Chadwick Boseman receives posthumous Hollywood Walk of Fame star: ‘A lifetime of artistry’

A photograph of the late actor Chadwick Boseman was placed on an easel ahead of the unveiling of his Hollywood Walk of Fame star on Thursday, Reuters reported. Friends, family and fans gathered in Los Angeles to honor the actor, who received the recognition posthumously. The day was officially declared “Chadwick Boseman Day” in Hollywood. Three key speakers — Viola Davis, Ryan Coogler and Boseman’s widow Taylor Simone Ledward Boseman — delivered emotional tributes during the ceremony.

Viola Davis remembers Chadwick Boseman

Viola Davis, who starred alongside Boseman in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, told attendees, “I have to believe that Chadwick is still alive… I can’t use the word ‘gone’ or ‘death’ really when thinking about him.” Boseman died in 2020 at age 43 after a private battle with colon cancer.

Reflecting on their final project together, Davis recalled how Boseman often spoke about the “cap of success” during the shoot, conversations she described as the kind people have when they feel they “possibly are transitioning,” according to CNN. She called him a “mighty mighty elixir that sort of stirred up the alchemy that we’re all in search of, which is meaning.”

“I celebrate him today… I hope all the angels in heaven just sang him to a beautiful rest,” she added. Davis thanked him for leaving her with a “burning ember” that continues to guide her, concluding, “This star, as beautiful as it is on the Walk of Fame, shines a whole lot less brighter than Chadwick is in heaven.”

Ryan Coogler’s emotional tribute

Ryan Coogler, the director of Black Panther and a close friend of Boseman, warned the crowd he might become emotional. “When I think of Chadwick Boseman I think of three things: leadership, teaching and generosity. He was an incredible leader,” he said, as quoted by CNN. Coogler described Boseman as “ageless,” noting he didn’t know the actor’s true age until attending one of his birthdays.

He also shared a story from the 2015 Creed press tour, when Boseman quietly bypassed stars like Sylvester Stallone and Michael B. Jordan to reach his hotel room and discuss the possibility of working together on Black Panther. When Coogler asked how he slipped past everyone, Boseman simply replied, “That was the Panther.”

Family honors Boseman’s legacy

Boseman’s widow, Taylor Simone Ledward Boseman, closed the event with a heartfelt message. “Chad, today we recognize a lifetime of artistry… We recognize your skill and your devotion and we cement your legacy as a hero and icon,” she said. “You lived with honor and you walked in truth. You were as brilliant as you were beautiful and as courageous as you were kind.” She added, “We love you, we miss you and we thank you,” before inviting Boseman’s brothers, Derrick and Kevin, to unveil the star.

Boseman’s celebrated career included his iconic portrayal of T’Challa in Black Panther and other Marvel films, as well as an Academy Award–nominated performance in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. Before joining the Marvel universe, he earned acclaim for portraying influential historical figures such as Thurgood Marshall, James Brown and Jackie Robinson.

(With inputs from agency)