Chadwick Boseman was honored by widow Simone Ledward-Boseman, Black Panther director Ryan Coogler and Ma Rainey's Black Bottom costar Viola Davis at the late actor's emotional Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony.
00:00When I think of Chadwick Boseman, I think of three things. Leadership, teaching, and generosity.
00:07The biggest pillar of Chad, even in comparison to his incredible leadership and his teaching, was his generosity.
00:14This man, who already was casted as the Black Panther, he came to every single audition and every single callback that I asked him to come to.
00:21He was incredibly generous with his time on set.
00:24Even though he was going through what he was going through, he would do his own stunts.
00:26He would be there for off-camera dialogue readings.
00:30But he gave me and us so many other gifts.
00:32The gifts of his incredible performances, which inspire actors all over the world.
00:37There's something special about being that close to somebody that great.
00:39The fact that even when he knew his days were limited, and his moments were numbered, he still gave to the art form.
00:51But in all his generosity, Chad only gave me one physical gift.
00:56When we wrapped the movie, Black Panther, and I was convinced this movie was not going to work, Chad took my hand and he bent this copper bracelet around it.
01:07And what's crazy about Chadwick is I never have been strong enough to bend this thing.
01:13I was actually ashamed to take a gift from him at the time.
01:17So I pulled it off and I stashed it somewhere, put it in the store somewhere in the Bay Area, because I took him for granted.
01:23I figured he'd always be around.
01:24And I figured I'd wear it for a special day.
01:27Ended up being today.
01:28When we met at Sinners, I kept it with me every day.
01:30And I was able to give Mike probably the most important direction I could ever give any actor.
01:36I looked at him and he said, what would Chadwick do?
01:40And Mike looked at me and nodded and said, he got it.
01:43Chadwick's a star, but he was also our most incredible jewel.
01:48He reflected light.
01:50He refracted it.
01:51And when he did, he showed the greatness of our people.
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