09 Feb 2024
Motion Pictures, Recent ceremony Permalink
markruffalo
Mark Ruffalo Photo by Jeff Vespa/@portraits

Mark Ruffalo

February 9, 2024
markruffalo

Mark Ruffalo
Photo by Jeff Vespa/@portraits

WHO | HONOREE  Mark Ruffalo              

EMCEE                    Hollywood Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Steve Nissen

GUEST SPEAKERS  Actor Tim McNeil, Director David Fincher, and Actress Jennifer Garner

WHAT                     Dedication of the 2,772nd star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

WHEN                     Thursday, February 8, at 11:30 AM PT

WHERE                   6777 Hollywood Boulevard, in front of Stella Adler Academy of Acting

WATCH LIVE          The event was streamed live exclusively at www.walkoffame.com 

Actor Mark Ruffalo was honored with the 2,772nd star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Thursday, February 8, 2024 at 11:30 am PT at 6777 Hollywood Boulevard. Ruffalo received his star in the category of Motion Pictures. Joining emcee Steve Nissen as speakers are actor Tim McNeil, director David Fincher, and actress Jennifer Garner.

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce administers the legendary Hollywood Walk of Fame for the City of Los Angeles and has proudly hosted the globally iconic star ceremonies for decades. Millions of people from here and worldwide have visited this cultural landmark since 1960.

ABOUT OUR HONOREE

“Mark Ruffalo is a remarkable talent with an unwavering dedication to his craft. He has captivated audiences worldwide through his performances,” stated Ana Martinez, Producer of the Hollywood Walk of Fame. “We are proud to honor him and place his star in front of the Stella Adler Acting Academy where he trained to become one of our finest actors!” added Martinez.

Emmy® winner and four-time Academy Award® nominee Mark Ruffalo is one of Hollywood’s most sought-after actors, easily moving between stage and screen. He has worked with directors including Ang Lee, Martin Scorsese, Michael Mann, Spike Jonze, David Fincher, Fernando Meirelles, and Michel Gondry.

Ruffalo can currently be seen starring in Yorgos Lanthimos and Searchlight Pictures’ “Poor Things,” for which he just received an Oscar nomination, and in the Netflix limited-series “All the Light We Cannot See”, based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning bestseller. Up next, he will star in Warner Bros and Bong Joon Ho’s highly anticipated sci-fi drama “Mickey 17,” alongside Toni Collette and Robert Pattinson.

In 2023, Ruffalo reprised the character of Bruce Banner/The Hulk in the “She Hulk” Marvel series for Disney+.

In 2019, he was seen reprising his role as Bruce Banner/The Hulk in “Avengers: Endgame,” the grand conclusion to Marvel Studios’ Avengers franchise, spanning twenty-two films. Previously, he starred in “Avengers: Infinity War,” which grossed $1.6 Billion worldwide and was the biggest worldwide film opening since 2002. In 2016, he was seen in “Thor: Ragnarok” and starred on Broadway in Arthur Miller’s “The Price” and in 2015, he appeared in “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” the hit sequel to “Marvel’s The Avengers.”

He was nominated for three Academy Awards within five years for his performances in “The Kids Are All Right,” Bennett Miller’s “Foxcatcher,” and Thomas McCarthy’s “Spotlight,”whose theme won The Boston Globethe 2003 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service as well as the Oscars® for Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay at the 2016 Academy Awards®. The cast of the film was awarded the Screen Actors Guild® Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture.

Ruffalo’s other film credits include: “Infinitely Polar Bear,” “Thanks for Sharing,” “Now You See Me,” “Shutter Island,” “We Don’t Live Here Anymore,” “Zodiac,” “The Brothers Bloom,” “Collateral,” “13 Going on 30,” “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” “In The Cut,” “Just Like Heaven,” “Reservation Road,” “All the King’s Men,” “What Doesn’t Kill You,” “My Life Without Me,” “The Last Castle,” “Windtalkers,” “Committed,” “Ride With the Devil,” “Studio 54,” “Safe Men,” “The Last Big Thing,”   “Begin Again,” and many more.

