See the Most Iconic Moments of Chadwick Boseman's Career 5 Years After His Death Karen Mizoguchi, Liam MathewsAugust 28, 2025 at 8:00 PM © Marvel / © Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures /Courtesy Everett Collection ; ©Warner Bros.
- - See the Most Iconic Moments of Chadwick Boseman's Career 5 Years After His Death
Karen Mizoguchi, Liam MathewsAugust 28, 2025 at 8:00 PM
© Marvel / © Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures /Courtesy Everett Collection ; ©Warner Bros. Pictures/courtesy Everett Collection
Chadwick Boseman as T'Challa in 'Black Panther' (2018) ; Chadwick Boseman as Jackie Robinson in '42' (2013).
Chadwick Boseman died at the age of 43 on Aug. 28, 2020, due to complications with colon cancer.
Diagnosed in 2016, his death came as a shock to his former costars and fellow actors, with many celebrities and fans paying tribute to the actor on social media. After appearing on series such as Lincoln Heights and Persons Unknown, the South Carolina native landed his breakout role as pioneering baseball legend Jackie Robinson in the 2013 biopic 42.
He went on to portray other historical figures such as musician James Brown in 2014's Get on Up and Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall in 2017's Marshall.
"When I look back on his body of film work, and I have been able to see quite a bit of it in these last few weeks, it never ceases to amaze me how very different he is in each and every role," actress Phylicia Rashad told Entertainment Tonight in 2020.
The Cosby Show alum — who mentored Boseman at Howard University — continued, "And the differences are subtle. They are not sweet rolled, they are not manipulated, they are not contrived. He presents a real person and persona in every character he plays."
Forging his path in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) as King T'Challa and the titular superhero, Boseman made Hollywood history as the star of the first billion-dollar blockbuster led by a predominantly Black cast in 2018's Black Panther.
"A true fighter, Chadwick persevered through it all and brought you many of the films you have come to love so much. From Marshall to Da 5 Bloods, August Wilson's Ma Rainey's Black Bottom and several more, all were filmed during and between countless surgeries and chemotherapy," his family said in a statement following his death. "It was the honor of his career to bring King T'Challa to life in Black Panther."
Here's a look back on Boseman's career through his most memorable performances on the big screen.
01 of 15
42 (2013)
Warner Bros. Pictures/courtesy Everett Collection Chadwick Boseman as Jackie Robinson in 2013's '42'
In the 2013 sports drama, Boseman stepped into the cleats of Robinson, who broke the color barrier and became the first Black player in modern Major League Baseball when he took the field as the second baseman for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947.
Robinson's extraordinary talent and courage in the face of racism helped pave the way for the Civil Rights Movement and the end of segregation. According to The Washington Post, Boseman was selected over 25 other actors for the part.
Though Jackie Robinson Day is traditionally honored on April 15, when all MLB players wear the number 42 in honor of Robinson, the postponement of the MLB season due to the pandemic pushed the day to Aug. 28, 2020 — the same day Boseman died and seven years after he portrayed the icon.
The Jackie Robinson Foundation commemorated the late actor's portrayal following his death.
"Having channeled the depth and diversity of our beloved Jackie Robinson in the 2013 critically-acclaimed Legendary Entertainment film '42,' Chadwick was a dear friend of the Foundation — lending his time and visibility to help advance our mission," the nonprofit organization shared on X (formerly Twitter).
The statement continued: "Preparing for his starring role in '42,' he studied extensively and spent considerable time with Rachel Robinson. A consummate professional, he absorbed every story, every memory and every photo and film excerpt he could consume to help translate the soul of an American hero. And now, Chadwick will be etched in history as a hero in his own right, especially having shown millions of Black and Brown children the power of a superhero who looks like them. Chadwick — may you rest in peace eternally. Take your place among the greats. You earned it."
02 of 15
Draft Day (2014)
Summit Entertainment/Courtesy Everett Collection Chadwick Boseman (center) as Vontae Mack in 2014's 'Draft Day'
Though Boseman told Vanity Fair in 2013 that he primarily played basketball growing up, he took on his second role as a non-basketball athlete, playing Vontae Mack.
Mack was a linebacker for the Ohio State University Buckeyes, whom Cleveland Browns general manager Sonny Weaver Jr. (Kevin Costner) eventually chose with the top pick in the NFL draft.
