Lupita Nyong'o Marks Chadwick Boseman Third Death Anniversary With A Touching Tribute

Actress Lupita Nyong'o took to her Instagram page to pay tribute to Chadwick Boseman on the third anniversary of his passing. She shared a black-and-white photo taken with Boseman in 2018, expressing her deep pain upon learning of his death in 2020. 

Nyong'o recalled a joyful memory captured in the photo, reflecting on the complexity of comprehending death. Other "Black Panther" stars, including Letitia Wright and Daniel Kaluuya, also honored Boseman on the anniversary. 

Keep on reading to learn more.

Lupita Nyong'o marked the third anniversary of Chadwick Boseman's passing at the age of 43 due to colon cancer.

On Monday, the 40-year-old actress posted a monochrome picture she had taken of her "Black Panther" Co-star as they arrived at a South Korean airport in 2018. In her caption, Nyong'o expressed how deeply she was affected by Boseman's death in 2020, describing it as a "singular pain."

She reflected on how she felt at the time, writing, "The confusion was so profound that it took months to trust the feeling of joy again."

Recalling a cherished memory, Nyong'o reminisced about a moment captured in the photograph when they were together, learning to make a "baby heart" shape with their fingers.

She added, "Here Chadwick was adding his suave flare. We spent a glorious 72 hours there, and the memory fills me with so much joy."

The "The Jungle Book" actress also shared her thoughts on the complexity of comprehending and accepting death. 

"Death is hard to understand, maybe even harder to accept. But the love generated from the life he lived will fuel every anniversary marking his absence," she wrote. "Chadwick may no longer be in our photos, but he will always be in our hearts."

On the third anniversary of Boseman's passing, other "Black Panther" stars also joined in sharing tributes. Letitia Wright, who portrays the sister of Boseman's King T'Challa in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, re-shared a video on Instagram that featured Boseman, Angela Bassett, and Danai Gurira.

In her Story, Wright expressed her ongoing celebration of the late actor, writing, "Always Celebrating You King. Love Always x."

Daniel Kaluuya, who played T'Challa's friend W'Kabi, also posted a throwback picture on his Instagram Story. The image showed Boseman looking on as Kaluuya and Gurira, 45, shared an embrace, with Winston Duke standing in front of them. Kaluuya's tribute was succinct but heartfelt, consisting of a praying hand and a black heart emoji.

Boseman's passing in 2020 was a result of complications from his private battle with colon cancer spanning four years. In the aftermath of his death, Nyong'o shared a heartfelt letter online, acknowledging the deep impact the "Avengers Endgame" actor had on her despite their brief acquaintance.

Reflecting on their collaboration on "Black Panther," Nyong'o noted Boseman's striking presence, describing it as "quiet and powerful." 

"He had no airs about him, but there was a higher frequency that he seemed to operate from. You got the sense that he was fully present and also somehow fully aware of things in the distant future," Nyong'o wrote.

The "Little Monsters" actress continued, "He set the bar high by working with a generosity of spirit, creating an ego-free environment by sheer example, and he always had a warm gaze and a strong embrace to share."

The talented actor's death had a significant impact on Marvel Studios, filmmaker Ryan Coogler, and his "Black Panther" stars as they navigated the sequel "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" without Boseman. The film showcased Wright's character Shuri taking up the Black Panther role after T'Challa's demise.

Winston Duke reflected on the sequel's set dynamics and the void left by Boseman's absence during his appearance on the "Jemele Hill Is Unbothered" podcast.

Duke described Boseman's presence as a gentle yet powerful force, resonating with "strength and scope." He highlighted that Boseman's understated demeanor held significant influence, noting, "You knew he was there, but he didn't have to say anything. He wasn't walking around with a big ego."

Duke continued, per People, "You don't realize the impact when they're there. But when they're not, it's apparent. You feel it intrinsically, and that was the experience on set daily for a year."

While speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Okoye actress Danai Gurira said, "The most important thing, of course, was honoring our brother, our leader, and our king." She added, "That was definitely at the forefront of our minds and our spirits and our hearts."