The late Chadwick Boseman was honoured by Robert Downey Jr and Don Cheadle during the MTV Movie & TV Awards: Greatest of All Time which took place on Sunday, December 6.
The star of Black Panther, who passed away on August 28 after a secret battle with colon cancer, was posthumously named Hero for the Ages – an award which MTV explains “honours a star whose heroism onscreen was only surpassed by the true hero they were offscreen.”
Boseman’s fellow Marvel actors spoke fondly of their co-star during the ceremony, with Downey Jr saying, “His energy and intensity was undeniable,” adding that Boseman “truly embodied what it meant to be a superhero.”
Cheadle agreed, adding: “Each time he stepped on the set, he inspired and influenced everyone there, and with every role, he created a new legion of fans. He had an incredible power to unify people in their love for his work and their respect for him as a person. The way he lived his life united people behind a higher purpose, and that will be his legacy.”
Although many may best know Boseman for his title role in the record-shattering Black Panther, he also earned accolades for his inspiring portrayal of several real-life legends such as Thurgood Marshall in Marshall, James Brown in Get on Up and Jackie Robinson in 42.
“He brought humanity and truth to the portrayal of people that felt larger than life, and he did it in a way that honoured their memories,” Cheadle said.
.@RobertDowneyJr and @DonCheadle paid tribute to the late Chadwick Boseman ahead of his Hero for the Ages honor at the #MTVAwards: Greatest of All Time. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/EmE5FcPXUM
— MTV (@MTV) December 7, 2020
The special, during which Boseman was honoured, aired in lieu of the annual MTV Movie & TV Awards which — like all other entertainment awards shows — could not proceed as normal due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. It was announced at the end of the telecast that the traditional version will return in May of 2021.
Meanwhile, the industry continues to find ways to honour Boseman’s memory. On what would have been the late actors 44th birthday, Disney+, added new opening credits to Black Panther, in the form of a montage of Boseman, as T’Challa (aka Black Panther) and he will also be the recipient of a posthumous Actor Tribute at the Gotham Awards on January 11.
Boseman could also be a serious contender for the coveted Best Actor gong at next years Academy Awards thanks to his role in Netflix’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, which was his final performance. The streamer confirmed in October that it would be campaigning for him in the top category.
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