Ruffalo advocates for addressing climate change and increasing renewable energy. Ruffalo helped launch The Solutions Project in 2012 as part of his mission to share science, business, and culture that demonstrates the feasibility of renewable energy. A regular contributor to the Guardian and Huffington Post, Ruffalo has received the Global Green Millennium Award for Environmental Leadership and the Meera Gandhi Giving Back Foundation Award. He was named one of Time Magazine’s People Who Mattered in 2011and received The Big Fish Award from Riverkeeper in 2013.

01 Feb 2024
Recent ceremony, Television Permalink
garrettmorris

Garrett Morris

February 1, 2024

garrettmorrisWHO | HONOREE  Garrett Morris                       

EMCEE                    Hollywood Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Steve Nissen

GUEST SPEAKERS  Actress Tichina Arnold and Director/Producer Oz Scott

WHAT                     Dedication of the 2,771st star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

WHEN                     Thursday, February 1st, at 11:30 AM PT

WHERE                   6411 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood

WATCH LIVE          The event was streamed live exclusively at www.walkoffame.com 

 

Actor Garrett Morris was honored with the 2,771st star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Thursday, February 1, 2024 at 11:30 am PT at 6411 Hollywood Boulevard. Morris received his star in the category of Television. Joining emcee Steve Nissen as speakers were actress Tichina Arnold and director/producer Oz Scott.

 

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce administers the legendary Hollywood Walk of Fame for the City of Los Angeles and has proudly hosted the globally iconic star ceremonies for decades. Millions of people from here and worldwide have visited this cultural landmark since 1960.

 

ABOUT OUR HONOREE

“Garrett Morris is a true entertainment icon and is ready for Prime Time on the Walk of Fame! He joins other SNL stars who are Walk of Famers, Chevy Chase, John Belushi, and Gilda Radner,” stated Ana Martinez, Producer of the Hollywood Walk of Fame. “We are so happy to honor him on February 1st which is his 87th birthday and the 136th birthday of our beloved Hollywood!” added Martinez.

Television legend Garrett Morris was born in New Orleans and raised by his Baptist Minister grandfather, Thomas Phillips and his loving grandmother, Gertrude Phillips. He spent his childhood singing in the church choir and eventually trained at the Julliard School of Music. His first professional break was performing with the Harry Belafonte Singers, with whom he remained for ten years. During this time, Morris branched out into acting, appearing in both Broadway and Off-Broadway musicals including “Porgy and Bess,” “Show Boat,” “Finian’s Rainbow,” “Ain’t Supposed To Die A Natural Death,” “The Great White Hope,” and “The Basic Training of Pavlo Hummer.”

Having most recently been a series regular on CBS’s “2 Broke Girls,” Morris is beloved by generations of TV watchers as one of Saturday Night Live’s original “Not Ready for Prime Time Players,” along with Chevy Chase, John Belushi, Dan Ackroyd, and Gilda Radner. He was present at the creation of television’s longest-running, most famous live sketch comedy program, and is remembered to this day for such characters as Chico Escuela, the Dominican baseball player whose catchphrase, “Baseball has been berry berry good to me,” entered popular culture, as well as performing in “News for the Hard of Hearing” and his outrageous and dead-on impersonations of Idi Amin, James Brown, Sammy Davis, Jr., Bob Marley, and Muhammad Ali.

Morris’s performances in such TV comedies as “Martin,” “The Jamie Foxx Show,” and “The Wayans Brothers” are presently playing daily in syndication, and Morris continues to be recognized for appearances on “Married with Children,” “Family Guy” and “The Jeffersons.”

His other television credits also include the animated series, “Fairfax,” NBC’s “Grand Crew,” and the Netflix limited series, “Self-Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker.” Other television credits include roles on “This is Us,” “Scandal,” “Station 19,” “According To Jim,” “Justice League,” “The Hughleys,” “Noah’s Arc,” “All Of Us,” and “Shameless.”

