Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman dies at 43 following battle with colon cancer

Chadwick Boseman, known for playing Black Panther in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, has died aged 43 after a four-year battle with colon cancer. 

The news was confirmed in a statement shared by the actor's official Twitter account. "A true fighter, Chadwick persevered through it all, and brought you many of the films you have come to love so much," his representatives wrote. "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. It was the honor of his career to bring King T'Challa to life in Black Panther."

His family said Boseman "died in his home, with his wife and family by his side" and they asked for the continued respect of their privacy.

Boseman got his start on television back in 2003, when he played a small role in an episode of the American crime drama Third Watch. The actor would later appear in Law & Order, CSI: NY, and ER before transitioning to film with a supporting role in The Express: The Ernie Davis Story.

Boseman came to larger attention after he played James Brown in the Tate Taylor directed Get on Up. Critics were won over by his performance, which brought him to the attention of Marvel. Two years after Get on Up's release, Boseman was cast as Black Panther in Captain America: Civil War. 

He would go on to reprise the role in 2018's Black Panther, Avengers: Infinity War, and 2019's Avengers: Endgame. Boseman was set to star in Black Panther 2, previously scheduled to release sometime in 2022. Earlier this year, he appeared in Spike Lee's Da 5 Bloods. Ma Rainey's Black Bottom will be the actor's final feature film appearance.