Barack Obama shares tribute to Chadwick Boseman: ‘You could tell right away that he was blessed’

Former US president met Boseman when he visited the White House during the press tour for the sports biopic ‘42’, in which he starred as baseball player Jackie Robinson

Barack Obama has joined the many high-profile figures to pay tribute to actor Chadwick Boseman, after his death aged 43.

The Black Panther star was revealed to have been diagnosed with colon cancer in 2016. He chose to keep his illness and treatment private.

News of his death was announced in a statement posted from his social media accounts on Saturday 29 August.

“Chadwick came to the White House to work with kids when he was playing Jackie Robinson,” Obama wrote.

“You could tell right away that he was blessed. To be young, gifted, and Black; to use that power to give them heroes to look up to; to do it all while in pain – what a use of his years.”

Boseman played American baseball player Jackie Robinson in the sports biopic 42, which was released in 2013. Harrison Ford and Nicole Beharie also starred.

Others to pay tribute to the late actor include his fellow Avengers, such as Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Brie Larson, Chris Evans, Samuel L Jackson, and Don Cheadle.

Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige called Boseman’s death “absolutely devastating” in a touching statement about the actor’s on-set presence.

“Each time he stepped on set, he radiated charisma and joy, and each time he appeared on screen, he created something truly indelible,” Feige wrote, adding: “He was as smart and kind and powerful and strong as any person he portrayed – now he takes his place alongside them as an icon for the ages.

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"The Marvel Studios family deeply mourns his loss, and we are grieving tonight with his family.”

It was recently announced that the final tweet from Boseman's account had broken the record for the most shared post in the platform's history.