Chadwick Boseman earns Walk of Fame star as his widow delivers emotional tribute

Chadwick Boseman’s legacy continues to echo through Hollywood.

Five years after the Black Panther star died at 43, following a private battle with colon cancer, he was posthumously awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. 

In a ceremony held on Thursday, Boseman’s widow, Simone Ledward-Boseman, offered a tribute by bringing one of his personal belongings.

She gently placed a pair of Chadwick’s shoes on the newly minted star, a symbolic gesture meant to let him “step” onto the memorial alongside her. 

Standing with his brothers, Derrick and Kevin Boseman, Simone also displayed a framed portrait of the beloved actor as the family posed together in his honor.

The ceremony gathered those who worked closely with Boseman. His Black Panther co-stars Michael B. Jordan and Letitia Wright were among the attendees, while director Ryan Coogler and Oscar winner Viola Davis delivered emotional speeches reflecting on his life, presence, and creative influence.

Moreover, Simone addressed the crowd with a moving reflection on the man she described as far more than an actor.

“Chad was more than an actor or even an artist,” she said. “He was a spiritual teacher fortified by family; 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.”

In her closing remarks, Simone spoke directly to her late husband, noting that she still feels his presence every day.

“We recognize your skill and your devotion, and we submit your legacy as a hero and an icon,” she said. “You lived with honor, and you walked in truth. You are as brilliant as you were beautiful and as courageous as you were kind. We love you. We miss you. We thank you.”