In a year full of stunning developments, news of Chadwick Boseman’s death at 43—coincidentally on the same day that MLB chose to honor Jackie Robinson for breaking baseball’s color barrier 73 years ago—hit like a ton of bricks. The famed actor who played Robinson in the 2013 biopic 42 had privately battled colon cancer for the better part of four years, filming projects such as Black Panther, Marshall and Avengers: End Game while undergoing chemotherapy and multiple surgeries. In addition to his role as Robinson, Boseman was also cast as former Syracuse and later Denver Broncos running back Floyd Little in The Express: The Ernie Davis Story and NFL draft hopeful Vontae Mack in Draft Day, starring alongside Kevin Costner, Denis Leary and Jennifer Garner.
Phillies outfielder Andrew McCutchen, who slugged a home run while wearing Robinson’s iconic 42 in a victory over Atlanta Friday night, reflected on Bosewick’s passing, sharing an anecdote about an encounter he had with the actor seven years ago. McCutchen, then a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates, crossed paths with Boseman at the premiere of 42 in 2013. Though everyone was there to see him, Boseman claimed he was the star-struck one being in the presence of so many athletes.
Boseman, who attended the British American Drama Academy in Oxford courtesy of an anonymous benefactor (later revealed to be Denzel Washington), inspired many with his iconic portrayals of both Robinson and the title character in Black Panther. Giving the commencement address at his alma mater Howard University in 2018, Boseman spoke of finding truth and purpose in his acting, refusing roles that would stereotype African Americans. That career choice came with significant consequences—Boseman was let go from a high-paying soap opera gig after expressing skepticism about his character, a “young man in his formative years with a violent streak.”
“When I dared to challenge the system that would relegate us to victims and stereotypes, with no clear historical backgrounds, no hopes or talents, when I questioned that method of portrayal, a different path opened up for me,” said an impassioned Boseman, who had already been diagnosed with Stage-III cancer two years prior. “If you are willing to take the harder way, the more complicated one, the one with more failures at first than successes, the one that has ultimately proven to have more meaning, more victory, more glory, you will not regret it.”
Given the impact he had on McCutchen and so many others, both as an actor and an advocate for the black community, it’s clear Boseman’s path was the right one.
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