Private Cancer

No matter whether it's a famous one or not, unfortunate disaster strikes. While we may not know exactly how people feel when they are struck with cancer, the losing battle is always devastating. This is my thought when looking at the passing of actor Chadwick Boseman. Seems like we keep seeing more famous ones wind up with something and succumb to it.

I knew Boseman was young, but I thought he was in his mid 30s, not 43.  He was playing some iconic names in the last seven years. Jackie Robinson, James Brown, Thurgood Marshall. I hope people look to some of his other work and see he had more to offer than just Black Panther. It's similar to the passing of Joel Schumacher. People need to see beyond the Batman films he did to get a glimpse of some of his other known films. Back to Boseman, this had the makings of a huge future. But what I find amazing is keeping his colon cancer, which he was diagnosed in 2016, private.

In Hollywood, there are always paparazzi. You have the media all around and if you are one of the top elite, you will be a story, no matter the publication or the company involved. Take Kelly Preston for example. She passed away in July from a private two year battle with breast cancer. Imagine the type of stories publications like National Enquirer could cook up. But four years for Boseman. I can't imagine the agony of getting treatment while filming Marshall or Black Panther. Some of those Marvel film producers and crews would have noticed immediately the results. But kudos at least for not making it public.

Some people don't want the attention that it could bring. Even with that, although Boseman had been acting for over 15 years, Hollywood was robbed of a man who looked like he could continue acting for 20 years or more. Who knows how many more true story films could have been done with his involvement or films in general. Sometimes, the best ones are taken tragically young. But remember his roles and not just Black Panther. There is a world beyond just comic book films.