Connie Chiume, an actress who appeared in Disney’s Black Panther movies, has passed away.

According to a family statement, the South African actress, who had a decades-long career, died on Tuesday in a Johannesburg hospital at the age of 72.

According to The New York Times, Chiume’s career spanned more than 40 years. She started acting in the last days of apartheid in South Africa, when few Black actors appeared on TV. She went on to have a lengthy career, culminating with a role in Marvel’s Black Panther and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, which finally won her Hollywood recognition.

Although her role in those films was a small one, she had stated that this was the recognition she’d dreamed of, appearing with big names like Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o, and Angela Bassett.

Chiume was born as Gabisile Connie Chiume on June 5th, 1952 in Welkom, a mining town in South Africa. She traveled to a nearby province, the Eastern Cape, to finish her high school education and started to train as a nurse. Chiume later switched her training to teaching, which was one of only a few professional options open to Black South Africans during the time.

However, Chiume gained a love for the stage, and in 1977, she left South Africa and joined a touring musical group that took her to Israel and Greece. She then joined a well-known South African musical. While living outside of the country, she appeared in a variety of theatrical productions.

She later returned to South Africa and starred in several TV shows and movies and became a household name in her home country.

Ms. Chiume is survived by her three children and five grandchildren. Our hearts go out to her family and friends at this time.

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