:
(characteristic)
Chinese zodiac:
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Biography of Chadwick Boseman

Chadwick Boseman was a celebrated American actor, director, and screenwriter who rose to fame through his powerful portrayals of iconic African American figures: baseball legend Jackie Robinson in the biographical film "42" (2013) and singer James Brown in "Get On Up" (2014). Global acclaim followed his role as the superhero Black Panther in Marvel films "Captain America: Civil War" (2016) and "Black Panther" (2018).
Chadwick Boseman
Chadwick Boseman

Early Life and Youth

Born Chadwick Aaron Boseman on November 29, 1977, in Anderson, South Carolina, he grew up in a solidly middle-class African American family. His father, Leroy Boseman, was an entrepreneur, while his mother, Carolyn, worked as a nurse. While not wealthy, they gave him everything he needed for a loving childhood. Chadwick grew up in a faith-centered home where going to church was simply part of life.
Chadwick Boseman with his family
Chadwick Boseman with his family
Chadwick grew up alongside his two older brothers, Kevin and Derrick, in a family with a wide network of distant relatives. "When my grandmother died, she left behind an incredible 115 grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and that's just on my mother's side," the actor once said.

Looking back on his youth, Boseman openly talked about how racism was a troubling reality in his home state. As a teenager, Chadwick was deeply passionate about basketball. However, during his high school years, he experienced a deeply tragic event related to the sport. One of his teammates was shot and killed during a game, an incident the police ruled an "accidental shooting." This tragic event inspired Boseman to write and produce a play about what happened.
Chadwick Boseman as a child
Chadwick Boseman as a child
After high school, he enrolled at the historically Black Howard University in Washington, D.C., graduating in 2000 with a Bachelor's degree in directing. Boseman later furthered his education by attending both the British American Drama Academy in Oxford and earning a graduate degree from the New York Academy of Film and Television Arts. Though he originally planned to become a screenwriter and director, Boseman took acting classes as part of his well-rounded arts training.
Young Chadwick Boseman
Young Chadwick Boseman
With this solid education behind him, Boseman spent part of 2002 teaching dramatic arts in a youth program at New York's Schomburg Center, an institution focused on the study and preservation of African American heritage. He continued to write scripts for various television genres, including soap operas and crime dramas.

Career

Chadwick Boseman made his television debut in 2003 with a guest appearance on the crime series "Third Watch." His early career also featured minor roles in series such as "Law & Order" and "CSI: NY."
Chadwick Boseman aspired to be a screenwriter
Chadwick Boseman aspired to be a screenwriter
While pursuing his on-screen career, Boseman kept writing plays. His play "Deep Azure" was produced at a Chicago theater. The play earned him a 2006 Joseph Jefferson Award nomination, an honor previously given to acclaimed actor Michael Shannon.

In 2008, Boseman moved to Los Angeles and dove headfirst into acting, landing a part in the popular TV series "Lincoln Heights," as well as in his first feature film "The Express: The Ernie Davis Story" (directed by Gary Fleder). By 2010, he'd landed a major role in the TV series "Persons Unknown," though the show was canceled after just one season.
A scene from the movie 'Black Panther'
A scene from the movie 'Black Panther'
Boseman's career-defining moment came in 2013 with the biographical film "42," directed by Brian Helgeland. He portrayed the legendary baseball player Jackie Robinson, the first African American to play in Major League Baseball in the 20th century. At the same time, Boseman was staging an Off-Broadway play and actually considering leaving acting behind to focus entirely on directing.
Chadwick Boseman in the movie '42' and his real-life counterpart
Chadwick Boseman in the movie '42' and his real-life counterpart
About 25 actors auditioned for Jackie Robinson, but Helgeland knew Boseman was his guy after just the second audition. That decision changed everything for Boseman's career.
Chadwick Boseman's Training
In 2012, Boseman starred in the indie film "The Kill Hole" (directed by Mischa Webley), which spent years in post-production and was released just weeks before "42." By 2014, Boseman had taken on leading roles in Ivan Reitman's sports drama "Draft Day" (starring Kevin Costner and Jennifer Garner) and in the biopic "Get On Up" (directed by Tate Taylor), where he portrayed the iconic 20th-century soul singer James Brown.
'Get On Up': Chadwick Boseman in the role of James Brown
'Get On Up': Chadwick Boseman in the role of James Brown
In 2016, Chadwick Boseman took on the role of the wisdom deity Thoth in the fantasy-adventure film "Gods of Egypt," sharing the screen with Gerard Butler. ":"image","src":"images/content/2023/7/19/chadwick-boseman-in-the-movie-gods-of-egypt_57.jpg","title":"Chadwick Boseman in Gods of Egypt"}~ Shortly thereafter, Boseman starred in the thriller "Message from the King" and the biographical drama "Marshall," where he portrayed Thurgood Marshall, the first African-American Supreme Court Justice.
Chadwick Boseman in Marshall Trailer

