Ryan Coogler recently revealed a touching story that connects Hollywood legends Denzel Washington and Chadwick Boseman in ways few people knew.
During an appearance on “The Breakfast Club” on April 7 to promote his new film “The Sinner,” Coogler shared how Washington’s anonymous generosity decades ago helped shape the career of the late Boseman.
What Did Denzel Gift?
The revelation came as Coogler reflected on Boseman’s impact and character, painting a picture of a man whose patience and integrity matched his extraordinary talent.
This previously told story illuminates the quiet ways influential figures in Hollywood have supported emerging talent, often without recognition or acknowledgment. For Washington and Boseman, this behind-the-scenes connection would remain private for years before culminating in an emotional encounter at one of cinema’s most significant cultural moments.
“Chadwick was at Howard University, bro, and he was maybe the f—king most brilliant actor that ever come through there,” Coogler explained during the interview.
He described how Phylicia Rashad, a mentor to Boseman during his time at Howard, recognized his exceptional talent and sought to send him to Oxford for the prestigious British American Drama Academy’s Midsummer program in 1998—an opportunity the young actor from Anderson, South Carolina couldn’t afford.
Rashad approached Washington for help.
According to Coogler, Washington agreed to cover Boseman’s expenses on one condition: “I want to take care of it for the kid, but I don’t want them to know it’s me. I don’t want them to know nothing about it.”
Though Boseman eventually learned of Washington’s contribution, he demonstrated remarkable restraint by never mentioning it to Washington himself, despite crossing paths with him numerous times throughout his career. This patience speaks volumes about Boseman’s character, which Coogler highlighted throughout the interview.
The moment of revelation finally came in 2018 during a New York screening of “Black Panther.”
When Coogler informed Boseman that Washington would be attending, the actor immediately pulled the director aside.
“Bro, I got to thank him for something,” Boseman whispered. When Washington arrived, Boseman finally seized the opportunity to express his gratitude, whispering in Washington’s ear, “Bro, it was me,” and thanking him for his support. This disclosure moved Washington to tears.
The emotional weight of this exchange gains additional poignancy in retrospect. Washington recently shared in an interview that while producing “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”—Boseman’s final film — he noticed the actor seemed “weak or tired sometimes” but he had no idea Boseman was battling cancer.
“He suffered quietly. He made the movie, and nobody knew. I didn’t know. He never said a peep about it,” Washington remarked, calling Boseman “a man among men.”
This connection between the two actors represents more than just a financial transaction.
The British American Drama Academy program, which currently costs $8,350 in 2025, proved to be an invaluable investment in Boseman’s development as an actor.
Throughout his tragically shortened career, Boseman participated in films that collectively grossed over $7.4 billion worldwide, according to The Numbers.
Beyond commercial success, Boseman’s portrayal of T’Challa in “Black Panther” helped the film achieve cultural phenomenon status, grossing over $1.3 billion globally.
Washington himself admitted to being moved to tears the first time he watched Boseman’s performance. The emotional weight of seeing the fruition of his early investment — witnessing the young actor he had quietly supported now leading a groundbreaking global blockbuster—must have been overwhelming.
Washington’s anonymous gift decades ago helped shape not just a career, but contributed to a cultural milestone that changed how Hollywood approaches representation and storytelling.
After Boseman’s untimely passing in 2020, Washington’s reflections on their final collaboration take on added significance.
