Viola Davis, Mark Ruffalo among co-stars paying tribute to Chadwick Boseman on what would have been his 44th birthday
Friends and family members are honoring actor Chadwick Boseman on what would have been the Black Panther star’s 44th birthday on Nov. 29.
Boseman, who passed away in August from colon cancer at age 43, was universally beloved. Known for a diverse array of roles ranging from T’Challa to Jackie Robinson, the acclaimed actor’s death shocked the world after he lived with the disease in private for several years.
Chadwick’s brother Kevin Boseman acknowledged his sibling’s birthday with a peaceful photo of white flowers on his Instagram page.
“Today is a good day to give someone their flowers,” he wrote.
Black Panther co-stars Lupita Nyong’o and Michael B. Jordan remembered the “deeply loved, sorely missed” star on social media.
Deeply loved, sorely missed. #ChadwickBoseman pic.twitter.com/cMYOnJ4PnN
— Lupita Nyong'o (@Lupita_Nyongo) November 29, 2020
Rapper Common also paid tribute.
“Chadwick Boseman would have turned 44 years old today. Happy Birthday King. God Bless You Brother,” wrote Common. “Thank you for using your gift to bring light to this world. RIP.”
Mark Ruffalo, who co-starred with Boseman in 2018’s Avengers: Infinity War and 2019’s Avengers: Endgame, also shared a touching memory of his friend on social media.
“Thinking of your passion, love and your light today, @ChadwickBoseman. Happy Birthday,” wrote Ruffalo, who posted a throwback birthday video celebrating Boseman on set. “Wishing we could time travel back to this moment.”
Boseman’s friend and stylist Ashley Weston shared a series of photos of the actor to Instagram, writing, “I miss you every day, but I know you're with our ancestors looking over us. And I know I'll always feel your spirit and love around me ... but damn, I wish you were still here with us all.”
“Until we reunite again, happy birthday to my forever muse and king,” she added.
Boseman’s alma mater, Howard University, reposted a pair of photos of the actor, including one of him onstage receiving an honorary doctorate degree in 2018.
“Gone but not forgotten! Rest in Power #ChadwickBoseman,” the university wrote.
Gone but not forgotten! Rest in Power #ChadwickBoseman https://t.co/Tz2O4eTpKW
— Howard University (@HowardU) November 29, 2020
Viola Davis, who co-starred with Boseman in the 2014 James Brown biopic Get On Up, shared a short video of the actor as confetti dropped from the ceiling.
“Happy birthday in heaven, Chadwick! You are still so alive to me!! I love you,” wrote Davis, who also co-starred with Boseman in his final role, in the drama Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, which heads to Netflix next month.
Happy birthday in Heaven, Chadwick! You are still so alive to me!! I love you 💛💛 pic.twitter.com/TBhQlpIaRl
— Viola Davis (@violadavis) November 29, 2020
On Saturday, Disney Chairman Bob Iger teased a “special tribute to someone that was and will always be near and dear to our hearts.” The tribute was later revealed to be an updated intro honoring Boseman for Black Panther on Disney+.
Disney has updated the Marvel Studios intro for 'Black Panther' on Disney Plus in remembrance of the late Chadwick Boseman. Happy birthday, King. pic.twitter.com/2A9sJXLONy
— Geeks of Color #BlackLivesMatter (@GeeksOfColor) November 29, 2020
Read on for other tributes to the late actor.
— Be A King (@BerniceKing) November 29, 2020
Happy birthday my friend. I know the angels are celebrating on high with you today. Miss you every day ?@chadwickboseman? 🙏 pic.twitter.com/9LIrwpTio1
— Josh Gad (@joshgad) November 29, 2020
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