Chadwick Boseman at the 91st Annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre. File/ AFP

A statement posted to the actor’s Twitter account on Friday evening said he had died at home in Los Angeles, with his friends and family at hand.

“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.

“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 honour of his career to bring King T’Challa to life in Black Panther.”

Chadwick Boseman arrives for an event in Hollywood.  File/ AFP

Born in in South Carolina, Boseman graduated from Washington DC’s Howard University and had small roles in television before his first star turn in 2013. His striking portrayal of the baseball star Robinson opposite

His T’Challa character was first introduced to the blockbuster Marvel movies in 2016’s “Captain America: Civil War,” and his “Wakanda Forever” salute reverberated around the world after the release of “Black Panther” two years ago.

It was the first superhero movie with a predominantly black cast.

“This is a crushing blow” actor and director Jordan Peele said on Twitter, one of many expressing shock as the news spread across social media.

“This broke me,” said actor and writer Issa Rae.