Tragic Details About Chadwick Boseman
On August 28, 2020, the world was shocked to learn that Chadwick Boseman passed away at the age of 43 following a four-year battle with colon cancer. Not only was the news tragic, but it came as a complete surprise to many who never knew he was sick. Immediately following his passing, friends, colleagues, and fans flooded the Internet with touching tributes to the actor whose career was taking him to new heights of recognition and critical acclaim.
Since his passing, stories and tributes have emerged detailing what Chadwick Boseman's struggle for survival was like in the four years he had cancer. The reason for his decision to keep his situation from the public and the details of his final moments have offered a heartbreaking glimpse into the pain and suffering he went through. During this time, he starred in some of his most critically acclaimed and financially successful roles, leaving few to wonder about his health.
Chadwick Boseman's devastating death at such a young age seemed all the more unreal, as many of his fans knew the young actor as the Black Panther, a superhero capable of almost anything. His situation only came to light after he passed away, and these are the tragic details about Chadwick Boseman most people never knew while he was still alive.
Chadwick Boseman kept his diagnosis private for two reasons
When Chadwick Boseman was diagnosed with stage III colon cancer in 2016, he decided to keep that information to himself. As his cancer progressed to stage IV, he continued acting throughout his treatment (via Twitter). While it's not unusual for people to keep their medical situations to themselves, many entertainers have come forth with this type of information, offering it to the public.
In Chadwick Boseman's case, he decided not to tell the world about his colon cancer, and he maintained that decision up to the end. Very few people knew of his health struggle; "Black Panther" director Ryan Coogler and "Da 5 Bloods" director Spike Lee did not know. Only a few very close friends, family members, and members of his professional team knew anything about it. His longtime friend and agent, Michael Greene, told The Hollywood Reporter that Boseman kept his condition quiet because he "did not want to have people fuss over him. He was a very private person."
Another reason he kept the secret was that he wanted to keep working while he fought his disease. The last four years of his life were some of the actor's busiest. Boseman's trainer, Addison Henderson, added that the actor "wasn't going to let this disease stop him from telling these amazing stories and showing his art in the prime of his life."
His heartbreaking last words to his brother
Chadwick Boseman's older brother, Pastor Derrick Boseman, was with him the day before he died. He described his younger brother as a man who kept his faith to the very end. Through it all, Chad would say "'Hallelujah.' He never stopped saying it," the pastor told The New York Times. Pastor Boseman also shared that his brother's last words to him were telling. When Chad looked to Derrick and said, "Man, I'm in the fourth quarter, and I need you to get me out of the game," the pastor understood.
Hearing his last words, Pastor Boseman changed his prayer for his brother. Instead of praying "God heal him, God save him," he began saying, "God, let your will be done." Chadwick Boseman died the following day. After his passing, his friends revealed some of Boseman's touching words he had said and wrote to them. Actor Josh Gad tweeted one of the last messages he received from the actor that showed Boseman's faith and love for his friend.
The text urged Gad to step out and celebrate a sunny day in Los Angeles despite the forecast for rain. The message was partially an encouragement to "thank God for the unique beauties and wonders of this day." Boseman continued, "We should take advantage of every moment we can to enjoy the simplicity of God's creation, whether it be clear skies and sun or clouded over with gloom."
Chadwick Boseman kept his private life private
Chadwick Boseman was in the public eye for much of his life. Originally a director, writer, and drama instructor, Boseman started acting on television in 2003, and a decade later, he was playing Jackie Robinson in "42." With his popularity, there were plenty of headlines covering the actor. What you didn't see very much of during his career were all the headlines celebrities prefer not to see written — specifically, he wasn't the subject of gossip, and his personal life was... personal.
His friends described him as a very private person, and that's how he lived his life. It was rare for news to break regarding his dating life. Typically, whenever someone asked him about who he was seeing, he would say "a lady," but he didn't drop names. In 2018, news of his dating life did leak, thanks to his then-girlfriend, Taylor Simone Leward's, grandmother. The couple had been photographed in public since 2015, but Boseman never spoke about his relationship with the press.
