Black Panther actor Chadwick Boseman died on Friday, aged just 43, and his untimely passing has sent shockwaves across the world.
But alongside the star's family, friends and devoted fans, the staff and patients at St Jude Research Children's Hospital were mourning his passing, following a string of visits he'd made to support the ill kids while in the midst of his own secret cancer battle.
Paying tribute to the Get on Up actor on social media, the facility wrote: "We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of our friend Chadwick Boseman. Two years ago, Chadwick visited the St. Jude campus and brought with him not only toys for our patients but also joy, courage and inspiration.
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"He was an incredible role model for our patients and children from all around the world. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this time."
It turns out that, despite his hugely successful acting career, jam packed full of film shoots and promotional projects, he found the time to meet cancer patients at the hospital, and surprise them with gifts.
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He also posed for pictures with them doing his legendary 'Wakanda forever' pose.
During his life, the actor talked about visiting the cancer patients and marvelled about the impact Black Panther had on their lives.
Speaking during a press conference in 2018, he mentioned two children in particular who were terminally ill, but "holding on" to see the iconic Ryan Coogler-directed movie.
In a resurfaced clip, he says: "Their parents said, 'They're trying to hold on 'til this movie comes.'
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"To a certain degree, you hear them say that and you're like, 'Wow. I gotta get up and go to the gym. I gotta get up and go to work. I gotta learn these lines. I gotta work on this accent.'
"To a certain degree, it's a humbling experience, because you're like, 'This can't mean that much to them.' You know?
"But seeing how the world has taken this on, seeing how the movement and how it's taken on a life of its own, I realise that they anticipated something great."
Unbeknownst to the world, he was dealing with colon cancer at the time.
Adding that the young boys had made him realise just how essential the film was for young Black kids, he goes on in the clip: "I think back now to a kid, and just... you know, waiting for Christmas to come, waiting for my birthday to come, waiting for a toy that I was going to get a chance to experience, or a video game.
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"I did live life waiting for those moments. And so it put me back in the mind of being a kid, just to experience those two little boys' anticipation of this movie."
Tragically, the two boys passed away before they were able to see the movie.
The actor could be seen breaking down as he discussed their passing, as his cast-members, Danai Gurira and Lupita Nyong'o, consoled him.
"And when I found out that they...," he started, before saying: "Yeah, it means a lot."
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Chadwick Boseman's family announced his death in the early hours of Saturday morning, releasing an emotional statement detailing his secret cancer battle.
Sharing his truth with the world, they revealed that he had been diagnosed with stage III colon cancer in 2016, and had been battling the illness for the last four years, while working on some of his biggest acting projects.
Sadly, at the time of his death, it had progressed to stage IV.
The actor never spoke out publicly about his cancer diagnosis. His wife Taylor survives him.
Featured Image Credit: PATopics: Celebrity News, Cancer
