Chadwick Boseman’s family and coworkers delivered emotional tributes to the late actor during his Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony.
Black Panther director Ryan Coogler couldn’t help but shed tears as he praised his colleague as “an incredibly humble teacher.”
“This is something that people who maybe played ice hockey with Wayne Gretzky can attest to, people who played basketball with Michael Jordan can attest to: there’s something special about being that close to somebody that great,” Coogler, 39, said in his speech via People on Thursday, November 20. “You realize how much you don’t measure up, but you also realize how much the human body is capable of. Chad showed that every day.”
During his emotional tribute, Coogler recalled Boseman attending “every single audition and every single callback” throughout the Black Panther casting process.
The actor — who played T’Challa / Black Panther in the film — was also “incredibly generous with his time on set” while he privately underwent cancer treatment.
In August 2020, news broke that Boseman had died four years after being diagnosed with colon cancer. He was 43.
At the time, his publicist confirmed that the actor died in his home, with his wife and family by his side.
Months after his death, Boseman received a posthumous 2021 Oscar nomination for his role as Levee Green in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. (He ultimately lost to Anthony Hopkins, who played Anthony Evans in The Father.)
During Thursday’s Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony, Chadwick’s widow, Simone Ledward-Boseman, had the opportunity to speak in front of guests, which included Michael B. Jordan, Viola Davis, Letitia Wright and Walt Disney Co. CEO Bob Iger.
“In life, Chad was more than an actor, or even an artist,” Simone shared. “He was a spiritual teacher, fortified by a family and close friends that kept him grounded in faith; a team that believed in him, protected him and fought for him. Colleagues that trusted his vision, that lifted him up and forged a real brotherhood: you have no idea how pivotal those moments were.”
More than five years after Chadwick’s death, Simone wanted to recognize her husband’s “lifetime of artistry” that extends beyond the big screen.
“We recognize your skill and your devotion, and we cement your legacy as a hero and an icon,” she said. “You lived with honor, and you walked with truth. You were as brilliant as you were beautiful as you were kind. We love you, we miss you, we thank you.”
On November 12, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce first announced that Chadwick would be receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, partly because “his powerful performances and enduring impact both on and off screen continue to inspire generations around the world.”
Prior to his acting career, Chadwick taught drama at the Schomburg Junior Scholars Program at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in New York City.
His debut role came in 2003 as Reggie Montgomery in the soap opera All My Children before landing in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