In March 2019, during Boseman's NAACP Image Award acceptance speech for outstanding actor in a motion picture, he acknowledged his relationship. In his remarks, he said, "Simone, you're with me every day. I have to acknowledge you right now. Love you" (via Page Six). Privacy was always important to Boseman, which explains why he kept his diagnosis and treatment from the world. When he did marry, he held that secret, as well. The couple became engaged in October 2019, and after his passing, his family revealed that they married shortly before he died.
For four years, he worked through cancer
Chadwick Boseman's cancer diagnosis came just as his career was skyrocketing. He learned of his stage III colon cancer diagnosis the same year he debuted as Black Panther in the MCU. That appearance launched him to numerous opportunities in and out of Marvel projects, making the last four years of his life some of the busiest of his career. While he was making public appearances, training his body into "superhero shape," and filming all over the world, he was working hard to combat cancer.
The final four years of his life were indeed a testament to Chadwick Boseman's work ethic. He filmed seven movies, hosted an episode of "Saturday Night Live," and recorded voiceover work for Marvel's "What If...?" The whole time he did all that, he underwent chemotherapy and multiple surgeries. Toward the end, Boseman began showing signs of significant weight loss, leaving him with a gaunt appearance.
This was completely antithetical to his appearances as Black Panther, leaving many to express concern. Still, most of his fans likely assumed the dedicated actor was simply losing weight for an upcoming role. Ultimately, his weight loss was tied to his process with colon cancer, and he died a few months after pictures and videos showing his weight loss went viral.
He continued to give until the last moment
Chadwick Boseman was charitable with his time and money throughout his career, and that trend continued as his cancer progressed.
Chadwick Boseman was the type of person who strove for equality. That was made clear in 2020 when he got involved in Sienna Miller's salary. The actor starred alongside Boseman in "21 Bridges." Because he also worked as a producer, he pulled some strings to ensure Miller was cast to play detective Frankie Burns. In an interview with Empire, Miller explained that Boseman pursued her for the role, which she wasn't inclined to take due to exhaustion from being overworked.
He finally got her to take it, but he went a step further. As Miller explained to Empire, the film had a big budget, and she asked for more than the studio was willing to pay her since the job came at "an inconvenient time" for the actor. When the studio balked, Chadwick Boseman stepped up. He cut his own salary by the difference the studio was willing to pay. According to Miller, "He said, 'You're getting paid what you deserve, and what you're worth.'"
Boseman was a giver in and outside of Hollywood. In 2018, the actor participated in the Families Belong Together rally. He tweeted that he was "proud to fight the good fight with so many passionate people," adding, "This is just the beginning, but we will not stop until families are reunited and compassion becomes the standard."
Chadwick Boseman spent time with young cancer patients
Even as he was privately dealing with colon cancer, Chadwick Boseman made time to meet with children undergoing cancer treatment. He volunteered at numerous events, meeting with patients at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and prioritizing his time with them. He never let on to the children that he was also sick; he just showed up and was there to support them.
Since his passing, many children have posted their stories of meeting the actor, explaining how much he helped them. Boseman met a young woman named Zoe during a 2018 St. Jude visit. She didn't know he was coming to the ward, and she was feeling tired and didn't want to go to her radiation treatment, later calling 2018 "the hardest year of [her] life" (as she wrote for the St. Jude Perspectives blog). But "Boseman walked in and lit up the room."
Zoe expressed sadness at Boseman's passing and went on to write, "It's almost unbelievable he was able to keep his cancer journey to himself. He could have had the whole world rally around him, but he pushed forward in silence, honoring his commitments and inspiring others. He showed his true strength, selflessness and commitment to his life's purpose." Hers is only one of many stories of people Boseman helped through their own disease.
He didn't leave a will
When Chadwick Boseman passed away, he didn't leave behind a last will and testament. His estate was valued at $938,500, according to papers filed in Los Angeles County probate court (via USA Today). At the time of his passing, his estimated net worth was considerably higher. Assets not subject to probate could have been omitted in the estate appraisal.