Black Panther

In 2016, Boseman was cast as the superhero Black Panther in Marvel's blockbuster "Captain America: Civil War." Black Panther, also known as T'Challa, the Prince of Wakanda, is the first Black superhero — a character Boseman had admired since childhood. In preparation for the role, he studied photographs of Maasai warriors, watched the film "Shaka Zulu," and listened to speeches by Patrice Lumumba, Nelson Mandela, and Barack Obama.
Chadwick Boseman as Black Panther
Chadwick Boseman as Black Panther
When he signed with Marvel, Boseman discovered the studio was already planning a standalone film for his character. Though his "Captain America" appearance could have easily been overlooked, this starring role launched him to international stardom.
Black Panther - Official Trailer
The film featured acclaimed Black actors including Morgan Freeman, Forest Whitaker, and Lupita Nyong'o in the leading female role.
Chadwick Boseman in The Avengers
Chadwick Boseman in The Avengers
Additionally, in 2018 and 2019, Boseman reprised his role as Black Panther in the subsequent Avengers films: "Avengers: Infinity War" and "Avengers: Endgame."
Chadwick Boseman on Black Panther
Boseman pointed out that his breakthrough came at 41, relatively late by Hollywood standards. He stressed that Black actors often have to work twice as hard in an industry that's still overwhelmingly white.

Personal Life of Chadwick Boseman

Though paparazzi often photographed him with different companions, Boseman kept his personal life private. In 2022, DNB Stories Africa revealed that Boseman had quietly married his longtime girlfriend, Taylor Simone Ledward, shortly before his death. She was the recipient of his posthumous Golden Globe Award in 2021 for his performance in "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom."
Chadwick Boseman and Taylor Simone Ledward
Chadwick Boseman and Taylor Simone Ledward

Death

In early 2020, fans were shocked by a video showing Boseman's dramatically thin appearance. Rumors swirled that he might be seriously ill, though many fans convinced themselves he was just preparing for a demanding role.
Chadwick Boseman's emaciated appearance before his death
Chadwick Boseman's emaciated appearance before his death
On August 28, 2020, news broke of Boseman's death. The world later learned he'd been battling stage III colon cancer since 2016, and despite treatment, the disease couldn't be beaten. Boseman had shared his diagnosis only with his inner circle. He underwent treatments and surgery, but the cancer had already metastasized. Still, he held onto hope that he'd be strong enough to begin filming the "Black Panther" sequel in March 2021, but the cancer ultimately won.

On September 3, Boseman was laid to rest in the cemetery of his hometown, Anderson. The school he attended instituted a scholarship in his memory, as a tribute to the late actor.

Chadwick Boseman: latest news and articles

  • It`s nice to see racism fade into the background when a really good person leaves life. It is sad that such a tragedy was the reason for this.
    2021-05-18 15:44:47
  • Now, due to the BLM movement, Chadwick`s death has caused a very large resonance in the world of cinema. I am subscribed to almost all Marvel actors and none of them passed by this tragic event, saying goodbye to a colleague on my page. Bright memory.
    2021-03-30 08:38:58
  • Now, fans of Marvel will be left without the second part of the Black Panthers. But we have been waiting for it!
    2021-03-28 08:37:51
  • Very sorry for the actor! To die 44 due to cancer is scary. He was a very talented guy.
    2021-03-22 22:50:50
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