Morris first broke onto the big screen in the 1970’s with small roles in Carl Reiner’s “Where’s Poppa?” and Sidney Lumet’s “The Anderson Tapes.” His other credits include an impressive array of film including “Jackpot,” “Connecting Dots,” “The Salon,” “Frank,” “Cooley High,” “Who’s Your Caddy?,” “Comeback,” “Bedridden,” “Sonny Dreamweaver,” “Pickin’ & Grinnin’,” “Valley Of The Sun,” “Pawn Shop,” and Marvel’s “Ant-Man” as an acknowledgement of his originating the role on “Saturday Night Live.”

Most people don’t realize that when Morris first appeared on “Saturday Night Live,” he had already had a 17-year career in the entertainment industry as singer and arranger with Harry Belafonte, as an actor in Off-Broadway plays and musicals, as a playwright with two successful productions, as a civil rights activist who played an important role in the desegregation of Actor’s Equity and was part of the Black Arts Theater movement with poet and playwright Amiri Baraka.

Morris resides in Los Angeles where he owns and operates The LA Blues & Comedy Club. In 2007 he was honored by former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa for his work and contributions to the Black community.

 

PHOTO CREDIT: STRONG BLACK LEGENDS

29 Jan 2024
Recent ceremony, Recording Permalink
charliewilson

Charlie Wilson

January 29, 2024

charliewilson

WHO | HONOREE     Charlie Wilson

EMCEE                       Music producer and Walk of Famer Jimmy Jam Harris

GUEST SPEAKERS     Michael Paran, Babyface, and Snoop Dogg

WHAT                         Dedication of the 2,770th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

WHEN                         Monday, January 29, at 11:30 AM PT

WHERE                       6201 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, CA 90028, in front of Eastown

WATCH LIVE              The event was streamed live exclusively at walkoffame.com 

 

R&B Icon and 13-time GRAMMY® Award nominee, Charlie Wilson was honored with the 2,770th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Monday, January 29th at 11:30 am PT at 6201 Hollywood Boulevard. Wilson received his star in the category of Recording.  Joining emcee Jimmy Jam Harris were speakers President & CEO of P Music Group and manager, Michael Paran, 12-time GRAMMY® Award winner and Walk of Famer, Babyface, and LA Icon, musician, actor, business mogul and Walk of Famer, Snoop Dogg.

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce administers the legendary Hollywood Walk of Fame for the City of Los Angeles and has proudly hosted the globally iconic star ceremonies for decades. Millions of people from here and around the world have visited this cultural landmark since 1960.

 

 ABOUT OUR HONOREE “Charlie Wilson’s timeless music has brought joy to millions across generations. His upcoming star ceremony will shine as a testament to his extraordinary talent, resilience, and unwavering dedication to his craft,” stated Walk of Fame producer Ana Martinez. “I must also add that Charlie’s incredible journey from homelessness and return to show business is a true testament to his indomitable human spirit!” added Martinez.

To say that Charlie Wilson is an “Icon,” does not truly describe the musical powerhouse whose vocal prowess began as a founding member and lead singer of the legendary, multi-platinum group The Gap Band from Tulsa, OK. Prior to becoming a solo star, Wilson and The Gap Band amassed fans over a 10-year span with high-energy stage shows and a slew of hits — “Outstanding,” “Yearning for Your Love,” “Burn Rubber on Me” and “Early in the Morning” — that are now among the industry’s most sampled songs.

As a solo artist, Wilson has topped the R&B charts with 13 number one singles, 13 Grammy nominations, a New York Times and Washington Post best-selling memoir “I Am Charlie Wilson,” a BET Lifetime Achievement Award, a Soul Train Icon Award, a Soul Train Certified Soul Award, and a NAACP Music Makes a Difference Award.

