© BrunoPress

Origins - Chadwick Aaron Boseman was born on November 29, 1977, in Anderson, South Carolina.

© Getty Images

Student life - Besides being an actor, he was also a screenwriter. Boseman held a degree in Fine Arts and Directing from Howard University and the British American Dramatic Academy in Oxford, England.

© BrunoPress

Rise to fame - Boseman became extremely popular after 'Black Panther' (2018). Before this though, the actor played the character, although less prominently, in 'Captain America: Civil War' (2016).

© BrunoPress

Record - 'Black Panther' reached no. 12 in Box Mojo's list of the world's biggest box-office successes in the history of cinema. The film grossed a total of US$1.347 billion worldwide since its debut.

© BrunoPress

Huge solo hero hit - The film about the King of Wakanda is one of the most successful solo adventure of a superhero to hit US theaters.

© BrunoPress

Magazine cover - Boseman landed the cover of Time magazine, with a feature article highlighting not only the fact of the movie being a story about a Black superhero, but also its importance for Black representation in the medium.

© BrunoPress

Representation - The Time's piece states that the movie carries a weight that neither Thor nor Captain America could lift: serving a Black audience that has not been represented for a long time.

© Getty Images

Recognition - Time also points out that the fact that 'Black Panther' has been critically acclaimed almost unanimously, and commercial success also helps to fight the stigma that Black films only succeed among Black audiences.

© BrunoPress

Women's rights - The actor said in a interview to Garden and Gun that the strength of female protagonists adds another layer to the discussion of diversity and equality in cinema.

© BrunoPress

The return - The King of Wakanda returned to the big screen in 2018 for 'Avengers: Infinity War.' 

© Getty Images

His road to 'Black Panther' started as an Egyptian god - The actor played the god Thoth in 'Gods of Egypt' (2016). The plot was inspired by the classic mythology of the country.

© BrunoPress

The unexpected beginning of his legacy - Boseman said he befriended a studio security guard, Charles Carter, in Australia when he filmed 'Gods of Egypt,' and without ever mentioning Black Panther before, his new friend gave him a comic book of the superhero with a message saying that Boseman would play the character one day.

© Getty Images

Predestined? - Apparently, the idea that he was the right man for the job had been circulating Marvel's backstage for a while.

© Getty Images

Some time after... - The actor was in Zurich promoting 'Get On Up' (2014) when he received a call with an offer he couldn't refuse.

© Getty Images

He's no stranger to playing legendary characters - Boseman played the king of funk and soul, James Brown, in 'Get On Up' (2014). 

© BrunoPress

He actually sang - Boseman began gaining notoriety in the James Brown biopic, which covers both the heyday of the music star and his struggle with drug and alcohol addiction, and he actually sang in the film.

© BrunoPress

He's the man! - Boseman also played Thurgood Marshall, a lawyer who would become the first Black judge of the Supreme Court. The film is called 'Marshall' (2017).

© Getty Images

Another great role - In '42' (2013), the actor played Jackie Robinson, the first Black athlete to play in Major League Baseball.

© Getty Images

With a little help from a friend - At the beginning of his career, the actor needed a little push to continue with his studies. Do you know who helped him? Denzel Washington!

© Getty Images

Early financial struggles - The actor told Rolling Stone magazine that when he was accepted in the exchange program to study theater in Oxford, he couldn't afford to go.

© Getty Images

Grateful - But someone paid for his place, and when returned from England, he was told that it was none other than Denzel Washington who had paid for his studies.

© Getty Images

Excited to meet his idol - The actor wrote a thank you letter to Denzel Washington, but thought he would not remember an unknown student 20 years ago. Boseman said that he was waiting to meet Washington, so he could tell him.

© Getty Images

Teacher - As soon as he returned from England, he started teaching theater at the Schomburg Junior Scholars Program, a Black culture institute in Harlem, New York.

© Getty Images

Theater - In 2002, he won an important theater award for the play 'Urban Transitions: Loose Blossoms'.

© Getty Images

On TV - The actor made several appearances in shows such as 'Law & Order,' 'CSI: NY,' 'E.R.,' 'Lincoln Heights,' 'Lie to Me,' among many others. Though he had more prominence in 'Persons Unknown.'

© Getty Images

Side talent - Boseman loved to draw and paint portraits when he was younger. He even thought he would pursue a career as a visual artist or architect, he told the Garden and Gun website.

© BrunoPress

He made the best-dressed lists - Boseman became known for his style on the awards show red carpets, and he never disappointed. 

© Getty Images

His sudden, unexpected passing - On August 28, 2020, the actor passed away at the age of just 43 after having battled colon cancer, unbeknownst to most, for four years.

© Reuters

The world was shocked -

The final tweet posted to the late actor's Twitter account, which announced his passing, became the most-liked post in Twitter history, with over 7 million likes. The social media platform tweeted about the record, adding, "A tribute fit for a King." 

© Getty Images

'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom' (2020) -

This drama co-starring Boseman and Viola Davis is based on the play of the same name by August Wilson. The film, and its source play, tell the story of Ma Rainey, an influential blues singer, and one turbulent recording session in 1920s Chicago. Boseman filmed between surgeries and chemotherapy, and the movie was released after he passed.

© BrunoPress

Posthumous Golden Globe -

Boseman won the 2021 Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama for his role in 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom.' Boseman's wife, Taylor Simone Ledward, accepted the award on his behalf. "He would thank God. He would thank his parents. He would thank his ancestors for their guidance and their sacrifices," she said in an emotional speech.

© BrunoPress

Posthumous Oscar nom -

Boseman was also nominated for the Oscar for Best Actor for 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom.' Anthony Hopkins ultimately claimed the award for 'The Father' (2020).

Sources: (Box Office Mojo) (Garden and Gun) (Time) (Rolling Stone)

See also: Actors who didn't make it until later in their lives

© Getty Images