Chadwick Boseman, an actor who embodied icons Jackie Robinson and James Brown on his way to becoming the face of the venerable Black Panther in the Marvel cinematic universe has died. He was 43.

The actor’s death was confirmed yesterday by his representative who said the wide-ranging performer died after a courageous battle with colon cancer.

Boseman died at his home in the Los Angeles area with his wife and family by his side.

The native of Anderson, South Carolina played the Brooklyn Dodgers’ barrier-breaking star Jackie Robinson in the 2013 film “42,” and played James Brown a year later in “Get On Up.” His blockbuster role in “Black Panther” came in 2018.

“A true fighter, Chadwick persevered through it all, and brought you many of the films you have come to love so much,” his family said in the statement. “From Marshall to Da 5 Bloods, August Wilson’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and several more- all were filmed during and between countless surgeries and chemotherapy. It was the honor of his career to bring King T’Challa to life in Black Panther.”

Boseman had not spoken publicly about his diagnosis.