After Boseman's death, Draft Day director Ivan Reitman recounted his time working with him and revealed that the actor initially didn't want to do the film until they had a FaceTime call to discuss it.
"We just had this really lovely, passionate conversation — it's where I first got to know how smart he is, and how charismatic," Reitman told The Hollywood Reporter in 2020. "That film was just a joyful experience — it was really not even the shooting, it was just being with him and being in his presence."
03 of 15
Get on Up (2014)
Universal Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection Chadwick Boseman (center) as James Brown in 2014's 'Get on Up'
Following Draft Day, Boseman played another real person in this musical biopic.
Known as "The Hardest-Working Man in Show Business," Boseman embodied Brown's work ethic on set, doing all of the dancing and singing some of the songs in his own voice to accurately depict the R&B and soul artist's showmanship.
"The man did his homework," singer Jill Scott, who portrayed Brown's second wife in the movie, told The Hollywood Reporter in 2014. "He worked so hard; he practiced five hours a day — every day. Even on his time off, he was still practicing those dance moves. Chad couldn't even dance when he took this film."
04 of 15
Gods of Egypt (2016)
Lionsgate /Courtesy Everett Collection Chadwick Boseman as Thoth in 2016's 'Gods of Egypt'
Boseman starred as Thoth, the God of Wisdom, alongside Game of Thrones alum Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Gerard Butler in the 2016 fantasy action film inspired by ancient Egyptian deities. Before its release, the film drew controversy for casting mostly white actors playing Egyptian characters.
The actor said he agreed with this criticism and even anticipated the backlash.
"That's why I wanted to do it, so you would see someone of African descent playing Thoth, the father of mathematics, astronomy, the god of wisdom," Boseman told GQ in 2015.
05 of 15
Captain America: Civil War (2016)
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection From left: Chadwick Boseman as Black Panther/T'Challa, Paul Bettany (back) as Vision, Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man/Tony Stark, Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow/Natasha Romanoff and Don Cheadle as War Machine/Lt. James Rhodes in 2016's 'Captain America: Civil War'
Boseman's first appearance in the MCU as Black Panther was in the Chris Evans and Robert Downey Jr.-led movie, giving fans an introduction to the new king of Wakanda.
Marvel casting director Sarah Halley Finn said that no other actor was seriously considered for the royal role.
"We all were in absolute agreement immediately that he was the person to play this part," Finn told Vulture in 2020. "My team at Marvel had seen his body of work and knew his ability to channel this kind of dignity, this grace, this elegance, this regalness with humility and humor and intelligence."
Finn added, "Kevin Feige and [directors] the Russo brothers picked up the phone and offered him the role in Civil War just before he was ready to go on the red carpet to do press for another project."
06 of 15
Message from the King (2016)
Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection Chadwick Boseman as Jacob King in 2016's 'Message from the King'
In the 2016 gritty neo-noir thriller, Boseman played a man named Jacob King, who travels from his home in South Africa to Los Angeles when his estranged sister calls him asking for help. When he gets there and finds she's already dead, his rescue mission turns into one of revenge.
Though the Netflix flick wasn't well-received by insiders, Boseman earned praise for his performance.
Film critic Boyd van Hoeij wrote in his review for The Hollywood Reporter that Boseman was "intensely focused" in a part that successfully shows off his "action star bona fides."
07 of 15
Marshall (2017)
Open Road Films/Courtesy Everett Collection From left: Josh Gad as Sam Friedman, Chadwick Boseman as Thurgood Marshall and Sterling K. Brown as Joseph Spell in 2017's Marshall'
Continuing his theme of depicting notable figures on the big screen, Boseman starred as Thurgood Marshall, the first Black person to become a United States Supreme Court Justice. The 2017 film — which Boseman described as more of a thriller and courtroom drama than a biopic — follows Marshall early in his career as he defends Joseph Spell (Sterling K. Brown), a Black man who is accused of a crime he didn't commit.
During a 2017 appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Boseman revealed why he chose to portray Marshall and other prominent people throughout his career.
"Acting is the same regardless. It's just you're responsible for certain things when you play a real person," he told host Jimmy Kimmel. "In this case, I said I didn't want to do any more movies about real people, but the script was really, really good."
