Chadwick Boseman, the man who embodied leading roles that changed the movie industry for good, passed away this weekend on Friday August 28th, 2020. He was 43 years old and died of stage 4 colon cancer.

Making history by introducing an all- Black cast in the ground-breaking film, Black Panther, Boseman fought a long and hard battle. He was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer back in 2016 and it had progressed to stage 4, even through those challenging times he still managed to film movies we enjoy today. Not only did he play the role of an African king and bring the first Black super hero to life, but he also took on the roles of historical Black figures – like Jackie Robinson in the movie 42 and James Brown in Get On Up.

Boseman’s passing was announced the day Major League Baseball honored Jackie Robinson Day, an annual commemoration delayed by several months due to the pandemic.”His transcendent performance in ’42’ will stand the test of time and serve as a powerful vehicle to tell Jackie’s story to audiences for generations to come,” Major League Baseball tweeted Friday about the actor. That day all the players wore the number 42.

He truly was a super hero to all – he impacted so many lives with his regal performances and characters. Kevin Feige, the president of Marvel Studios who recruited Boseman to take on the culture-changing role of Black Panther, said he was “devastated” by the news in a statement to USA TODAY. “He was our T’Challa, our Black Panther, and our dear friend,” wrote Feige. “Each time he stepped on set, he radiated charisma and joy, and each time he appeared on screen, he created something truly indelible. He embodied a lot of amazing people in his work, and nobody was better at bringing great men to life. He was as smart and kind and powerful and strong as any person he portrayed. Now he takes his place alongside them as an icon for the ages.”

Chris Evans, whose Captain America fought alongside Black Panther, tweeted that he was “absolutely devastated” by Boseman’s death. “Chadwick was special. A true original,” wrote Evans. “He had so much amazing work still left to create.”

He ended the tribute with, “Rest in power, King.”  We didn’t have Chadwick Boseman in our lives for long, but man did he do something special with his life.