He was twice named Billboard’s Top Adult Male R&B Artist (2009, 2020) and is currently Billboard’s Top Adult R&B Male Artist with the most #1s of all time.

This past December 8th, Wilson released his new single, “Superman,” with a coinciding world premiere on iHeartRadio. This record is personal for him, as it reflects his love for his wife and the turning point that changed his entire life. As lead singer and founding member of The Gap Band, Wilson found fame and success, but it would soon run out and leave him as a homeless addict struggling to survive on the streets of Hollywood Boulevard.

However, fate intervened, and he found himself attending a rehabilitation center, where he met his wife, a counselor at the facility. When he was at his lowest, the love and support of his future wife transformed him into Superman, allowing him to fight his demons, get clean and sober, and return to his career faster than a speeding bullet. Wilson has been married and sober for 29 years. On the day of his ceremony, January 29th, Wilson will celebrate his 71st birthday, and will receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame right on the very streets where he was once homeless.

He has collaborated with chart-topping artists such as Bruno Mars, Snoop Dogg, Pharrell, Justin Timberlake, Tyler The Creator, Don Toliver and Nas, among others. Wilson’s continued success is a testament to his artistry, resilience, and unwavering faith, truly establishing himself as a real-life Superman.

Wilson’s showmanship remains unmatched. He is an artist who continues to tour the world with his captivating live performances and has previously sold out two of his own headlining arena tours – Forever Charlie (2015- Billboard’s Top Winter Tour), In It To Win It (2017) – and toured with Bruno Mars on Bruno’s 24K Magic tour.

Wilson was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2008 and through early detection and treatment has been cancer free for 16 years. Upon his diagnosis he joined forces with the Prostate Cancer Foundation to raise awareness and encourage Black men to undergo testing for this serious disease, persistently advocating for early detection. “We don’t have to die from this disease” Wilson proclaimed. He has also actively participated and performed in Stand Up 2 Cancer’s telethons aimed at both raising funds for cancer research and bringing hope to many affected by this life-changing disease.

19 Jan 2024
Recent ceremony, Recording Permalink

George Clinton

January 19, 2024
georgeclinton

WHO | HONOREE  George Clinton                    

EMCEE  On-Air Host, Sports and Entertainment Sibley Scoles

GUEST SPEAKERS  Anthony Kiedis of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Ben Crump, world renowned civil rights attorney & Janie Bradford, American songwriter.

WHAT  Dedication of the 2,769th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

WHEN  Friday, January 19, at 11:30 AM PT

WHERE  6752 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, CA 90028, in front of the Musicians Institute

WATCH LIVE  The event was streamed live exclusively at www.walkoffame.com 

 

Performer George Clinton was honored with the 2,769th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Friday, January 19th at 11:30 am PT at 6752 Hollywood Boulevard. Clinton received his star in the category of Recording.  Joining emcee Sibley Scoles as speakers were Anthony Kiedis of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Ben Crump, and Janie Bradford.

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce administers the legendary Hollywood Walk of Fame for the City of Los Angeles and has proudly hosted the globally iconic star ceremonies for decades. Millions of people from here and around the world have visited this cultural landmark since 1960.

 

ABOUT OUR HONOREE

“George Clinton is a highly influential song writer, record producer, and performer known for his contributions to Funk music.  He has been instrumental in shaping the sound of Funk and pushing musical boundaries. His distinctive style, flamboyant persona, and psychedelic stage presence have made him a beloved figure and a pioneer of the genre,” stated Ana Martinez, Producer of the Hollywood Walk of Fame. “We are thrilled that he’s going to be bringing the Funk to the Hollywood Walk of Fame!” added Martinez.

George Clinton is an American treasure. As one of the foremost innovators of Funk, Clinton is the mastermind behind the legendary Parliament/Funkadelic (P-Funk), creating a uniquely identifiable and timeless art that has lifted Funk to an internationally recognized and respected form of music. His ingenuity has earned Clinton and Parliament/Funkadelic a prominent seat in music history. Clinton was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1997 and received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019.

