Chadwick Boseman ‘channeled the divine,’ Viola Davis says at his Walk of Fame ceremony

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Viola Davis shared how deeply she misses Chadwick Boseman during her Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony on Thursday.

It was so incredibly painful that, even five years after his passing, Chadwick Boseman’s “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” co-star began his star dedication speech by explaining she couldn’t bring herself to say he was gone or even mention the word “death” when thinking of him.

Obituaries

Chadwick Boseman, the actor known for portraying inspiring figures like Jackie Robinson and James Brown, and recently celebrated for his role as Black Panther in Marvel movies, has passed away after a battle with cancer.

According to Davis, 60, Chadwick possessed a remarkable ability to inspire and unite people. He described Chadwick as a natural connector, fulfilling a universal human need to feel connected – to each other, to creativity, and to a deeper understanding of life’s purpose, much like the Cherokee tradition of seeking meaning in one’s birth.

That was Chadwick Boseman. He wasn’t just a performer we watched in movies; his work had a way of making us feel connected and understood, reminding us we weren’t alone.

Chadwick Boseman received an Oscar nomination after his death for his role as Levee in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.” Viola Davis was also nominated for her performance as Ma Rainey.

Davis told the Hollywood crowd, gathered despite the rain, that we should embrace life fully, leaving nothing behind for death. He described Chadwick Boseman as a powerful force – a ‘castle’ that had given everything. Boseman, Davis explained, was like a potent ‘elixir’ that sparked the kind of transformative ‘alchemy’ we all seek: a meaningful life.

Voices

Appreciation: Chadwick Boseman held the screen with power and unerring purpose

As a film fan, I was always struck by Chadwick Boseman’s incredible presence. He had this amazing ability to embody iconic figures – whether it was Jackie Robinson, James Brown, Thurgood Marshall, or even the regal King T’Challa – and bring them to life with so much charisma, talent, and a really unique kind of dignity. He just had a natural grace that captivated you whenever he was on screen.

Chadwick Boseman passed away on August 28, 2020, at the age of 43, after privately fighting colon cancer for four years.

Chadwick was a dedicated and resilient actor who continued to create films that fans adore, even while battling illness. His team shared that he filmed movies like ‘Marshall,’ ‘Da 5 Bloods,’ and ‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom’ – and many others – during and between surgeries and chemotherapy treatments. He considered playing King T’Challa in ‘Black Panther’ the highlight of his career.

Chadwick Boseman is honored with the 2,828th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, located at 6904 Hollywood Boulevard, right in front of the Hollywoodland Experience store.

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2025-11-21 23:02