BLACK PANTHER star Chadwick Boseman has died from colon cancer aged just 43.
The Marvel actor’s family confirmed the heart-breaking news in a statement released to Instagram.
Boseman had been privately battling the disease for the past four years, having initially been diagnosed with stage three colon cancer in 2016.
The cancer eventually progressed to stage four.
A much-loved actor and dynamic screen presence, Boseman passed away with his wife Taylor Simone Ledward and his family by his side.
Boseman and Ledward married in the weeks prior to his sad passing.
"Chadwick was diagnosed with stage III colon cancer in 2016, and battled with it these last 4 years as it progressed to stage IV," the family’s statement read.
"A true fighter, Chadwick persevered through it all, and brought you many of the films you have come to love so much. From Marshall to Da 5 Bloods, August Wilson’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and several more, all were filmed during and between countless surgeries and chemotherapy.
"It was the honour of his career to bring King T’Challa to life in Black Panther.
"He died in his home, with his wife and family by his side.
"The family thanks you for your love and prayers, and asks that you continue to respect their privacy during this difficult time."
Boseman will be remembered by many for his portrayal of T’Challa, aka Black Panther, one of the first major black characters to feature prominently in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The film was a smash hit success and proved a landmark moment for representation in Hollywood.
That role alone has ensured he will retain a special place in movie history but it only tells a small part of the Chadwick Boseman story.
Born in South Carolina, Boseman grew up with ambitions of becoming a writer and director.
After graduating from Howard University in 2000 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in directing he eventually moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career as an actor.
His breakthrough came in 2013 and the sports drama 42, which saw Boseman portray the pioneering baseball star Jackie Robinson.
It would be the first of several roles which saw Boseman bringing to life revered figures from African American history.
The next came in 2014, when the Black Panther actor starred as iconic soul singer James Brown in the underrated biopic Get on Up.
He also played civil rights activist and lawyer Thurgood Marshall in Marshall.
More recently, he appeared in Spike Lee’s critically acclaimed drama Da 5 Bloods, which arrived on Netflix in June as well as the action thriller 21 Bridges.
Boseman is due to make one final posthumous appearance alongside Viola Davis in upcoming drama film Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.
An NAACP Image Award and Screen Actors Guild Award winner for his work on Black Panther, Boseman reprised the role of T’Challa in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame.
He had been due return to the role in Black Panther 2, which was slated for release in 2022.
Prior to his death, fans had expressed concern over Boseman’s appearance in a video posted on Jackie Robinson Day back in April where he appeared to have lost weight.
Despite his worsening health, Boseman opted to keep his cancer treatment a secret.
His final Instagram post came on August 12, when he celebrated the nomination of vice-presidential hopeful Kamala Harris as Joe Biden’s Democrat running mate.
He wrote: ‘YES @KamalaHarris! 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾WhenWeAllVote #Vote2020.”
Boseman is survived by his wife Taylor Simone Ledward; the couple were first linked in 2015 and are believed to have got married shortly before the star’s death.
Oprah Winfrey was among those to pay tribute to Boseman.
She said: “What a gentle gifted SOUL. Showing us all that Greatness in between surgeries and chemo. The courage, the strength the Power it takes to do that. I’m in shock and awe.”
