See the Emotional Chadwick Boseman Tribute at the MTV Movie Awards
Ava White
Updated on February 22, 2026
For many people, Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman, who died of colon cancer in August, was a hero on-screen and off. So, it's only fitting that he be honored with an award that speaks to just that. At the MTV Movie & TV Awards, which aired Sunday night, Boseman posthumously received the Hero for the Ages award, which was presented by two of his Marvel Cinematic Universe co-stars, Don Cheadle and Robert Downey Jr.
This year's MTV Movie & TV Awards were different due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead of the usual award show, which takes place in the spring, the network held the Movie & TV Awards: Greatest of All Time special. Hosted by Vanessa Hudgens, the ceremony was a tribute to moments in movies and TV from the 1980s to today. Jamie Lee Curtis received the Scream Queen award for Halloween, Kevin Bacon got the Dance Your A** Off award for Footloose, and Selma Blair and Sarah Michelle Gellar won for Legendary Lip Lock for Cruel Intentions.
But Hero for the Ages was certainly the most emotional award of the night as Cheadle and Downey were honoring their co-star who died only four months ago at the age of 43.
.@RobertDowneyJr and @DonCheadle paid tribute to the late Chadwick Boseman ahead of his Hero for the Ages honor at the #MTVAwards: Greatest of All Time. ❤️
— Movie & TV Awards (@MTVAwards) December 7, 2020
Read on to find out what the actors said about Boseman and his lasting legacy, and if you're a Marvel fan, check out our Ranking Every Marvel Movie, From Worst Reviewed to Best.
Read the original article on Best Life.
Downey said "his energy and intensity was undeniable."
Downey, who played Iron Man in the Marvel movies, started by saying of Boseman, "The second you first saw him on screen or had the opportunity to meet him in person, his energy and intensity was undeniable. There was something different and special about Chadwick Boseman."
Cheadle, who played War Machine, added, "Each time he stepped on the set, he inspired and influenced everyone there. And with every role, he created a new legion of fans. He had an incredible power to unify people in their love for his work and their respect for him as a person. The way he lived his life united people behind a higher purpose, and that will be his legacy."
And noted that he "truly embodied what it meant to be a superhero."
While Boseman played a superhero on screen—in Black Panther, Captain America: Civil War, and two Avengers movies—he was also a hero in real life through his charity work and his relationships with his friends and family.
"Mr. Boseman truly embodied what it meant to be a superhero," Downey said. "His impact as a groundbreaking leading man, as an icon on screen—it won't be quantified by the box office records he broke, but by the legions of fans who will celebrate him for many years to come."
Of his real world actions, Downey noted that there are too many good deeds to list, but said, "He was the most heroic when just being Chad. That's when he was bigger than anyone he played on screen."
For more celebrity news delivered right to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter.
Cheadle pointed out his other roles were impactful, too.
Boseman will always be known as Black Panther, but his filmography is lengthy and includes a number of biopics that showed the actor portraying Thurgood Marshall (Marshall), James Brown (Get on Up), and Jackie Robinson (42). Cheadle gave a shoutout to these roles, as well, saying, "He brought humanity and truth to the portrayal of people who felt larger than life, and he did it in a way that honored their memories."
But this wasn't Boseman's first MTV Movie award.
This isn't the first time Boseman has been honored at the MTV Movie & TV Awards. In 2018, Boseman won for Best Performance in a Movie and for Best Hero, while Black Panther also won for Movie of the Year.
Of course, these are just a few of the honors Boseman received in his lifetime. And now, he has Oscar buzz for his upcoming movie Ma Rainey's Black Bottom. And for more on that, check out The Trailer for Chadwick Boseman's Last Movie Is Here.
Lia Beck Lia Beck is a writer living in Richmond, Virginia. In addition to Best Life, she has written for Refinery29, Bustle, Hello Giggles, InStyle, and more.Read moreFiled UnderActors • Celebrities • NewsRead This NextA First Look at Chadwick Boseman's Last Movie
The late actor kept working throughout his illness, so his final performance is yet to be seen.October 19, 2020Every Marvel Movie, From Worst Reviewed to Best
From the MCU and beyond, we ranked every Marvel movie by Rotten Tomatoes score.February 23, 2023Marvel Movie Facts Even Huge Fans Don't Know
From the cameos that could have been to the secret meaning behind tiny details.September 1, 2020Actor Under Fire for Posting Controversial Video
Letitia Wright posted a video about the COVID-19 vaccine that's led to some serious backlash.December 4, 2020The Most Popular Actor Who's Your Age
Find out which A-lister shares your birth year.November 5, 2020The Biggest '00s TV Teen Idols, Then and Now
Here's what all your favorite bad boys and queen bees are up to these days.November 3, 2020Celebrities Who Battled Cancer and Won
These famous figures were faced with the fight of their lives and emerged victorious. October 22, 202110 Things You Didn't Know about Justin Trudeau
Athlete, nerd, hopeless romantic, thespian. Yes, there’s a lot more to Canada’s Prime Minister than just politics.March 21, 2017Jon Hamm: The Best Life Interview
Jon Hamm, star of TV's Mad Men, reveals the secrets of manliness in a postmodern world.November 15, 2016Driving Tips Smart Men Know
Ten easy ways to be the safest driver on the road. April 3, 2017
