Chadwick Boseman’s fans were deeply moved when his widow brought a touching keepsake to the actor’s Walk of Fame ceremony in Hollywood.
The Black Panther actor passed away at the age of 43 in 2020, leaving fans worldwide shocked and heartbroken as he had kept his battle with cancer a secret.
“A true fighter, Chadwick persevered through it all, and brought you many of the films you have come to love so much,” the actor’s family said in a statement at the time.
“From Marshall to Da 5 Bloods, August Wilson’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and several more – all were filmed during and between countless surgeries and chemotherapy. It was the honor of his career to bring King T’Challa to life in Black Panther.”
Five years after his untimely death, Boseman has been posthumously honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles.
The star was unveiled in a ceremony on Thursday (November 20), attended by his widow, Taylor Simone Ledward-Boseman.
Fans noticed that Ledward-Boseman placed a pair of Boseman’s shoes next to the star, evoking an emotional response from the actor’s admirers.
“Chadwick spent his life lifting others. Even now, he’s still reminding us to walk with purpose,” one person wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. Another added: “Some shoes can never be filled. Only honored. Wakanda Forever.”
Ledward-Boseman accepted the esteemed Hollywood award on behalf of Boseman, describing him as ‘more than an actor, or even an artist’.
She addressed the audience: “In life, Chad was more than an actor, or even an artist. 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.
“Chad, today we recognize a lifetime of artistry. We recognize your skill and your devotion, and we cement your legacy as a hero and an icon. 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.”
Viola Davis, who starred alongside Boseman in 2020’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, also addressed those gathered at the ceremony.
“I have to believe that Chadwick is still alive. I can’t use the word gone or death, really. When thinking about him, it’s like the quote, ‘When the last person who has a memory of you [dies] that’s when you’ll truly be dead,’” she said.