President Barack Obama has spoken out about the death of Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman, who died Friday night after a four-year battle with colon cancer.

“Chadwick came to the White House to work with kids when he was playing Jackie Robinson,” Obama tweeted yesterday. “You could tell right away that he was blessed. To be young, gifted, and Black; to use that power to give them heroes to look up to; to do it all while in pain – what a use of his years.”

What a life lost. Thank you, Mr. President, for sharing your love for Chadwick. He will be missed.