Later in 2020, Rolling Stone referred to "the late actor's $3.5 million estate." His wife, Taylor Simone Ledward, purchased burial plots for his parents, Leroy and Carolyn Boseman, so that their crypts could be next to Chadwick's. As the administrator of her late husband's estate, Ledward filed for reimbursement for the $23,951 bill, believing the plots were qualified expenses. Ultimately, the judge overseeing the case disagreed, making her foot the bill. The judge gave his assent to reimburse $47,662 that was spent for Chadwick Boseman's funeral costs. The reason his wife had to petition the court was due to California's probate laws.
According to Rolling Stone, because he died without a will, Chadwick Boseman's estate had to be processed through "court-governed disposition," including everything from creditor claims and status reports to referees and appraisals.
While he didn't leave a will behind, Chadwick Boseman took steps to protect Simone in the event of his passing. The couple married shortly before he died, and according to California law, his assets automatically transferred to his wife. She still had to deal with California's probate law on some issues, but her legal fight would have been almost insurmountable had they not wed before he died.
He died in his home with his family by his side
When Chadwick Boseman died of his disease, he was surrounded by the people closest to him. Boseman was always a family man, and they were there to support him in his final moments. "He died in his home, with his wife and family by his side" (via Twitter). He was remembered in a private ceremony held in Malibu.
Per WYFF 4, Boseman's family shared that instead of flowers, they would appreciate donations to The Chadwick Boseman Foundation for the Arts, which works "to encourage, support, and promote the intellectual, spiritual, and artistic growth of young people of the African Diaspora" (via Twitter).
The private Malibu ceremony was attended by many of his cast members from the films he worked on over the years; Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong'o, and others from the MCU paid their respects. A service just for family was arranged by the Marcus D. Brown Funeral Home from Boseman's native Anderson, South Carolina. Brown commented, saying, "It's an honor to make arrangements with this family. I've known them for many years, so it's an honor, but it humbles me as well" (via WYFF 4).
The actor likely knew he wouldn't be around for Black Panther 2
The truth of Chadwick Boseman's situation is haunting in retrospect, via one of the most chilling soundbites recorded before his death. In 2019, while attending CinemaCon, Boseman was asked by an Access journalist about "Black Panther 2." She was likely hoping to score some details on the forthcoming production, which is something Marvel actors are often prohibited from discussing.
At that point in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), T'Challa/Black Panther was dead, having disappeared at the end of "Avengers: Infinity War" when Thanos snapped away half of the world's population. The journalist's question about the sequel to "Black Panther" was clearly centered around the fact that Chadwick Boseman's character had been killed. Instead of getting a potentially viral tidbit of information, she got something else entirely, as his immediate response was, "I'm dead."
The journalist responded, "No! We're not ready for you to be dead, Chadwick!" His answer is heartbreaking in retrospect. He replied, "But I am. I'm dead." While Boseman was deflecting the question with what seemed like a well-rehearsed response, his words couldn't be more chilling in hindsight. He was nearing the end of his life. Continuously explaining that he was dead may have been about his character, but the tragic reality remains.
Black Panther 2 is moving forward without Chadwick Boseman
When he signed on to play T'Challa/Black Panther for "Captain America: Civil War," few could have foreseen Chadwick Boseman's impact on the MCU following his first appearance. His performance in that movie was exceptional, and before long, he landed his own solo movie. "Black Panther" smashed numerous records as it went on to gross more than $1.3 billion in the worldwide box office. A sequel was all but guaranteed, but it was going to have to move forward without its star.
In March 2018 (a month after "Black Panther" premiered), Boseman's agent, Michael Greene, reportedly negotiated a $30 million contract for Boseman's return as T'Challa/Black Panther in two sequels. According to Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige, there were "many, many stories" they could tell about the character. Sadly, Boseman passed before "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" went into production. Despite his absence, the movie wasn't canceled. His co-star, Lupita Nyong'o, explained in an interview with Yahoo Entertainment that director Ryan Coogler "reshaped the movie" following Boseman's passing.
She said that Coogler's plan for the second film was "so respectful of the loss we've all experienced as a cast and as a world. So it feels spiritually and emotionally correct to do this." While she didn't go into detail about how the MCU would continue with T'Challa's absence, her words offered some reassurance that his (and Boseman's) memory would be honored.