Chadwick Boseman

Chadwick Boseman

Born Chadwick Aaron Boseman
November 29, 1976
Anderson, South Carolina, U.S.
Occupation Actor, screenwriter, playwright
Years active 2003–present

Chadwick Aaron Boseman (born November 29, 1976)[1][2][3][4] is an American actor, screenwriter, and playwright. He is best known for portraying Jackie Robinson in 42 (2013) and James Brown in Get on Up (2014). He also had roles in the the television series Lincoln Heights (2008) and Person Unknown (2010), and the films The Express (2008) and Draft Day (2014). He is set to play Black Panther in the films Captain America: Civil War, scheduled for release in 2016, and Black Panther, scheduled for 2018.

Early life

Boseman was born in Anderson, South Carolina, the son of Carolyn, a nurse, and Leroy Boseman, who owns an upholstery business.[5][6] He graduated from T.L. Hanna High School in 1995[7][6] and later graduated from Howard University in Washington, D.C. in 2000 with a BFA in directing.[4] He also graduated from the British American Dramatic Academy in Oxford, Oxfordshire. Boseman had wanted to write and direct, and initially began studying acting to learn how to relate to actors.[8]

From 2002 to 2007, Boseman was the drama instructor in the Schomburg Junior Scholars Program, housed at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem, New York.[9] He moved to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career in 2008.[10]

Career

Boseman landed his first television role in 2003, in an episode of Third Watch. His early work included episodes of the series Law & Order, CSI:NY, and ER.[9] He also continued to work as a playwright, with his script for Deep Azure, performed at the Congo Square Theatre Company in Chicago, Illinois, nominated for a 2006 Joseph Jefferson Award for New Work.[11] In 2008 he played a recurring role on the television series Lincoln Heights and appeared in his first feature film, The Express.[12] He landed a regular role in another television series, Persons Unknown, in 2010.[12]

Boseman's first starring role came with the 2013 film 42, in which he played Jackie Robinson.[13][12] Boseman had been directing an off-Broadway play in East Village when he auditioned for the role;[14] he had considered giving up acting and pursuing directing full-time at the time.[1] About 25 other actors had been seriously considered for the role, but director Brian Helgeland liked Boseman's bravery and cast him after he had auditioned twice.[4][2] In 2013 Boseman also starred in the indie film The Kill Hole, which was released in theaters a few weeks before 42.[15]

In 2014, Boseman appeared in two more films. He co-starred opposite Kevin Costner in Draft Day, in which he played an NFL draft prospect.[16] Later that year he starred as James Brown in Get on Up.[1] Boseman will star as Thoth, a diety from Egyptian mythology, in Gods of Egypt, set for release in 2016.[17] He will also be playing the Marvel Comics character Black Panther in the 2016 film Captain America: Civil War,[18] as well as a solo Black Panther film in July 2018.[19]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2008 The Express Floyd Little
2013 The Kill Hole Lt. Samuel Drake
2013 42 Jackie Robinson
2014 Draft Day Vontae Mack
2014 Get on Up James Brown
2016 Gods of Egypt Thoth
2016 Captain America: Civil War T'Challa/Black Panther Filming
2018 Black Panther T'Challa/Black Panther In Development

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2003 Third Watch David Wafer Episode: "In Lieu of Johnson"
2003 All My Children Reggie Porter Montgomery #1 Episode unknown
2004 Law & Order Foster Keyes Episode: "Can I Get a Witness?"
2006 CSI: NY Rondo Episode: "Heroes"
2008 ER Derek Taylor Episode: "Oh, Brother"
2008 Cold Case Dexter Collins Episode: "Street Money"
2008–2009 Lincoln Heights Nathaniel "Nate" Ray 9 episodes
2009 Lie to Me Cabe McNeil Episode: "Truth or Consequences"
2010 Persons Unknown Sergeant McNair 13 episodes
2010 The Glades Michael Richmond Episode: "Honey"
2011 Castle Chuck Russell Episode: "Poof, You're Dead"
2011 Fringe Mark Little / Cameron James Episode: "Subject 9"
2011 Detroit 1-8-7 Tommy Westin Episode: "Beaten/Cover Letter"
2011 Justified Ralph "Flex" Beeman Episode: "For Blood or Money"

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Riley, Daniel (September 2014). "The Surprisingly Sudden Arrival of Chadwick Boseman". GQ. Retrieved April 29, 2015.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Herndon, Jessica (April 8, 2013). "Chadwick Boseman: The Distinguished Rise of Cinema’s Next Champion". Flaunt. Retrieved April 29, 2015.
  3. ↑ Christopher Borrelli (April 11, 2013). "Robinson actor swings for the fences". The Chicago Tribune.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Jenkins, Mark (April 11, 2013). "Jackie Robinson film ‘42’ opens, starring Howard graduate Chadwick Boseman". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 29, 2015.
  5. ↑ Don Rhodes (July 31, 2014). "Boseman captures essence of Brown in 'Get On Up'". The Augusta Chronicle.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Grove, Jake B. (April 4, 2013). "Anderson native stars in Jackie Robinson biopic '42'". The Anderson Independent-Mail. Retrieved April 29, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Hanna Grad Chad Boseman Plays Jackie Robinson in “42”" (PDF). Parent Newsletter (47) (T.L. Hanna High School). April 11, 2013.
  8. ↑ McDonald, Soraya Nadia (October 29, 2014). "Everything you need to know about Chadwick Boseman — Marvel’s new superhero, Black Panther". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 29, 2015.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Holsey, Steve (August 6, 2014). "Star On The Rise: Chadwick Boseman". Michigan Chronicle. Retrieved April 29, 2015.
  10. ↑ Rose, Steve (November 20, 2014). "I got the feelin’ – Chadwick Boseman on playing James Brown". The Guardian. Retrieved April 29, 2015.
  11. ↑ Wood, Jennifer (October 28, 2013). "10 Actors Who Have Gone From Supporting Role to Leading Man in 2013: Chadwick Boseman". Complex. Retrieved April 29, 2015.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Gregory, Sean (February 21, 2013). "Going Places With Chadwick Boseman". Time. Retrieved April 29, 2015.
  13. ↑ Fordin, Spencer (December 9, 2011). "Jackie Robinson movie to star Ford, Boseman". mlb.com. Retrieved April 19, 2013.
  14. ↑ Miller, Julie (April 12, 2013). "42 Star Chadwick Boseman on Playing Jackie Robinson, Copying His Baseball Moves, and Being Stood Up by the President". Vanity Fair. Retrieved April 29, 2015.
  15. ↑ Yamato, Jenn (February 14, 2013). "Indie Vendetta Pic With Parallels To Christopher Dorner Saga Gets Release Date". Deadline.com. Retrieved April 29, 2015.
  16. ↑ Kaye, Don (April 11, 2014). "Chadwick Boseman on 'Draft Day,' Sports Legends, and Becoming James Brown". Moviefone. Retrieved April 29, 2015.
  17. ↑ Fleming Jr, Mike (January 30, 2014). "Chadwick Boseman Set For Summit’s ‘Gods Of Egypt’". Deadline.com. Retrieved April 29, 2015.
  18. ↑ Strom, Marc (October 28, 2014). "Chadwick Boseman to Star in Marvel's Black Panther". Marvel.com. Archived from the original on October 28, 2014. Retrieved October 28, 2014.
  19. ↑ Strom, Marc (February 10, 2015). "Marvel Studios Schedules New Release Dates for 4 Films". Marvel.com. Archived from the original on February 10, 2015. Retrieved February 9, 2015.

External links

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