Hollywood actor Samuel L. Jackson has paid tribute to deceased star Chadwick Boseman by labelling him a ‘hero’ and opening up about the final time the two met before his death.

The Black Panther actor died at the end of last month at the age of just 43 following a four-year battle with colon cancer.

And Jackson felt now was the time to speak about just how ‘devastating’ the loss of Boseman is for people, particularly in Black culture.

"Yes, it’s sudden to us all. I was trying to remember the last time I’d actually seen Chadwick. And I was talking to Zoe, our daughter about it and it was at the Captain Marvel premiere," he told the Tamron Hall Show.

"We walked and we started talking about another project that I had hoped that we were gonna work on. He was like, ‘I’m sorry, y’all, I’m not going to be there, but I wish we were gonna work together’.

"We were talking about it, we had planned it for a while and it was, you know, it’s gut-wrenching, you know, to lose someone that’s such an important part of the culture. In terms of what he became to the world with Black Panther.

"We all hope when we work that people will remember things that we will do. But he imprinted society in such a way, impacted especially the Black culture and giving kids a hero that they could aspire to. To lose him, I don’t even know if I could tell my kid that. It’s devastating."

Boseman had not spoken publicly about his diagnosis and continued to work on Hollywood blockbusters despite his severe condition.

He first played Black Panther in 2016’s Captain America: Civil War, before the character headlined a hugely successful blockbuster in 2018.

Black Panther was a hit with critics who praised its diversity as it grossed over 1.3 billion dollars at the global box office, as well as earning a best picture nomination at the Academy Awards.

After his death, fellow Oscar nominee Cynthia Erivo said: "Took my hand and walked me down the steps, had a hug every time we met. There was only ever love. A real one. We lost a real one. I’m truly crushed.

“We lost the Black Panther, the hero that gave our babies a hero to aspire to. Just f*****g heartbroken.

"Dearest Chadwick You will never be forgotten. Rest In Power!! God Rest your soul kind man. Can we please just love on each other now, we are losing each other!!!"