Lupita Nyong’o pays tribute to Chadwick Boseman on anniversary of death

Lupita Nyong’o has paid tribute to Chadwick Boseman on the sixth anniversary of his death (Ian West/PA) PA Wire Carla Feric 5 minutes ago Hollywood star Lupita Nyong’o has paid tribute to her Black Panther co-star Chadwick Boseman on the sixth anniversary of his death.

The US actor, who also played singer James Brown in Get On Up and baseball star Jackie Robinson in 42, died in August 2020 aged 43 four years after being diagnosed with colon cancer.

His diagnosis was kept private up until his death, which shocked the world after he became a global superstar as the first black superhero to lead a Marvel Cinematic Universe film in 2018’s Black Panther.

The 43-year-old actress starred opposite Boseman in the film as his love interest Nakia, a secret spy for the fictional African nation of Wakanda.

Nyong’o shared an emotional tribute on Instagram on Friday as she remembered her former co-star and posted a carousel of photos alongside Boseman and their fellow Black Panther actors.

In the caption, she wrote: “Hold on to those you love who love you back.

“Tell them you love them. Show them you love them. You’ll miss them when they’re gone.”

The actress, who recently appeared in Sir Christopher Nolan’s hit film The Odyssey, was flooded with comments of support from fans and stars alike, including actresses AJ Johnson and Holly Robinson Peete.

During an appearance at the BFI London Film Festival in October 2024, Nyong’o was moved to tears after watching a clip of Boseman in the Black Panther film.

Chadwick Boseman died in 2020 (Isabel Infantes/PA) PA Archive Boseman’s role as superhero T’Challa in Black Panther was not recast or digitally recreated in its sequel Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022), with the movie reflecting his passing.

It was recently announced that British actor David Jonsson will step into the role of the titular hero in Black Panther 3, playing the son of Boseman’s character.

The actor’s final film was 2020’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, an adaptation of the play with the same name by August Wilson, which also starred Hollywood actress Viola Davis.

He was honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in November 2025 and his widow Simone Ledward Boseman said he was “more than an actor” during an emotional speech at the ceremony.