Chadwick Boseman wins his first Emmy

Chadwick Boseman on Saturday won a posthumous Emmy for his voice-over performance in Marvel’s ‘What If…?’ Series. According to PEOPLE, Boseman, who died of colon cancer in August 2020, emerged top in the outstanding character voice-over performance category for his portrayal of Star-Lord T’Challa in the “What If… T’Challa Became a Star-Lord?” episode. The award was also the deceased actor’s first Emmy nomination and honor. 

The other nominees in the category included F. Murray Abraham (Moon Knight), Julie Andrews (Bridgerton), Maya Rudolph (Big Mouth), Stanley Tucci (Central Park), Jessica Walter (Archer), and Jeffrey Wright (What If…?).

Boseman’s widow, Simone Ledward Boseman, took the stage to accept the award on behalf of her deceased husband. In her speech, Simone told the audience about how Boseman managed to record his role despite his health problems.

“When I learned that Chad was nominated for this award, I started thinking about everything that was going on when he was recording — everything that was going on in the world and in our world and just being in such awe of his commitment and his dedication,” she said, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

“And what a beautifully aligned moment it really is that one of the last things he would work on would not only be revisiting a character that was so important to him and his career and to the world, but also that it be an exploration of something new, diving into a new potential future — particularly with everything he spoke about purpose and finding the reason that you are here on the planet on this very time,” Simone added. 

“You can’t understand your purpose unless you’re willing to ask, ‘What if,’ unless you’re willing to say, ‘What if the universe is conspiring in my favor, what if it’s me?’ “

Simone expressed her gratitude for the honor bestowed upon her late husband and said he would be “so honored.”

“And I’m honored on his behalf,” she concluded.