History of Chadwick Boseman in Timeline
Chadwick Aaron Boseman was a celebrated American actor and playwright known for his impactful performances in both major blockbusters and independent films throughout his two-decade career. He received numerous awards including a Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild Award, and a Primetime Emmy. He also received nominations for an Academy Award and BAFTA Award. He is best known for his role as T'Challa in Black Panther which had significant cultural impact. Boseman's talent and dedication established him as a prominent figure in the entertainment industry.
November 29, 1976: Chadwick Boseman's Birth
On November 29, 1976, Chadwick Aaron Boseman was born. He would later become an accomplished American actor and playwright, known for his roles in both blockbuster and independent films.
1995: Graduation and First Play
In 1995, Boseman graduated from T. L. Hanna High School, where he played basketball and wrote his first play, Crossroads, staging it after a classmate's death. He placed eighth in Original Oratory at the National Speech and Debate Association Tournament.
1998: Oxford Summer Program
In 1998, Boseman attended the Oxford Summer Program of the British American Drama Academy at Balliol College, Oxford, with the help of Phylicia Rashad and Denzel Washington, where he developed an appreciation for William Shakespeare and studied other dramatists.
2000: Graduation from Howard University
In 2000, Boseman graduated from Howard University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in directing.
2000: Drama League Directing Fellow
In 2000, Boseman was named a Drama League Directing Fellow.
2001: Hieroglyphic Graffiti at National Black Theatre Festival
In 2001, Boseman's play Hieroglyphic Graffiti was produced at a variety of locations, including the National Black Theatre Festival.
2002: AUDELCO Award and Theater Festival
In 2002, Boseman rose to prominence as a playwright and stage actor, winning an AUDELCO award for his part in Ron Milner's Urban Transitions and giving a one-man show called "Red Clay and Carved Concrete" at the Hip-Hop Theatre Festival.
2002: Drama Instructor in Schomburg Junior Scholars Program
In 2002, Boseman worked as the drama instructor in the Schomburg Junior Scholars Program, housed at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem.
2003: First TV Role and Firing from All My Children
In 2003, Boseman was cast in his first television role, an episode of Third Watch, and began playing Reggie Montgomery in All My Children, but was fired after protesting racist stereotypes in the script.
2004: Commission of Deep Azure
In 2004, Boseman's best-known play, Deep Azure, was commissioned by the Congo Square Theatre Company in Chicago.
2005: Jeff Award Nomination for Deep Azure
In 2005, Boseman received a Jeff Award nomination for his play Deep Azure.
2006: Jeff Award Nomination
In 2006, Deep Azure was nominated for a Jeff Award for Best New Work.
2007: Short Film Production
In 2007, Boseman directed, wrote, and produced the short film Blood Over a Broken Pawn.
2008: Move to Los Angeles
In 2008, Boseman moved to Los Angeles to pursue his film and acting career. He was cast in the television series Lincoln Heights and appeared in his first feature film, The Express: The Ernie Davis Story.
2008: Turning Deep Azure into a Screenplay
In 2008, Boseman turned Deep Azure into a screenplay, which prompted his move to Los Angeles after interest from Tessa Thompson and Omari Hardwick.
2009: End of Schomburg Junior Scholars Program Involvement
In 2009, Boseman concluded his work as the drama instructor in the Schomburg Junior Scholars Program.
2010: Regular Role in Persons Unknown
In 2010, Boseman landed his first regular role in the television series Persons Unknown as Graham McNair.
July 2013: Premiere of Short Film Heaven
In July 2013, Boseman's second short film as director, Heaven, premiered at the HollyShorts Film Festival.
2013: Breakthrough Role in 42
In 2013, Boseman landed his breakthrough role as baseball player Jackie Robinson in the film 42.
2013: Workshop for Holler If Ya Hear Me
In 2013, Boseman workshopped the Tupac Shakur jukebox musical Holler If Ya Hear Me, but did not continue to Broadway.
