Audio By Carbonatix
Dorothy Steel, an actress who appeared as a tribal elder in Black Panther, has died at the age of 95.
Steel died on Friday morning at her home in Detroit, her agent, Cindy Butler of iSubmit Talent, confirms to PEOPLE. A cause of death was not given.
Prior to her death, Steel was in the middle of filming Black Panther: Wakanda Forever — the highly anticipated sequel to the 2018 superhero flick that started production in Atlanta this June — and was flown back to Detroit to be with her family, Butler says.
Steel’s publicist told WSB-TV, who first reported news of the actress’ death, Steel had previously said that her part in the Marvel follow-up would be her “last role.”
“She went out strong,” the spokesperson said.
Steel’s role as an elder of the Merchant Tribe in Black Panther was her feature film debut.
During a 2018 appearance on Steve Harvey, Steel said she was initially hesitant to appear in a “comic strip at my age,” but ended up auditioning for the part at the urging of her grandson.
“He said, ‘Grandma, you always talk about stepping out onto nothing, letting your faith take you there. Now how come you don’t do it yourself,’ ” she recalled. “He said, ‘Either you’re gonna step out there or you’re gonna shut up.’ “

Emboldened by her grandson, Steel told host Steve Harvey that she sat down at the computer everyday and “practiced” Nelson Mandela’s speech patterns to find the right tone. The actress said that she heard back from the Black Panther production team an hour after sending off her audition tape.
Reflecting on the experience, Steel said it “makes me feel really good to be a part of something … Black,” adding, “Wakanda forever.”
Steel’s other movie credits include Daisy Winters, Poms, and Jumanji: The Next Level. Outside of the silver screen, she appeared on television shows such as Bounce TV’s Saints & Sinners and BET’s The Oval.
Latest Stories
-
War-torn Myanmar voting in widely criticised ‘sham’ election
2 hours -
Justice by guesswork is dangerous – Constitution Review Chair calls for data-driven court reforms
2 hours -
Justice delayed is justice denied, the system is failing litigants – Constitution Review Chair
2 hours -
Reform without data is a gamble – Constitution Review Chair warns against rushing Supreme Court changes
3 hours -
Rich and voiceless: How Putin has kept Russia’s billionaires on side in the war against Ukraine
3 hours -
Cruise ship hits reef on first trip since leaving passenger on island
3 hours -
UK restricts DR Congo visas over migrant return policy
4 hours -
Attack on Kyiv shows ‘Russia doesn’t want peace’, Zelensky says
4 hours -
Two dead in 50-vehicle pile up on Japan highway
4 hours -
Fearing deportation, Hondurans in the US send more cash home than ever before
4 hours -
New York blanketed in snow, sparking travel chaos
4 hours -
Creative Canvas 2025: Documenting Ghana’s creative year beyond the noise
8 hours -
We would have lost that game last season – Guardiola
8 hours -
Nigeria reach AFCON last 16 despite Tunisia fightback
8 hours -
‘He just needed more time’ – Wirtz finally breaks Liverpool duck
8 hours
