NEWS: ‘Black Panther’ Actress Connie Chiume Has Passed Away at Age 72

We are sad to report that actress Connie Chiume has passed away.

Chiume was 72 when she died in a hospital on Tuesday in Johannesburg, South Africa. The news was announced on Wednesday by her family in a statement, according to The New York Times.

The actress’ career lasted for over 40 years from a television career in South Africa to Marvel’s Black Panther films. She stuck with the industry from the last days of apartheid (when few Black actors appeared on TV) to the present.

Chiume was recognized in Hollywood later in life when she appeared in both Black Panther (2018) and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever as the Mining Tribe Elder who had a seat in the throne room of Wakanda. Although this was a smaller role, she was honored to be cast in the same film as some of Hollywood’s biggest actors including Michael B. Jordan and Lupita Nyong’o.