2013: Starring in 42
In 2013, Boseman's breakthrough role came with the film 42, where he portrayed Jackie Robinson. The same year, he also starred in the independent film The Kill Hole.
2014: Starring as James Brown in Get on Up
In 2014, Boseman portrayed singer James Brown in the movie Get on Up.
2014: Thriller Screenplay Sale
In 2014, Boseman sold a thriller screenplay to Universal Pictures and planned to star in it.
2014: Starring in Draft Day and Get on Up
In 2014, Boseman starred in the sports film Draft Day and portrayed James Brown in Get on Up, doing his own singing and dancing for the latter.
2016: Diagnosis with Colon Cancer
In 2016, Boseman received a diagnosis of colon cancer, which he kept private while continuing his acting career.
2016: Starring in Gods of Egypt
In 2016, Boseman starred as Thoth in Gods of Egypt, taking the role to ensure African representation in the predominantly white cast.
2016: Joins Marvel Cinematic Universe as Black Panther
In 2016, Chadwick Boseman began playing the Marvel Comics superhero T'Challa (Black Panther) in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
2016: Colon Cancer Diagnosis
In 2016, Chadwick Boseman was diagnosed with stage III colon cancer. He kept his diagnosis private while continuing to work on films.
2017: Portrayal of Thurgood Marshall in Marshall
In 2017, Boseman starred as Thurgood Marshall in the film Marshall.
2018: Howard University Commencement Address
In 2018, Boseman reflected on his experience being fired from All My Children in his commencement address to Howard University, highlighting issues of representation and stereotypes.
2018: Starred in Black Panther movie and named in Time 100
In 2018, Boseman starred in the Black Panther film and was named in the Time 100 list.
2018: Consultation for Black Panther
In 2018, Bryan Andrews and Brad Winderbaum sought notes from Ryan Coogler for the sequence in the 'What If... Zombies?!' episode that featured T'Challa. They got some great ideas for the sequence that were "really additive".
2019: Final MCU Film Appearance
In 2019, Chadwick Boseman made what would be his final appearance as Black Panther in a Marvel Cinematic Universe film.
August 28, 2020: Chadwick Boseman's Death
On August 28, 2020, Chadwick Boseman passed away after a two-decade career as an American actor and playwright.
August 29, 2020: Most-Liked Tweet
On August 29, 2020, the day after Chadwick Boseman's death, the tweet announcing his death became the most-liked tweet in Twitter history.
September 4, 2020: Public Memorial Service
On September 4, 2020, a public memorial service was held in Anderson, South Carolina, for Chadwick Boseman. Speakers included his childhood pastor and Deanna Brown-Thomas, daughter of James Brown. The city also announced plans for a permanent art memorial.
September 24, 2020: Disney Mural Unveiled
On September 24, 2020, Disney unveiled a mural titled "King Chad" by artist Nikkolas Smith, dedicated to Chadwick Boseman, at Downtown Disney in Anaheim, California.
November 29, 2020: Marvel Honors Boseman
On November 29, 2020, which would have been Chadwick Boseman's 44th birthday, Marvel changed the studio's logo animation in the opening of Black Panther on Disney+ to honor him. The updated logo included images of Boseman from various Marvel films.
2020: Cancer Progresses to Stage IV
Before 2020, Chadwick Boseman's colon cancer progressed to stage IV. Despite this, he continued to work on several films while undergoing treatment.
2020: Death and Posthumous Awards
In 2020, Boseman passed away from colon cancer. He posthumously received the Golden Globe and SAG Awards for Best Actor for his final film role in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, along with an Oscar nomination in the same category.
2020: Ryan Coogler's Tribute
In 2020, Ryan Coogler, director of Black Panther, offered condolences and revealed he had been writing words for Boseman to say in the sequel, unaware of his illness. Marvel confirmed the role of T'Challa would not be recast.
