‘Keep shining your light on us’: Chadwick Boseman’s wife gives emotional speech while accepting award for late actor

Taylor Simone Ledward took home the Gotham Award on behalf of her late husband

Chadwick Boseman’s widow Taylor Simone Ledward gave an emotional tribute to the late actor while collecting an award on his behalf.

The Black Panther star was honoured with the Actor Tribute Award during the Gotham Awards on Monday (11 January) night.

The award was accepted by Boseman’s wife Ledward, who the actor married in secret before his death to colon cancer in August aged 43.

“As an artist, an actor, and a person, Chad made a practice of telling the truth,” Ledward said. “He was the most honest person I 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.”

“It became how he lived his life, day in and out. Imperfect and determined. In doing so, he was able to give himself over fully in every moment, to be totally present in his own life and in the lives of people he became. He was blessed to live many lives within his concentrated one.”

She continued: “He harnessed the power of letting go and letting God’s love shine through… That’s what he was doing when he was acting. Not merely telling a story or reading lines off a page, but modelling for us a path of true fulfilment.”

Concluding her tribute, she added through tears: “Chad, thank you. I love you. I am so proud of you. Keep shining your light on us.”

Boseman was best known for his performance as the beloved Wakanda leader T’Challa in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

With Black Panther 2 currently in the works, Marvel boss Kevin Feige discussed in a recent interview how the franchise would go ahead without Boseman.