Chadwick Boseman was the frontrunner for Best
Actor at the
Academy Awards on Sunday night — but there was a shock in store when the winner was announced.
The actor had received a posthumous nomination for his performance as trumpet player Levee Green in the Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, which was released on
Netflix in November.
It was Boseman’s final film performance, as he died of
cancer in August 2020, at the age 43.
While many had expected the Best Actor prize would got to Chadwick, it was actually given to legendary actor Sir Anthony Hopkins for his performance in The Father.The Best Picture winner was announced before the Best Actor winner on Sunday – a shift from tradition, which many initially speculated was done so the ceremony could end with a tribute to Chadwick.
Instead, it led many people to be even more disappointed when the
Black Panther actor’s name was not called:Chadwick Boseman will remain one of the greatest actors of all time, with or without that Oscar pic.twitter.com/M3yhFlDEkw— Amia🦋 is looking for marvel moots (@amiastarrr) April 26, 2021We don’t need the Academy to celebrate Chadwick Boseman. We are celebrating Chadwick and his tremendous performance regardless. #Oscars#Oscars2021pic.twitter.com/2q5RuBWIgj— Frederick Joseph (@FredTJoseph) April 26, 2021That’s why you end with Best Picture. I think it takes away from Nomadland and Hopkins honestly because the changed order felt like a bait and switch when everyone was expecting a Chadwick Boseman tribute at the end.— Richard Newby (@RICHARDLNEWBY) April 26, 2021They build the entire show around a Chadwick Boseman ending and then Anthony Hopkins won and didn't show up— Kyle Buchanan (@kylebuchanan) April 26, 2021The
Oscars were so sure that Chadwick Boseman was going to win that they REARRANGED THE ENTIRE CEREMONY so his category could be last, and then they gave the award to Anthony Hopkins instead...the most chaotic and unhinged thing I've ever seen.— Spencer Althouse (@SpencerAlthouse) April 26, 2021Yeah the “let’s put Best Actor last so, obviously, we can celebrate the life of Chadwick Boseman” really backfired— Mike Ryan (@mikeryan) April 26, 2021Wait what was that
Game of Thrones style ending?? Andra Day and Chadwick Boseman were robbed... #Oscarspic.twitter.com/ykMorfq6qy— Joy-Ann Pro-Democracy & Masks Reid 😷 (@JoyAnnReid) April 26, 2021Holy shit Anthony Hopkins beating the late Chadwick Boseman AND Riz Ahmed AND Steven Yeun for Best Actor is just some go home with your heart in your belly stuff. What is even happening #Oscars— Jeff Yang (@originalspin) April 26, 2021Chadwick performance as Levee Green has earned him wide praise this awards season.
He won a posthumous award in the Best Actor in a Drama category at the
Golden Globes in February, as well as an NAACP Image Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award.
This year, he also made history by becoming the first person to score four SAG Award nominations in a single year.
Chadwick also received the Best Actor award at the 12th annual African
American Film Critics Association Awards earlier this month.
The late actir’s wife, Taylor Simone Ledward, accepted that award on his behalf, delivering a powerful tribute to the late actor and his work in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, which also stars Viola Davis as the famous blues
Singer.
“He would be so grateful for the recognition of everything that he gave to Levee Green,” Ledward said. “While the work would always remain paramount, the work is made possible by the process. The process allows you to reach your inner voice, so you have to protect it.”
“Thank you, Chad, for always doing the work,” she added.
If Chadwick had won, he would have been the second actor to posthumously win the Best Actor award. Peter Finch won for his performance in the 1976 film Network.
Heath Ledger won the Best Supporting Actor award for his role in The Dark Night. The film premiered in July 2008, several months after he died.MORE OSCARS:Here's The Full List Of Winners From This Year's Oscars21 Must-See Oscars Moments You Might Have Missed In This Year's Ceremony