Revered late Chadwick Boseman on Sunday won the Golden Globe for best actor in a drama for his stellar role in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” which comes just months after he died of cancer at age 43.
His wife gave a moving speech to accept his prize, which was awarded to him over Riz Ahmed (“Sound of Metal”), Anthony Hopkins (“The Father”), Gary Oldman (“Mank”) and Tahar Rahim (“The Mauritanian”).
Accepting the award on his behalf was his wife, Taylor Simone Ledward, who delivered a tearful speech about what her late husband would say if he were here.
“He would thank God, he would thank his parents, he would thank his ancestors for their guidance and their sacrifices,” Ledward said. She later added, “He would say something beautiful, something inspiring, something that would amplify that little voice inside of us that tells us all to keep going.”
Boseman died at home as a result of complications from cancer on August 28, 2020. He was diagnosed with Stage III colon cancer in 2016, one year after he began dating Ledward. The two became engaged in 2019 and later became engaged before Boseman’s passing last year.
Finishing out her speech, Ledward said, “I don’t have his words but we have to take all the moments to celebrate those that we love.” As for her message to Boseman, she looked toward the sky in tears, saying, “You keep ’em coming.”