On Friday evening, August 28th, acclaimed actor Chadwick Boseman passed away at the age of 43, following a four year battle with color cancer. 

While he may be most widely known for his role as King T’Challa in Black Panther, Boseman also starred in many films that captured the experience of iconic African-American figures of the twentieth century. 

Boseman’s portrayal as soul, R&B, and funk musician James Brown in the film Get on Up earned him high praise and several film festival nominations. He also delivered a powerful performance as the first African-American Supreme Court Justice, Thurgood Marshall, in the biopic Marshall.

In the film 42, Boseman starred as the first Black Major League Baseball player, who shattered the league’s racial barriers: Jackie Robinson. In an interview for the film, Boseman explained, “I am proud to play Jackie Robinson. And I feel like those [racial] barriers will eventually come down…And I’m glad that I’m continuing that tradition of expanding people’s barriers. I think that’s why you do the movie. You have to show the sickness or expose the sickness in order to get rid of it.”

In addition to exposing this sickness, Boseman battled a physical illness of his own while simultaneously acting in some of his most taxing films. News of Boseman’s cancer was kept tightly under wraps, and the reason for his death came as a shock to those who knew Boseman personally and fans alike. 

Several of his former co-stars have since taken to social media to express their grief for Boseman’s passing. 

Actress Danai Gurira remarked on her Instagram: “How do you honor a king? Reeling from the loss of my colleague, my friend, my brother…

He played great, iconic roles because he possessed inside of himself that connection to greatness to be able to so richly bring them to life.

He had a heroic spirit, and marched to the beat of his own drum; hence his excellence as an artist and the incredible courage and determination as he faced life’s challenges; while still guiding us all…I am so thankful to have…known him, spent time in his light and leadership and to call him forever a friend.”

May he rest in power.