Chadwick Boseman started out as drama teacher and a playwright before becoming a famous actor. He probably never thought that one day he would be a real life superhero and inspire millions of people. Most people know him as Black Panther from the Marvel movies. When he got the lead role in the superhero movie, so many people started to look up to him, especially kids.
While Black Panther isn’t technically the first black superhero movie (which is Robert Townsend's The Meteor Man in 1993), it is the first huge Hollywood film and blockbuster hit with a black superhero. Chadwick becoming the first huge black superhero shows kids that they can do anything and be anything they want when they grow up—even a superhero. Here are 10 facts about the inspiring actor who helped change Hollywood.
10 He Has A Huge Family From West Africa
Even though Chadwick never had any kids, his extended family is huge. In an interview with Mr. Porter, he said, “When my grandmother died, she left 115 grandkids and great grandkids. That was just one side.” He’s from South Carolina, but one day he did a DNA test and found out his ancestors are from West Africa, including parts of Sierra Leone, Guinea-Bissau, and Nigeria.
9 Phylicia Rashad Is The Reason Why He Became An Actor
The famous actress, Phylicia Rashad, is the reason why Chadwick became a huge star. According to TV Over Mind, “He intended to pursue a career as a director and graduated from Howard University with a bachelor’s degree in directing. However, he then took a course led by esteemed actress Phylicia Rashad, who is best known for playing Claire Huckstable in The Cosby Show. She influenced his decision to change career goals and become an actor.” If he hadn’t taken her class, he might not have become an actor or the iconic Black Panther we know him as.
8 He Studied At Two Different Colleges
Since he realized he wanted to be an actor while he was finishing his degree in directing, he decided to go to another school to pursue acting. “After graduating from Harvard University, Boseman studied at the British American Dramatic Academy in Oxford, England. This extended his experience, skills, and knowledge in the entertainment industry,” according to TV Over Mind. Denzel Washington reportedly paid for his tuition at the British American Dramatic Academy so he could become an actor.
7 He Was A Christian
Chadwick was raised a Christian while growing up in South Carolina. According to TV Over Mind, “As a child, he was an active member of his church congregation as he was a member of the church choir and also a member of the Christian youth group.” He had the same faith his whole life until he passed away last year.
6 He Worked As A Drama Instructor Years Ago
Chadwick has had a huge impact on kids from his role as Black Panther, but he was already helping kids years before that. “Useless Daily says that Chadwick Boseman was the drama instructor for the Schomburg Junior Scholars program between 2002 and 2007. This program is housed in the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. This center is located in Harlem, New York. Taking on this role allowed Boseman to pass on his skills and experience as an actor to the young actors of the future,” according to TV Over Mind. That just shows how much of an inspiring person he was.
5 He Didn’t Audition For 'Black Panther'
Marvel knew Chadwick was meant to play Black Panther, so they didn’t even make him audition before casting him for the role. According to TV Over Mind, “The first of these films was Captain America: Civil War. Scarlett Johansson and Chris Hemsworth were among the actors who had to audition for their roles in this film, but the same did not apply for Boseman. Based on his performances in previous films, Boseman was offered the role over the phone by Marvel Universe President, Kevin Feige. Of course, Boseman accepted and it is for this role that he is now best-known.”
4 He Didn’t Like Comics Until He Got The Role For 'Black Panther'
Ironically, Chadwick was one of the few kids who didn’t like comic books growing up even though he actually became a superhero in real life years later. According to TV Over Mind, “Boseman has said that he prayed he would get the role of Black Panther in the Marvel Cinematic Universe months in advance of being cast in the role. Once he landed the role, he read as many comics as he could that related to Black Panther to learn more about the character and his backstory, says BoomsBeat.” The comic books must have helped him portray Black Panther since the movie won multiple awards and gained millions of fans.
3 He Wrote Plays Before He Became A Famous Actor
Chadwick worked as a playwright for a while until he landed his first major feature film role in 42 as the legendary baseball player, Jackie Robinson. According to TV Over Mind, “Boseman’s talents extend beyond his performances in front of the camera, as he is also a talented playwright, says Useless Daily. He wrote the script for the play, Deep Azure, which was performed at the Congo Square Theater Company in Chicago, Illinois. This play was nominated for the Joseph Jefferson Award for New Work in 2006.” That time as a playwright helped him have a successful career by allowing him perfect his storytelling and acting skills.
2 He Was Given An Xhosa Name While He Was Doing Research In Africa
Chadwick’s full name is Chadwick Aaron Boseman and on top of being known as the Black Panther, he also has a Xhosa name. According to TV Over Mind, “He visited Cape Town in South Africa to research for his role as Black Panther. While he was there, a street musician gave him the Xhosa name ‘Mxolisi’. This name means ‘Peacemaker’, says Factinate. During his time in South Africa, Boseman also learned how to speak a little Xhosa.”
1 He Won Several Awards Before He Passed Away
Chadwick was nominated for his role as Black Panther in Captain America: Civil War in 2016, but didn’t win any awards until he was the lead role in a Marvel movie in 2018. “Chadwick Boseman was nominated for seven awards, of which he won four. He won two MTV Awards, one for Best Actor in a Movie and the second award for Best Hero. He also won the People’s Choice Male Movie Star of 2018 and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture,” according to TV Over Mind. He passed away from colon cancer on August 28, 2020 and no one knew what he was going through since he still starred in movies while he was sick. He wasn’t here for his Golden Globe award for his role in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom since he finished working on it days before he died. He held on as long as he could so he would be able to inspire people even in the last few days of his life.