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How Chadwick Boseman could make history with posthumous Oscar nominations

Illustration of actor Chadwick Boseman
Chadwick Boseman could earn two posthumous Oscar nominations
(Barry Falls/For the Times)
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Making history, posthumously

Chadwick Boseman died in August at age 43 after battling cancer. His final performance, in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” is expected to bring him a lead actor Oscar nomination. His performance in another 2020 film, “Da 5 Bloods,” is a strong contender for a supporting nomination as well.

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Performers in Academy Awards history have received posthumous nominations: Jeanne Eagels, James Dean, Spencer Tracy, Peter Finch, Ralph Richardson, Massimo Troisi and Heath Ledger.

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Posthumous acting Oscars have been awarded, for Finch’s lead performance in “Network” (1976) and Ledger’s supporting turn in “The Dark Knight” (2008).

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Actor, Dean, received posthumous nominations in two different years, for “East of Eden” (1955) and “Giant” (1956).

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People have been nominated in two acting categories in the same year (including Scarlett Johansson last year). Boseman would be the first posthumous same-year dual nominee.

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