Boseman added, "Each movie you do about a person is like a painting, and you choose certain things in the painting that you want to pull out and you want to show. For this one, it was the spirit of the man. He lives hard, he works hard, he fights hard."
08 of 15
Black Panther (2018)
Matt Kennedy/©Marvel Studios 2018 Chadwick Boseman as T'Challa in 2018's 'Black Panther'
Boseman achieved new career highs with Black Panther. Directed by Ryan Coogler, the Marvel blockbuster follows Boseman as T'Challa and the titular character as he grapples with the decision of whether to share the secrets of his technologically advanced African nation of Wakanda with the world, while fighting a challenge to the throne from his American cousin Erik "Killmonger" Stevens (Michael B. Jordan).
Black Panther made history as the highest-grossing film directed by a Black filmmaker and the first superhero movie to earn an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture.
Its success showed that a predominantly Black cast and serious, specific themes about racial identity could resonate with a global audience, as journalist Jamil Smith highlighted.
"This rapidly expanding reckoning — one that reflects the importance of representation in our culture — is long overdue," Smith wrote in his TIME cover story. "Black Panther is poised to prove to Hollywood that African-American narratives have the power to generate profits from all audiences. And, more important, that making movies about Black lives is part of showing that they matter."
Boseman told PEOPLE in 2016 that playing the part made him feel almost like a kid again.
"You get lost in it when we're doing fight scenes, or it's when I have the suit on," he said. "It's just when you get lost in it. It's when you actually believe it, that you're the character, and that can happen on any day, doing anything."
09 of 15
Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
Chuck Zlotnick/©Marvel Studios 2018 From left, front row: Danai Gurira as Okoye, Chadwick Boseman as Black Panther/T'Challa, Chris Evans as Captain America/Steve Rogers and Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow/Natasha Romanoff in 2018's 'Avengers: Infinity War'
That same year, he reprised his role as T'Challa in Avengers: Infinity War in a relatively small but significant part. In the film, the Avengers and T'Challa's Wakandan forces battle Thanos' (Josh Brolin) army as the supervillain comes to Wakanda in search of the final Infinity Stone.
Before the release of Infinity War, Boseman and his costars answered questions submitted to PEOPLE by kids, and he revealed the other two Marvel heroes he wished he could play: Spider-Man and Hulk.
"I always liked Spider-Man growing up," he said. "Second would probably be Hulk, but he's got some psychological issues that I wouldn't want to deal with."
10 of 15
Avengers: Endgame (2019)
Marvel Chadwick Boseman (center) as Black Panther/T'Challa in 2018's 'Avengers: Infinity War'
Boseman suited up as the superhero for the final time in the climactic Avengers installment, with T'Challa teaming up with the Avengers to defeat Thanos.
After Boseman's death, Joe and Anthony Russo — sibling filmmaking duo and directors of Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame — honored his legacy in a statement to PEOPLE.
"Chadwick was an incredibly elegant and thoughtful individual who conveyed dignity and integrity in a way that very few could," they wrote. "A tremendous talent who inspired a generation to stand up and be king. He understood something unique and noble about life and was determined to use his talents in ways that impacted. He had so much to give …"
11 of 15
21 Bridges (2019)
Matt Kennedy/STXfilms Chadwick Boseman as Andre Davis in 2019's '21 Bridges'
In the 2019 action thriller, Boseman played Andre Davis, an embattled NYPD detective who shuts down all of the 21 bridges that connect the island of Manhattan to the mainland amid a citywide manhunt to find two suspected cop killers.
His former 21 Bridges costar Sienna Miller revealed that he took a pay cut so that she could receive the salary she requested.
"It was about the most astounding thing that I've experienced," she told Empire in 2020, one month after his death. "That kind of thing just doesn't happen. He said, 'You're getting paid what you deserve, and what you're worth.' It's just unfathomable to imagine another man in that town behaving that graciously or respectfully."
