Chadwick Boseman honored during Stand Up to Cancer telethon

Aug. 22 (UPI) -- Late actor Chadwick Boseman's wife, Simone Leeward, performed the classic song, "I'll Be Seeing You," on Saturday's Stand Up to Cancer telethon.

"Many of us were devastated to learn of Chadwick Boseman's tragic passing after he privately grappled with cancer for several years. The world lost an incredible artist and a true hero. But before he was a public figure, he was a person like you or me: a son, a brother, uncle, cousin, friend, colleague, husband," host Anthony Anderson said as he introduced Leeward during the fundraiser, which streamed on YouTube. "Many of us are all too familiar with the fracture a dearly loved one's passing leaves in the lives of those who love them."

Black Panther, Da Five Bloods and Ma Rainey's Black Bottom star Chadwick Boseman died last year of colon cancer. He was 43.

Anderson co-hosted this year's Stand Up to Cancer event with Sofia Vergara, Ken Jeong and Jeong's wife, Tran Ho.

The program included appearances by Chris Evans, Matthew McConaughey, Paul Rudd, Bradley Cooper, Cecily Strong, Ed Helms, Jennifer Garner, Tony Hale, Common, Stevie Wonder and Brittany Howard.