Robert Downey Jr. and Don Cheadle emotionally honor Chadwick Boseman at MTV Movie & TV Awards

Chadwick Boseman received a tribute fit for a king at the MTV Movie & TV Awards: Greatest of All Time.

The late Black Panther star, who died in August following a battle with colon cancer, at MTV's Sunday ceremony posthumously received the Hero for the Ages award, an honor for someone "whose heroism onscreen was only surpassed by the true hero they were off-screen." Marvel's Robert Downey Jr. and Don Cheadle emotionally paid tribute to Boseman as they presented the award.

"Mr. Boseman truly embodied what it meant to be a superhero," Downey Jr. 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."

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Downey Jr. also recalled Boseman's "selfless and inspirational acts and deeds" off screen, noting that he was always there for "family, friends, and fans alike, some of whom were battling the same invisible enemy." The Iron Man star added, "He was most heroic when just being Chad."

Cheadle also reflected on the fact that Boseman "inspired and influenced everyone" on set and "had an incredible power to unify people," and his legacy will be that "the way he lived his life united people behind a higher purpose."

Sunday's MTV ceremony looked back at the best of film and television since the 1980s. Boseman is also set to receive a posthumous honor at the upcoming Gotham Awards, and praise for his performance in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom has placed him in the running for a posthumous Academy Award nomination. Watch the emotional tribute below. Brendan Morrow