Denzel Washington took a moment to remember Chadwick Boseman, who passed away at the age of 43 due to stage IV colon cancer last week. Washington knew Bosman for more than two decades and paid for the actor’s study abroad tuition at the prestigious British American Drama Academy.

“He was a gentle soul and a brilliant artist, who will stay with us for eternity through his iconic performances over his short yet illustrious career,” Washington said in a statement. “God bless Chadwick Boseman.”

When Boseman was an undergraduate at Howard University, he and eight other students were accepted into BADA’s theater program. Actress Phylicia Rashad was a teacher at Howard at the time and reached out to Washington for assistance in covering the tuition fees for the group of students.

Bosman thanked Washington publicly for the donation during a speech at the 2019 American Film Institute Awards. Washington received the 47th AFI Life Achievement award at the ceremony.

“Many of you already know the story that Mr. Washington, when asked by Phylicia Rashad to join her in assisting nine theater students from Howard University who had been accepted to a summer acting program at the British Academy of Dramatic Acting in Oxford. He gracefully and privately agreed to contribute,” Boseman said. “As fate would have it, I was one of the students that he paid for.”

“Imagine receiving the letter that your tuition for that summer was paid for and that your benefactor was none other than the dopest actor on the planet,” he continued. “I have no doubt there are similar stories at Boys and Girls Clubs and theaters and churches across the country where I know you have also inspired and motivated others.”

“An offering from a sage and a king is more than silver and gold. It is a seed of hope, a bud of faith,” Boseman added. “There is no Black Panther without Denzel Washington.”