'He's still Chad': Actor's hometown remembers Chadwick Boseman
| Anderson, S.C.
Chadwick Boseman was remembered as a hometown hero who brought a sense of pride to his native Anderson, South Carolina.
The city paid tribute to Mr. Boseman in a public memorial on Thursday evening. The actor, who became widely popular through 鈥淏lack Panther,鈥� was honored after he shockingly died last week at the age of 43 following a private four-year battle with colon cancer.
A viewing of 鈥淏lack Panther鈥� was held at an outdoor amphitheater where people practiced social distancing. Most attendees wore masks, while others 鈥� mostly kids 鈥� dressed up in Black Panther costumes.
Some artwork of Mr. Boseman was displayed onstage during the tribute.
鈥淗e is the epitome of black excellence,鈥� said Deanna Brown-Thomas, the daughter of legendary singer James Brown and president of her father鈥檚 family foundation. She remembered when Mr. Boseman visited her family in Augusta, Georgia, before the actor portrayed her father in the 2014 film 鈥淕et on Up.鈥�
Mr. Boseman was a playwright who acted and directed in theater before playing the Marvel Comics character King T鈥機halla in 鈥淏lack Panther,鈥� which became one of the top-grossing films in history. He also wowed audiences in his portrayal of other Black icons, including Jackie Robinson in 鈥�42鈥� and Thurgood Marshall in 鈥淢arshall,鈥� and shined in other films such as Spike Lee鈥檚 鈥淒a 5 Bloods.鈥�
Ms. Brown-Thomas joked about how her family teased Mr. Boseman for being too tall to play her father. But she said Mr. Boseman was perfect for the role, admiring his humility as a high-profile actor.
鈥淗e wasn鈥檛 Hollywood, and that鈥檚 what I loved about him,鈥� she said.
Anderson mayor Terence Roberts said people around town always knew Mr. Boseman would be special.
鈥淵ou know, he was always reading and always trying to get better,鈥� Mr. Roberts said. 鈥淪o from a work ethic point of view, it just doesn鈥檛 happen overnight. He showed us that we鈥檝e got to hone our skills and just persevere.鈥�
In Anderson, a city of about 28,000 people, 鈥渢here鈥檚 deep sadness and grief, but it has a bounce out of it that is such inspiration,鈥� city spokeswoman Beth Batson said. That鈥檚 because Mr. Boseman inspired so many people in the community, she said.
鈥淚t has been amazing to watch the grief, so to speak, blossom,鈥� she said. 鈥淣ow young people say 鈥榳hat can I do, what can I be.鈥欌��
Pastor Samuel Neely said Mr. Boseman was active in church, speech, and debate. The pastor said he baptized Mr. Boseman. He also praised Mr. Boseman for having high character.
鈥淓ven though he plays these different people, I still see the person I knew as a child,鈥� said Mr. Neely, who was Mr. Boseman鈥檚 childhood pastor. 鈥淲hen I see him, it鈥檚 almost like seeing my own child. He鈥檚 still Chad.鈥�
Thursday鈥檚 tribute was not a funeral, and members of Mr. Boseman鈥檚 immediate family did not plan to be in attendance, Mr. Boseman鈥檚 publicist, Nicki Fioravante, said in a statement.
鈥淥n behalf of the Boseman Family, we appreciate the community鈥檚 outpouring of love and admiration for Chadwick,鈥� Ms. Fioravante said.
This story was reported by The Associated Press. AP writer Jonathan Landrum Jr. in Los Angeles contributed to this report.
