BUFFALO, N.Y. — The world is remembering actor Chadwick Boseman who died from colon cancer Friday night at the age of 43.
He's best known for his roles in films like "Black Panther," "Marshall" and "42." On Saturday the Twins and Tigers honored the Hollywood Star. His Marvel Colleagues Chris Evans and Mark Ruffalo were also remembering Boseman, both as an on-screen friend and an icon for so many.
That impact left a mark on the Queen City.
Boseman was actually here in Buffalo back in 2016 to film "Marshall." Some of the most memorable scenes from the film were none other than outside Buffalo City Hall. But even after he finished filming that movie he couldn't stay away from the city of good neighbors.
Last summer he came back to help his best friend and Buffalo director Addison Henderson film the movie "G.O.D." Boseman was a producer for the film.
Buffalo Niagara Film Commissioner Tim Clark says one of the things he always appreciated about Boseman was that he wasn't an actor who would just come to Buffalo, do his job and leave. Instead, he says Boseman would immerse himself into the city.
Some of those places include the Michigan Avenue Baptist Church, Nash House and the Colored Musicians Club.
"He was scheduled to stay there maybe 20 minutes or so but we stayed there for hours immersed in that culture and famous places in Buffalo," Clark said. "What struck me about him is that he was just like a sponge. He wanted to know everything there was to know about Buffalo."
Boseman passed away after a four year battle with colon cancer. According to a surgical oncology expert over at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, it's the third leading cause of death in the U.S. and about half of the people who get it are now getting diagnosed before they reach 66. It's just one of several reasons he says people should get screened.
"Specifically with this cancer, we have a tool that A allows us to outsource it or find this in early stages and I think we ought to take notice of this and be able to utilize this as much as possible," said Dr. Moshim Kukar, professor of surgical oncology at Roswell Park.
Kukar says there are several other ways to do screenings than just a colonoscopy. Some include stool-based testing and DNA testing.
He also says it's it's important for primary care physicians to continue reminding their patients how vital it is for them to get screened.