- Denzel Washington is an American actor, and so was Chadwick Boseman
- The two worked together indirectly on Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
- Black Panther director Ryan Coogler said Washington donated to Boseman
Black Panther director Ryan Coogler recalled how Denzel Washington helped the career of the late Chadwick Boseman. Tragically, Boseman, 43, passed away in August 2020 from complications of colon cancer. Naturally, his passing devastated fans and his co-stars in Black Panther. He portrayed T’Challa in the movie.
Now, it seems things have come full circle, as Washington, 70, is joining Black Panther 3. In the past, Washington and Boseman had worked together indirectly on the musical film Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. Washington served as a producer. In that film, Boseman played Levee Green.
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Coogler, 38, is opening up about a selfless act that Washington did for Boseman early in his career. Additionally, he reflected on the star’s heartbreaking passing. For those wondering, keep reading to see what The Equalizer star did for the late actor.
What did Denzel Washington do for Chadwick Boseman?
On 7 April, Coogler appeared on The Breakfast Club. Notably, Coogler said that early in Boseman’s career, Washington donated money to fund his acting training.
“Chadwick was at Howard University, bro, and he was maybe the f****** most brilliant actor that ever came through there,” Coogler told the show hosts.
Then, Coogler explained that Boseman’s mentor at Howard University, Phylicia Rashad, wanted to send him to Oxford to attend the British American Drama Academy’s Midsummer program in 1998.
However, the program was expensive, and Boseman couldn’t afford it at the time. Consequently, he nearly missed the opportunity until help came from an unexpected source.
Generously, Rashad promised Boseman she would “find somebody to take care of [him].” To resolve the issue, she reached out to Denzel Washington, who responded, “I want to take care of it for the kid, but I don’t want them to know it’s me.”
Quietly, Washington donated the funds needed to send Boseman to Oxford, giving him the chance to nurture his acting talent. Shortly after, Boseman graduated from Howard in 2000. Eventually, as his career began to flourish, he discovered that it was Washington who had covered his expenses for the prestigious program.
Surprisingly, despite crossing paths with the legendary actor several times over the years, Boseman never mentioned it until 2018.
Chadwick Boseman told Washington he knew
At a screening of Black Panther that year, he told him. “I tell my actors, I say, ‘Hey, Denzel coming tonight’. Chadwick immediately pulled me to the side and said, ‘I gotta talk to him before he goes in to watch.’ I say, ‘What’s going on?’ He whispers in my ear, ‘Bro, I gotta thank him for something’,” Coogler continued.
Once Washington was inside, Coogler recalls how he told the actor somebody needed to talk to him.
In Washington’s ear, Boseman whispered, “Bro, that was me,” and thanked him. In response, Washington was reduced to tears.
As a result of Boseman’s death, Coogler discussed how his passing affected the cast. Heartbreakingly, Washington recently shared how he noticed that Boseman appeared “weak or tired sometimes” while filming Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.
Subsequently, Washington admitted that he “didn’t know” how serious Boseman’s illness was. In conclusion, he stated, “He suffered quietly. He made the movie, and nobody knew.”
Yes, we are cutting onions.
