Viola Davis recently opened up about her experience working with Chadwick Boseman on the set of “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.” The film, released in 2020, was Boseman’s final movie before his untimely death from colon cancer at the age of 43. Davis admitted that she was initially “a little judgmental” of the special treatment Boseman received on set. She noticed his fiancé, Taylor Simone Ledward, and his makeup artist taking extra care of him, playing music for him between takes and giving him back rubs.
“There was a part of me that was a little judgmental — why do you need all that?” Davis said. “Little did I know that they were doing it because he was dying.”
Boseman had been privately battling cancer since 2016, but he kept his diagnosis hidden from most of his colleagues and the public. Despite undergoing chemotherapy and surgeries, he continued to work on several major films, including “Black Panther” and “Da 5 Bloods.”
When Boseman passed away in August 2020, it came as a shock to many who had worked with him.
Director Ryan Coogler, who helmed “Black Panther,” revealed that he initially couldn’t believe the news. “I got a call from my manager, Charles King. He called and told me, and I didn’t want to believe it, so I called Denzel, and I spoke to him, and we thought it might be a rumor, so I texted Chad,” Coogler recalled.
Legacy of Chadwick Boseman
Davis has consistently honored Boseman’s talent and character since his passing. On the fourth anniversary of his death last August, she shared a tribute on social media, posting a photo of the actor with the caption: “Authenticity, passion, and love were all woven in one extraordinary human… CHADWICK BOSEMAN! You live on in me.
Your flame will never be extinguished.”
Reflecting on the complexity of grieving such a profound loss, Davis said, “The grief is just the love with no place to put it. I don’t run away from the tears or the grief. You just live with it.
That experience will never be separate.”
Boseman’s legacy continues to resonate with those who knew him and the millions of fans he touched with his performances. His colleagues remember him not just for his incredible talent, but for his resilience and unique approach to life and work. “Everything about Chad was unique,” Coogler reflected.
“How he lived and how he died was unique.”
Davis’ story serves as a poignant reminder to withhold judgment, as we never truly know the battles others are silently fighting. Boseman’s impact on the world will never be forgotten, and his authenticity and integrity will continue to inspire generations to come.
