Chadwick Aaron Boseman, born November 29, 1977, is an American actor. He’s known for portraying Jackie Robinson in 42, James Brown in Get on Up, Black Panther in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and Thurgood Marshall in the movie Marshall. Take a look below for 24 more interesting and awesome facts about Chadwick Boseman.

1. Boseman has had roles in the television series Lincoln Heights and Persons Unknown, and the movies The Express, Draft Day and Message from the King.

2. He was born and raised in Anderson, South Carolina, the only child of Carolyn and Leroy Boseman, both of who are African American.

3. His mother was a nurse and his father worked at a textile factory, keeping an upholstery business as well.

4. Boseman graduated from T.L. Hanna High School in 1995.

5. In his junior year, he wrote his first play, Crossroads, and staged it at the school after a classmate was shot and killed.

6. He studied at Howard University in Washington, DC, graduating in 2000 with a bachelor of fine arts in directing.

7. One of Boseman’s teachers at Howard University was Phylicia Rashad, who became a mentor. She helped raise funds so that Boseman and some classmates could attend the Oxford Mid-Summer Program of the British American Drama Academy in London, to which they’d been accepted.

8. Boseman wanted to write and direct, and initially began studying acting to learn how to relate to actors.

9. When Boseman returned to the United States from Britain, he graduated from New York City’s Digital Film Academy.

10. He lived in Brooklyn at the start of his career. He worked as the drama instructor in the Schomburg Junior Scholars Program, house at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem, New York.

11. As a playwright, his script for Deep Azure, performed at the Congo Square Theater Company in Chicago, Illinois, was nominated for a 2006 Joseph Jefferson Award for New Work.

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

13. Boseman got his first television role in 2003, in an episode of Third Watch. His early work included episodes of the series Law & Order, CSI: NY and ER.

14. In 2008, he played a recurring role on the television series Lincoln Heights and appeared in his first feature film, The Express.

15. In 2010, he landed a regular role in the television series Persons Unknown.

16. Boseman had his first starring role in the 2013 movie 42, in which he portrayed baseball pioneer and star Jackie Robinson. He had been direct an off-Broadway play in East Village when he auditioned for the role.

17. About 25 other actors had been seriously considered for the role of Jackie Robinson, but director Brian Helgeland liked Boseman’s bravery and cast him after he had auditioned twice.

18. In 2013, Boseman starred in the indie movie The Kill Hole, which was released in theaters a few weeks before 42.

19. In 2014, Boseman appeared opposite Kevin Costner in Draft Day, in which he played an NFL draft prospect.

20. In 2016, he starred as Thoth, a deity from Egyptian mythology, in Gods of Egypt.

21. Boseman was raised a Christian. He was baptized and was part of a church choir and youth group.

22. His former pastor said that Boseman still keeps his faith.

23. Boseman has stated that he prayed to be the Black Panther before he was cast as the character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

24. His first movie portraying Black Panther was in 2016, with Captain America: Civil War. However, he has signed on with Marvel for a five picture deal.