Hollywood gathered for a poignant ceremony to posthumously honour the late actor Chadwick Boseman with a star on the iconic Walk of Fame.
An Emotional Tribute
The event, held in Los Angeles, saw Boseman's wife, Simone Ledward-Boseman, formally accept the accolade—the 2,828th star on the Walk of Fame. Close friends and former co-stars, including Viola Davis and Michael B. Jordan, were moved to tears as the star was unveiled, five years after Boseman's passing from colon cancer in August 2020.
Viola Davis, who starred alongside Boseman in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom and Get On Up, delivered a powerful eulogy on stage. She described him as "a mighty, mighty elixir" and celebrated the profound meaning and purpose he brought to his work and to those who knew him.
A Legacy of Groundbreaking Work
Boseman's career, which spanned nearly three decades, was marked by iconic roles and significant posthumous achievements. Despite his private four-year battle with cancer, he continued to deliver celebrated performances.
Less than four months after his death, the film Ma Rainey's Black Bottom was released and went on to win a Golden Globe Award in 2021. In the same year, Boseman made history by becoming the first Black performer ever to receive a posthumous Oscar nomination for Best Actor for his role in that film.
Ryan Coogler, director of the 2018 blockbuster Black Panther, also paid tribute, stating that Boseman "reflected light... and showed the greatness of our people." Marvel Studios acknowledged that plans for the sequel, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, were changed following his devastating death at the age of 43.
A Personal Farewell
Boseman's wife, Simone, shared heartfelt words about her late husband, emphasising that he was "more than an actor or even an artist." She described him as a "spiritual teacher" who was deeply grounded by his family and friends.
The couple met in 2015, became engaged in October 2019, and married in secret during Boseman's private health struggle. His brothers, Derrick and Kevin, and Black Panther co-star Letitia Wright were also present at the emotional gathering, celebrating a life and career that ended far too soon.