Clinton started his career with The Parliaments, a barbershop doo-wop ensemble, which scored a major hit in 1967 with “(I Wanna) Testify.” Clinton developed a sound that merged the polish of Motown acts, the rawness of James Brown, the bohemian style of Sly Stone, and the pop sensibility of the Beatles. He has forever set himself apart from the Motown era. By the early ’70s, the group’s songs evolved into sprawling jams drenched in funky rhythms. Around the same time, Clinton spawned Funkadelic, a rock group that fused acid-rock guitar, bizarre sound effects, and cosmological rants with danceable beats and booming bass lines. Funkadelic had several influential concept albums, including Free Your Mind… and Your Ass Will Follow, Maggot Brain and America Eats Its Young. Rolling Stone and Spin recently named Parliament/Funkadelic as one of the top bands of all time.

Some of Clinton’s most popular songs include: “P-Funk (Wants to get Funked Up),” “Mothership Connection (Star Child),” the group’s first gold single “Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof Off the Sucker),” “Flash Light,” “One Nation Under a Groove,” “(Not Just) Knee Deep,” and “Aqua Boogie,” eventually culminating with the 1982 solo release of “Atomic Dog,” which has been featured in numerous movies including 102 Dalmatians, Trolls World Tour, Menace II Society and more. It has been sampled countless times, most notably by Snoop Dogg on his smash-hit “Snoop Dogg (What’s My Name Pt. 2).” These releases became instant dance floor anthems and sparked Funk’s biggest movement to date. The live performances were equally otherworldly, as Clinton would emerge from a giant spaceship, “The Mothership,” at center stage as “Dr. Funkenstein” to transport listeners into a different dimension.

Indeed, Clinton’s P-Funk, with its infectious groove and irresistible beats, became a go-to source for countless early Rap recordings. As Clinton has said, “Funk is the DNA of Hip-Hop and Rap.” Being one of the most sampled artists, Clinton has become recognized as the godfather of modern urban music. Beats, loops, and samples of P-Funk have appeared on albums by 2Pac, OutKast, Dr. Dre, Busta Rhymes, Missy Elliott, De La Soul, Ice Cube, Public Enemy, and Childish Gambino to name but a few. Clinton has collaborated with Kendrick Lamar on the influential rapper’s Grammy-winning album To Pimp a Butterfly and just appeared on Travis Scott’s latest track “HYAENA” from his critically acclaimed album UTOPIA.

Through it all, Clinton and Parliament/Funkadelic have maintained a rigorous touring schedule that would test artists 50 years his junior. Considered by many to be one of the original jam bands, Parliament/Funkadelic’s hours-long performances attract many of the same fans that populate concerts by the Grateful Dead, Phish, and the Dave Matthews Band.

Approaching his 83rd birthday this summer, Clinton is as busy as ever. In addition to touring, he is working on three recording projects that feature collaborations with a “who’s who” of top artists from the last four decades.

Recently, Clinton has ventured into a prosperous career as a fine artist. His body of work reflects the same adventurous and diverse spirit found in his music, gaining prominence through a solo exhibition at the Jeffrey Deitch gallery titled The Rhythm of Vision. Additionally, he received acclaim at Art Basel in Miami.

08 Jan 2024
Motion Pictures, Recent ceremony Permalink

Willem Dafoe

January 8, 2024
willemdafoe

WHO | HONOREE  Willem Dafoe

EMCEE  Walk of Famer and iHeart Media personality Ellen K

GUEST SPEAKERS  Patricia Arquette and Pedro Pascal

WHAT  Dedication of the 2,768th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

WHEN  Monday, January 8, 2024 at 11:30 AM PT

WHERE  6284 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, CA 90028

WATCH LIVE  The event was streamed live exclusively at walkoffame.com

Actor Willem Dafoe was honored with the 2,768th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Monday, January 8, at 11:30 a.m. PT at 6284 Hollywood Boulevard. Dafoe received his star in the category of Motion Pictures. Joining emcee Ellen K as speakers was actor/director Patricia Arquette and actor Pedro Pascal.

