Tributes to the late “Black Panther” star Chadwick Boseman continue to come in from some of the actors, producers and filmmakers that knew him best.
The 43-year-old actor passed away on Friday following a four-year battle with colon cancer, a condition he kept secret right up until his death.
Filmmaker Ryan Coogler posted an incredibly touching tribute via THR on Sunday, describing the man as “an anomaly. He was calm. Assured. Constantly studying. But also kind, comforting, had the warmest laugh in the world, and eyes that see much beyond his years, but could still sparkle like a child seeing something for the first time.”
Spike Lee was working with Boseman on “Da 5 Bloods,” filming in harsh, sweaty environmental conditions across jungles and mountains in Thailand over many weeks. Despite being with him for hours on end daily, Lee never suspected the fight that Boseman was going through personally. He tells E! News:
“Chadwick was there with us all the way. I never, ever suspected that anything was wrong. No one knew he was going through treatment, chemotherapy. [He was] a trooper. He never complained. He was there every single minute, in the moment, and his performance is testament to what he put into that role and all his roles.”
Robert Downey Jr. spoke to ABC News about a memory he has of Boseman whilst they were shooting the ending of “Avengers: Infinity War” in one of the rare moments all the main cast were together on set:
“It was just the way he walked on set and the immense success that had occurred and rightfully so with Black Panther and he was just in this kind of stratus of his own. But always, always humble, always hard working, always a smile on his face. Now, looking back, all the more I realize what an incredibly graceful human being he was.”
Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James saluted him on Saturday night before the start of the Lakers/Portland Trail Blazers playoff, James crossing his arms in the familiar ‘Wakanda Forever’ salute before pointing skyward during the national anthem.
A petition has begun on Change.org to replace a Confederate statue in the actor’s home town of Anderson, South Carolina with one of Boseman. Attempts have been made by local residents to remove the statue over the past few months, but South Carolina laws protecting Confederate monuments means they haven’t gained any serious traction. Now over 15,000 Chadwick Boseman fans have signed the main petition for the switch.
Check out some more tributes below – a nearly five-minute video issued by Marvel Studios and a wonderful bit of artistry by Senegalese artist Boubou.
Incredible Chadwick Boseman tribute by Senegalese artist Boubou.
Best thing you’ll see today… pic.twitter.com/Sj0dGFHX2I
— Rex Chapman🏇🏼 (@RexChapman) August 30, 2020