The passing of Chadwick Boseman on August 28, 2020, continues to be one of the biggest surprises and tragedies in recent entertainment news.
People everywhere were shocked when it was announced that the Black Panther actor had been fighting colon cancer quietly for four years prior to his death at 43.
Boseman’s family reported that he endured chemotherapy and surgeries while on set for some of his most highly regarded performances, including Marshall, Da 5 Bloods, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, and, of course, Black Panther. His strength and will only solidified his place as a remarkably talented and resilient actor.
To many, his death was a crushing loss on what was already a year of mourning, after the passing of Kobe Bryant, Naya Rivera, and Kelly Preston. Even in their grief, however, fans and fellow actors offered tributes to Boseman that honored him not only as an artist but as a person. There is one memory, though, that still lingers five years on: a playful 2018 conversation with Michael B. Jordan, his co-star and friend from Black Panther.
In the since-viral Kerrang! Radio clip, the two actors played the “compliments game,” a lighthearted challenge in which each had to compliment the other without cracking up. Jordan started things off, cheekily saying to Boseman, “I really like how your beard somehow connects.” Boseman let out a laugh immediately, his recognizable cackle filling the room as Jordan confessed he was just jealous.
When Boseman’s turn came, he wisecracked: “I really love that your eyebrows have their own personality.” The two soon broke into more laughter, revealing a side of Boseman fans didn’t get to see very often: carefree, playful, and simply happy. Boseman later said Jordan’s comment was particularly amusing because it had been a family joke in his household for years.
This lighthearted, playful exchange is now a valued reminder of Boseman’s basic humanity. Although he was renowned for being serious about his work, his legacy, and his cultural significance—particularly with the international phenomenon of Black Panther—exchanges like this interview show that he also relished humor and laughter, even as he went stealthily about battling a life-altering disease.
Five years later, that clip is still a go-to method for fans to remember him: not only as the larger-than-life hero who brought T’Challa to life on screen, but as a friend, a prankster, and as a man capable of finding happiness in the smallest things.
Jamie Wells has a knack for getting the inside scoop on Hollywood’s biggest stars and up-and-coming talent. With a sharp eye for industry trends and an ear for viral moments, Jamie covers everything from red-carpet events to behind-the-scenes drama in movies, TV, and celebrity culture.
