10 Surprising facts about Chadwick Boseman

On Aug. 28, 2020, actor Chadwick Boseman passed away after a four year battle with colon cancer. Here are 10 things you might not have known about the Black Panther actor.

1. Chadwick Boseman was Boseman’s birth name

While many actors choose to adopt stage names upon breaking into the industry, Chadwick Boseman chose to use his birth name — simply dropping his middle name, Aaron, from his stage name.

2. Chadwick Boseman began his career as a writer and director

Although Boseman is best known for his many acting roles, he started out as a writer and director.  It was his passion for directing and writing that inspired him to take up acting as a way to better relate to the actors he was writing for and directing.

3. Chadwick Boseman preferred basketball to baseball

Hard as it might be to believe given the incredible performance he gave as legendary baseball player Jackie Robinson in 42, basketball was always his first love. Growing up in South Carolina, Boseman actively played basketball in his youth and it was his love for the sport that would ultimately lead him to step away from the Little League baseball team he also played on for some time.

4. Chadwick Boseman’s acting mentor was actress Phylicia Rashad

As Boseman revealed in an interview with Rolling Stones, to help assist him with his directing Boseman enrolled in acting classes including one taught by The Cosby Show actress Phylicia Rashad. The two formed a tight bond and she soon became his mentor, supporting him along his journey.

5. Denzel Washington paid for Chadwick Boseman’s tuition at Oxford University

Speaking of the legendary Phylicia Rashad, when Boseman was accepted into a summer program at Oxford he nearly had to turn the opportunity down because he couldn’t afford the cost of the program. Clearly identifying Boseman’s talents, Rashad reached out to friends in the entertainment business to help out.

Among those who stepped in to assist Boseman, unbeknownst to him at the time, was Oscar-winning actor Denzel Washington. Boseman would later discuss the story during an appearance on The Tonight Show:

6. Chadwick Boseman was the first Marvel lead to win a SAG Award with Black Panther

In 2019, Boseman became the first Marvel lead to win a Screen Actors’ Guide Award when Black Panther took home the award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. His role as T’Challa / Black Panther also netted him a BET Award, Black Reel Award, NCAAP Image Award, MTV Movie + TV Award and People’s Choice Award.

7. Chadwick Boseman’s first role was on daytime’s All My Children

Like many actors, Boseman’s first acting role came on through a role on a daytime drama. For Boseman, his role came via ABC’s former soap opera All My Children in the role of Reggie Montgomery. The role would later be recast with Boseman’s Black Panther co-star Michael B. Jordan assuming the role.

8. Chadwick Boseman dreamed of playing Jimi Hendrix

As someone who has always loved all genres of music including jazz, classical, blues, rock and hip-hop, Boseman dreamed of playing Jimi Hendrix.

9. Chadwick Boseman originally auditioned for the role of Drax the Destroyer

Hard as it might be to believe, Boseman first attempted to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the role of Drax the Destroyer from Guardians of the Galaxy. While the role ultimately went to Dave Bautista, Boseman’s audition for the role of Drax helped to put him on Marvel’s radar and ultimately set the stage for him to take on the role of Black Panther.

10. Chadwick Boseman was reportedly a very private person

While some celebrities choose to fully embrace their celebrity status and the lack of privacy the limelight tends to bring, Boseman was a very private person. Rather than publically discussing his personal life, Boseman preferred to keep his personal life private including his relationships and battle with cancer.