Chadwick Boseman's Wife Says She's ‘So Proud' of Him in Moving Gotham Awards Speech
Taylor Simone Ledward, Chadwick Boseman's wife, accepted an honor on his behalf by delivering a powerful speech about the late star's "practice of telling the truth"
The virtual ceremony took place in New York City on Monday and honored Boseman with the Actor Tribute, while his "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" co-star Viola Davis received the Actress Tribute. He was also nominated for Best Actor for his role in "Ma Rainey," but that prize went to "Sound of Metal's" Riz Ahmed, who lauded Boseman's performance in his acceptance speech.
In accepting the Actor Tribute on his behalf, Taylor Simone Ledward praised her late husband for seeking honesty in every facet of his life. Boseman passed away at the age of 43 in August following a battle with colon cancer.
"As an artist, an actor, and a person, Chad made a practice of telling the truth," she said. "He is the most honest person I've ever met. Because he didn't just stop at speaking the truth, he actively searched for it – in himself, in those around him and in the moment. The truth can be a very easy thing for the self to avoid, but if one does not live in truth, then it's impossible to live in line with a divine purpose for your life. And so, it became how he lived his life, day in, day out. Imperfect, but determined."
The “Black Panther” star died after a four-year battle with cancer.
She explained that this philosophy allowed the "Black Panther" star to "give himself over fully to every moment, to be totally present in his own life and the lives of the people he became."
Ledward pointed out that Boseman's power as an actor came in part from his sense that he was a "vessel to be poured into," which allowed others to find a voice through him. He was known for his stirring performances as real-life heroes in such films as the Jackie Robinson biopic "42," the James Brown story "Get on Up" and the Thurgood Marshall docudrama "Marshall."
"He developed his understanding of what it meant to be the one, the none and the all," she said. "He realized when one is able to recognize that their strength does not come from themself, they rarely mess up. That's what he was doing when he was acting. Not merely telling a story or reading lines off a page, but modeling for us a path of true fulfillment. May we not let his conviction be in vain. May our spirits be fertile soil for gods wisdom to fall upon."
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Chadwick Boseman films on location for “42” on July 18, 2012, in Brooklyn, New York. Boseman portrayed Jackie Robinson’s career playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers.
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Rachel Robinson, widow of Jackie Robinson, hug actor Chadwick Boseman at the after party for the premiere of Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Legendary Pictures’ “42” at the Chinese Theatre on April 9, 2013 in Los Angeles, California.
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Harrison Ford and Chad Boseman visit BET’s 106 & Park at BET Studios on April 8, 2013, in New York City.
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Laurence Fishburne and Chadwick Boseman arrive at the “Man Of Steel” World Premiere at Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center on June 10, 2013, in New York City. (Photo by Jim Spellman/WireImage)
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Chadwick Boseman attends the second day of the Radio Broadcast Center during the BET Awards ’14 on June 28, 2014 in Los Angeles, California.
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Chadwick Boseman and film director Spike Lee greet each other at the NBA game between the New York Knicks and the Indiana Pacers at Madison Square Garden on April 14, 2013, in New York City.
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First lady Michelle Obama speaks as actors Chadwick Boseman, Harrison Ford and Rachel Robinson, widow of the late baseball player Jackie Robinson, listen during a State Dining Room event April 2, 2013, at the White House in Washington, D.C.
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Chadwick Boseman throws out the ceremonial first pitch before the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Colorado Rockies followed by a special screening of “42” at Dodger Stadium on July 13, 2013 in Los Angeles, California.
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Mick Jagger and Chadwick Boseman speak prior to a special screening of “Get On Up” on Sept. 14, 2014, in London, England.
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Actor Chadwick Boseman arrives at the premiere of Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Legendary Pictures’ “42” at the Chinese Theatre on April 9, 2013, in Los Angeles, California.
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Chadwick Boseman gives a fist bump at “Late Show with David Letterman” at Ed Sullivan Theater on August 20, 2014, in New York City.
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Chris Pratt accepts the Hollywood Blockbuster Award for ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ from Chadwick Boseman onstage during the 18th Annual Hollywood Film Awards at The Palladium on Nov. 14, 2014, in Hollywood, California.
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Chadwick Boseman and NY Giants’ Odell Beckham attend the Public School runway show during MADE Fashion Week Fall 2015 at Studio 330 on Feb. 15, 2015 in New York City.
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Chadwick Boseman shoots against Anthony Anderson during the Sprint NBA All-Star Celebrity Game as part of 2015 All-Star Weekend at Madison Square Garden on Feb. 13, 2015, in New York, New York.