2020: Tributes and Honors After Death
In 2020, following Chadwick Boseman's death, Major League Baseball, the Los Angeles Dodgers, and others issued statements and tributes. Lewis Hamilton dedicated his pole position and race win at the Belgian Grand Prix to Boseman. A moment of silence was also held prior to a Lakers playoff game.
February 2021: Mural at Trilith Studios
In February 2021, a mural dedicated to Chadwick Boseman was painted at Trilith Studios in Fayetteville, Georgia, by artist Brandon Sadler.
April 2021: Anthony Hopkins' Tribute
In April 2021, following his Best Actor win at the Academy Awards, Anthony Hopkins paid tribute to Chadwick Boseman.
May 26, 2021: Howard University Renaming
On May 26, 2021, Howard University renamed its College of Fine Arts in honor of Chadwick Boseman.
2021: Posthumous Emmy Award for What If...?
In 2021, Boseman posthumously earned a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance for his role in the Disney+ anthology series What If...?
2021: Too Soon for T'Challa
In early 2021, when developing X-Men '97's first season, Marvel Studios felt it was too soon to feature T'Challa since Chadwick Boseman's death, so they chose to feature T'Chaka instead. For Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Marvel opted not to recast T’Challa.
2022: Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Released
In 2022, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever depicted T'Challa's death and the Wakandans processing their grief. The film was dedicated to Chadwick Boseman.
2022: Consultation for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
In 2022, Bryan Andrews and Brad Winderbaum sought notes from Ryan Coogler for the sequence in the 'What If... Zombies?!' episode that featured T'Challa. They got some great ideas for the sequence that were "really additive".
2022: Unreleased Black Panther Sequel
In 2022, Ryan Coogler, the director of Black Panther planned to release a Black Panther sequel, however, he was not able to since Chadwick Boseman passed away. He was in the middle of writing the script and had already turned in a draft by the time of Boseman's death.
March 19, 2024: School District Renaming
On March 19, 2024, the Anderson School District Five Board of Trustees renamed the performing arts center at Southwood Academy of the Arts in Chadwick Boseman's honor.
March 20, 2024: X-Men '97 Premiere
On March 20, 2024, X-Men '97 premiered on Disney+, featuring T'Chaka instead of T'Challa as Black Panther. The showrunner cited that it was too soon to feature T'Challa due to Chadwick Boseman's death.
April 8, 2025: Homage in Sinners
On April 8, 2025, Hannah Beachler revealed that the church design in the film Sinners included crossed beams forming the "Wakanda forever" gesture, paying homage to Chadwick Boseman.
Mentioned in this timeline
Marvel Comics founded in as Timely Comics by Martin Goodman...
Tupac Shakur also known as Pac and Makaveli was a...
James Brown an iconic American singer songwriter dancer and musician...
California is a U S state on the Pacific Coast...
Jackie Robinson was an American professional baseball player who broke...
Denzel Washington is a highly acclaimed American actor producer and...
Trending
2 minutes ago Alibaba's Shares Surge Fueled by AI and Cloud Growth, Beating Revenue Estimates
2 minutes ago Alabama Power Announces Electricity Rate Freeze Through 2027 Amid Budget Concerns.
3 minutes ago Severe Thunderstorms Hit North Texas: Lightning, Hail, Damaging Winds, and Power Outages
3 minutes ago Marjorie Taylor Greene Resigns: Disbelief and Speculation on Future Political Moves
1 hour ago LeBron Reflects on Kobe's Final Years; Luka Honors Kobe's Legacy.
1 hour ago Intel Faces Investigation Over Ex-TSMC Employee and IP Theft Concerns
Popular
Aftyn Alyssa Behn is an American politician currently serving as...
William Franklin Graham III commonly known as Franklin Graham is...
Candace Owens is an American conservative political commentator and author...
XXXTentacion born Jahseh Dwayne Ricardo Onfroy was a controversial yet...
Marjorie Taylor Greene known as MTG is a U S...
Cristiano Ronaldo often nicknamed CR is a Portuguese professional footballer...