Biographie

Denzel Washington paid for Chadwick Boseman's tuition at Oxford University.

A graduate of both Howard University in Washington, District of Columbia, USA, and the British American Dramatic Academy midsummer at Oxford program, Oxford, England, UK.

When Angela Bassett received an Honorary Degree from Howard University; he was the student assigned to escort her around the campus.

After graduating from high school in 1995, he enrolled at Howard University in Washington, District of Columbia, USA, where he graduated (Class of 2000) with a bachelor of fine arts in directing. One of his instructors at Howard was Phylicia Rashad, who became one of his mentors, and also contacted some of her friends (including the largest contributor, Denzel Washington, who also became Boseman's friend) and other faculty members, who contributed to a travel and tuition fund which allowed Boseman and a few of his classmates to attend the British American Drama Academy's Midsummer at Oxford Program at Oxford University, Oxford, England, UK.

One of his most high-profile roles came from playing Jackie Robinson in 42 (2013). In an eerie coincidence, he passed away on the day that Major League Baseball celebrated Jackie Robinson Day in 2020: August 28th. Ordinarily, Jackie Robinson Day is celebrated on April 15th, but with the COVID-19 pandemic delaying and shortening the season, the celebration of Robinson's life was pushed into August.

[on his lead role as Jackie Robinson in the biopic 42 (2013) ] The story is relevant because we still stand on his shoulders. He started something - I would even say maybe he didn't even start it, it started before him. But he carried the torch. And he carried it alone for a period of time before other people could help him.

[on making 42 (2013)] What I loved about being on the field is that there's this sort of meditative aspect to it. You have to be calm, and you can't be inside your head. That's the beauty of what Jackie Robinson did - you take a sport where, if you're in your head, you make mistake after mistake, and failing is what you do most of the time. Then you add all the other stuff going on around you, and you still manage to succeed? That's really what was amazing about it, and I didn't understand that until I was practicing it every day.

[on meeting Hank Aaron] When he came to the set, it was like having Jackie Robinson there. I think he looked up to Jackie, and he experienced some similar conflicts. He was able to give me insights into how he approached the home run record, and it was a difficult time for him as well. He's like a grandfather, such a gentle spirit. Every time I got to meet him, it just put me in a good place.

Guys are natural problem solvers - they like to have strategies.

You have to cherish things in a different way when you know the clock is ticking, you are under pressure.