Chadwick Boseman gives 'Best Hero' award at 2018 MTV Awards to Waffle House hero James Shaw Jr.

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Chadwick Boseman wins big at 2018 MTV Movie & TV Awards

'Black Panther' star acknowledged real-life hero James Shaw Jr. when he accepted his 'Best Hero' award.

Chadwick Boseman is dedicating his "Best Hero" award to real-life "true hero," James Shaw Jr.

On Monday, Boseman won the "Best Hero" trophy at the 2018 MTV Movie & TV Awards for his starring role as king T'Challa in "Black Panther," and during his acceptance speech, the actor acknowledged Waffle House hero, James Shaw Jr.

"Receiving an award for playing a superhero is amazing, but it's even greater to acknowledge the heroes we have in real life," Boseman said as he accepted the golden popcorn statue while on stage at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, Calif.

He continued: "So I just want to acknowledge somebody who is here today, James Shaw. Jr."

The star also took to Twitter to honor the 29-year-old.

"And more … THANK YOU #MTVAwards! #BlackPanther fans, you’re incredible. During the show, I was honored to meet @JamesShawJr9. He saved countless lives by tackling a gunman who opened fire on people in Antioch, Tennessee in April. He’s a true hero that walks among us," Boseman captioned a picture of the two.

In April, Shaw Jr. was hailed a hero after he seized the opportunity to wrestle a gun away from a shooter at a Tennessee Waffle House, saving countless lives during a rampage that left at least four people dead and several others injured.

Shaw Jr. was dining at the Waffle House in Antioch, about 16 miles southeast of downtown Nashville, around 3:25 a.m. when suspect Travis Reinking allegedly opened fire outside the restaurant. Shaw said at a news conference at the time that he felt he had the opportunity to potentially stop the attack during the hail of bullets.

"I was just trying to get myself out. I saw the opportunity and pretty much took it,” Shaw Jr. previously told the Tennessean.