Credit: Unsplash

Simone Ledward Boseman accepted the award on his behalf.

It’s been about seven months since renowned Hollywood actor Chadwick Boseman, well known for his starring role in Marvel’s Black Panther. After dominating the box office with that film, Boseman was poised to become one of the biggest names in showbusiness, when he tragically passed in August of 2020 from colorectal cancer at the age of 43, incredibly young compared to some Hollywood mainstays. Still, though Boseman may no longer be with us, his incredible performances have endured, earning him the recognition he deserves.

During the Golden Globe Awards over the weekend, Boseman received a posthumous award for best actor in a motion picture-drama for his role in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. In the entire history of the Golden Globes, Boseman is only the second actor to receive a posthumous award, managing to beat out four other talented actors for the prize including Anthony Hopkins (The Father), Riz Ahmed (The Sound of Metal), Gary Oldman (Mank) and Tahar Rahim (The Mauritanian).

Chadwick Boseman forever. ❤️

Remembering the actor through his incredible #GoldenGlobes-winning performance in MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM. pic.twitter.com/ev32VVNmur

— TIFF (@TIFF_NET) March 1, 2021

Boseman’s wife, Simone Ledward Boseman, accepted the award on her late husband’s behalf, giving a tearful speech as she remembered him. “He would thank God. He would thank his parents. He would thank his ancestors for their guidance and their sacrifices,” she said. “He would say something beautiful, something inspiring, something that would amplify that little voice inside of all of us that tells you, ‘You can,’ that tells you to keep going, that calls you back to what you are meant to be doing at this moment in history.”

“I don’t have his words, but we have to take all the moments to celebrate those we love, so thank you HFPA, for this opportunity to do exactly that. And, honey, you keep ’em coming. Thank you,” she said.