12 of 15
Da 5 Bloods (2020)
David Lee/Netflix From left: Isiah Whitlock Jr. as Melvin, Norm Lewis as Eddie, Clarke Peters as Otis, Delroy Lindo as Paul and Jonathan Majors as David in 2020's 'Da 5 Bloods'
The Spike Lee-directed war film was Boseman's final film released during his lifetime. It tells the story of four Vietnam War veterans, Paul (Delroy Lindo), Otis (Clarke Peters), Eddie (Norm Lewis) and Melvin (Isiah Whitlock Jr.), who return to Vietnam decades after the war to search for the remains of "Stormin' Norman" Holloway (Boseman), their beloved squad leader — and the gold they were securing when Norman was killed in action.
Following Boseman's death, Lee reflected on what it was like working with the late actor, describing him as a "trooper" and someone who "never complained."
"We filmed Da 5 Bloods in Thailand, and it was hot, jungles, mountains, and Chadwick was there with us all the way," the director said during a virtual listening party in Brooklyn, N.Y. "I never, ever suspected that anything was wrong. No one knew he was going through treatment, chemotherapy,"
Lee added, "He was there every single minute in the moment. And his performance is a testament to what he put into that role, and all his roles. We miss you, Chadwick; we're going to celebrate your life."
13 of 15
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (2020)
David Lee/Netflix From left: Glynn Turman as Toledo, Chadwick Boseman as Levee, Michael Potts as Slow Drag and Colman Domingo as Cutler in 2020's 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom'
Released three months after his death, the Netflix adaptation earned Boseman his first and only Oscar nomination for Best Actor. He was awarded a Golden Globe posthumously for his performance as troubled jazz trumpet player Levee, whose mental state deteriorates over the course of a difficult recording session in 1927.
Boseman learned to play the trumpet for the film, which challenged his costars to take the musical portion of the film seriously.
"We were all staying in the same hotel. It started sounding like a music school," recalled Glynn Turman, who played the band's piano player, Toledo. "You get off the elevator, and you could hear Chadwick working on it. Made you say, 'Hey, I don't want to practice right now, but I better get to start practicing.' "
Viola Davis, in the titular role, told Yahoo Entertainment that she "broke down" when she learned of Boseman's death.
"Lord knows we all would've wanted him to live another 50 years. We all want longevity," she said. "But I can't see his life tragically at all. … Because I felt like he was always living in the moment, squeezing out every bit of life. What it makes me think is, it's not the quantity, it's the quality."
She added of her former costar, "What I hold onto with Chad is that he lived his life his way. I would say his professional life as absolutely paralleled his personal life, that's my guess, in terms of how he lived with the utmost integrity."
14 of 15
What If...? (2021)
Disney+/Marvel Studios
Black Panther (voiced by Chadwick Boseman) on 'What If...?'
The last project Boseman worked on was this Disney+ animated series that presented alternate versions of Marvel stories. He lent his voice to four episodes of season 1.
Boseman won a posthumous Emmy Award in 2022 for outstanding character voice-over performance for "What If... T'Challa Became a Star-Lord?" The episode reimagines a scenario in which T'Challa is kidnapped by aliens instead of Guardians of the Galaxy character Peter Quill (Chris Pratt).
"It was amazing being able to work with him," director Bryan Andrews said of Boseman during a press conference in 2021, per Deadline, before adding, "We only got a small moment because our episodes are so short. I think he was one of the first actors to sign on. ...None of us knew what he was going through at the time."
Andrews added, "He was excited to play this particular version of T'Challa because it was different. It was a version of him playing the King, but the King without the mantel, the royalty and everything else that goes along with it. He could lighten it up and get more jokey with it. He was excited to bring back that flavor to T'Challa."
15 of 15
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)
Marvel Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection
A mural honoring T'Challa (Chadwick Boseman) in 2022's 'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever'
Boseman isn't actually in the 2022 sequel Wakanda Forever, since filming began after his death. However, he does appear in archival footage, and the film is dedicated to his memory.
Marvel Studios president Feige decided not to recast T'Challa, choosing instead to continue the story of Wakanda through other characters in the wake of T'Challa's death. His sister Shuri (Letitia Wright) becomes the new Black Panther as she grieves his loss.
Wright said that remembering Boseman helped her get through difficult moments on set.
"I will always have moments on set of doubt, and I'll be like, 'Oh man, I don't know if I can do this.' I could just hear [Boseman] be like, 'Sister, you're great. You got this. I'm proud of you,' " she told PEOPLE in 2022. "That really just kept me moving forward."
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