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Nicole Beharie and Chadwick Boseman speak onstage during the 45th NAACP Image Awards on Feb. 22, 2014, in Pasadena, California.
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Chadwick Boseman arrives at the “Get On Up” premiere at The Apollo Theater on July 21, 2014, in New York City.
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Chadwick Boseman and Chris Evans speak onstage during the 88th Annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre on Feb. 28, 2016 ,in Hollywood, California.
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Actor Chadwick Boseman interviews with host Jay Leno on April 26, 2013.
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Chadwick Boseman attends Audi Arrivals at The World Premiere Of “Avengers: Age Of Ultron” at Dolby Theatre on April 13, 2015 in Hollywood, California.
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Chadwick Boseman and Lupita Nyong’o attend the 2014 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Hosted By Graydon Carter on March 2, 2014, in West Hollywood, California.
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Robert Downey Jr., Chadwick Boseman and Chris Evans onstage during Marvel Studios fan event at The El Capitan Theatre on Oct. 28, 2014, in Los Angeles, California.
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Chadwick Boseman speaks with host Seth Meyers backstage on May 2, 2016.
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John Boyega and Chadwick Boseman at the after party for the World Premiere of Star Wars: The Force Awakens on Hollywood Blvd on Dec. 14, 2015, in Hollywood, California.
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Chadwick Boseman is seen at ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ on June 21, 2017 in Los Angeles, California.
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Comic Book legend Stan Lee poses with actor Chadwick Boseman on the purple carpet for the premiere of Disney and Marvel’s “Black Panther” held at the Dolby Theatre on Jan. 29, 2018, in Hollywood, California.
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Chadwick Boseman attends the AOL Speaker Series to discuss “Captain America: Civil War” at AOL Studios In New York on May 4, 2016, in New York City.
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Sebastian Stan and Chadwick Boseman attend the Cinema Society with Audi and FIJI Water host a screening of Marvel’s “Captain America: Civil War” on May 4, 2016, in New York City.
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Director Ryan Coogler, Actor Chadwick Boseman, Lupita Nyong’s and Michael B. Jordan arrive at the press conference for the Seoul premiere of ‘Black Panther’ on Feb. 5, 2018, in Seoul, South Korea.
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Moderator Roland Martin, host of TV One’s
“News One Now,” lead actor Chadwick Boseman and Director Reginald Hudlin, participate in a Q&A after the advance screening of the movie “Marshall,” a biography of a young Thurgood Marshall, the first African-American Supreme Court Justice.
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Moderator Tamron Hall, actors Josh Gad, Kate Hudson, and Chadwick Boseman speak at the “Marshall” Q&A at AMC Empire 25 theater on Sept. 23, 2017, in New York City. (Photo by Ray Tamarra/Getty Images)
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Sterling K. Brown, Letitia Wright, Winston Duke, Martin Freeman, Angela Bassett, Daniel Kaluuya, Lupita Nyong’o, Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Danai Gurira, Andy Serkis, and Forest Whitaker; writer/director Ryan Coogler; Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige; producers Louis D’Esposito and Victoria Alonso, and executive producer Nate Moore at the Los Angeles World Premiere of Marvel Studios’ “Black Panther” at Dolby Theatre on Jan. 29, 2018 in Hollywood, California.
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Terry Crews, Chadwick Boseman, Jennifer Garner, Kevin Costner and Denis Leary attend a press conference for the film “Draft Day” on Jan. 31, 2014 in New York City.
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Author Ta-Nehisi Coates makes the “Wakanda Forever” sign with Black Panther stars Chadwick Boseman and Lupita Nyong’o at The Apollo Theater on Feb. 27, 2018, in New York City. (Photo by Shahar Azran/WireImage)
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Actor Daniel Kaluuya and writer/director Jordan Peele accept Best Feature for ‘Get Out’ from actor Chadwick Boseman onstage during the 2018 Film Independent Spirit Awards on March 3, 2018 in Santa Monica, California.
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Octavia Spencer, Brian Grazer, Mick Jagger, Tate Taylor, NY Program Director for The Academy of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences Patrick Harrison, actor Chadwick Boseman, Victoria Pearman, Nelsan Ellis, and Dan Aykroyd arrive at a special screening of ‘Get On Up’ hosted by The Academy of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences at The Academy Theatre at Lighthouse International on July 17, 2014, in New York City.
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Chadwick Boseman attends the 2018 Vanity Fair Oscar Party at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 4, 2018, in Beverly Hills, California.
She concluded by thanking god for "giving Chad these gifts, and instilling the strength to bear its weight." She then added, "Chad, thank you. I love you. I am so proud of you. Keep shining your light on us."