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce administers the legendary Hollywood Walk of Fame for the City of Los Angeles and has proudly hosted the globally iconic star ceremonies for decades. Millions of people from here and around the world have visited this cultural landmark since 1960.

 

ABOUT OUR HONOREE

“Willem Dafoe is an immensely talented and versatile actor who has become a prominent figure in the film industry. He has captivated audiences with his remarkable performances, often portraying characters with a unique intensity and complexity,” stated Ana Martinez, Producer of the Hollywood Walk of Fame. “The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce is proud to honor Willem with the first Walk of Fame star of 2024!” added Martinez.

Having made well over one hundred films in his legendary career, Willem Dafoe is internationally respected for bringing versatility, boldness, and daring to some of the most iconic films of our time. His artistic curiosity in exploring the human condition leads him to projects all over the world, large and small, Hollywood films as well as Independent cinema.

In 1979, he was given a role in Michael’s Cimino’s Heaven’s Gate, from which he was fired.

Since then, Dafoe has collaborated with directors who represent a virtual encyclopedia of modern cinema:  Hector Babenco, Kathryn Bigelow, Kenneth Branagh, Anton Corbijn, David Cronenberg, Werner Herzog,Spike Lee, David Lynch, Anthony Minghella, Dee Rees, Paul Schrader, Martin Scorsese, Guillermo del Toro, Lars von Trier, Wim Wenders and Zhang Yimou.

He has been recognized with four Academy Award nominations: three for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Oliver Stone’s Platoon, E. Elias Merhige’s Shadow Of The Vampire (for which he also received Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild nominations), and Sean Baker’s The Florida Project (also Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild nominations), as well as Best Leading Actor for Julian Schnabel’s At Eternity’s Gate (also a Golden Globe nomination).  He has been awarded by the New York Film Critics Circle and the National Board of Review, as well as twice by the Los Angeles Film Critics Association.  Additionally, he is the recipient of two Independent Spirit Awards, the Venice Film Festival Volpi Cup, and a Berlinale Honorary Golden Bear for Lifetime Achievement.

Dafoe and his wife, director Giada Colagrande, have worked on four films together: Padre, A Woman, Before It Had A Name, and the documentary Bob Wilson’s Life And Death Of Marina Abramovic.

His films include:  The Lighthouse,  John Wick,  Finding Nemo, The Boondock Saints, Togo, Spider-Man: No Way Home, Poor Things, The Legend of Ochi, Pet Shop Days, Gonzo Girl, Nosferatu, and coming soon Beetlejuice 2.  Most recently, he was seen in Vasilis Katsoupis’ Inside and Asteroid City, his fifth collaboration with Wes Anderson. Dafoe can be currently seen in Poor Things, in theatres now.

Dafoe is one of the founding members of The Wooster Group, the New York-based experimental theatre collective. He created and performed in all of the group’s work from 1977 to 2005, both in the U.S. and internationally.  Since then, he worked with Richard Foreman in Idiot Savant at NYC’s Public Theatre, with Robert Wilson on two international productions: The Life & Death of Marina Abramovic and The Old Woman (opposite Mikhail Baryshnikov), Marina Abramovic’s opera 7 Deaths of Maria Callas, and developed a new theatre piece, directed by Romeo Castellucci, based on Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Minister’s Black Veil.

11 Dec 2023
Motion Pictures, Recent ceremony Permalink

Zac Efron

December 11, 2023
zacefron

WHO | HONOREE Zac Efron                      

EMCEE Marc Malkin, Variety/Senior Editor, Culture & Events

GUEST SPEAKERS Jeremy Allen White, Sean Durkin, Miles Teller

WHAT Dedication of the 2,767th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

WHEN Monday, December 11, 2023, at 11:30 AM PT

WHERE 6426 Hollywood Boulevard

WATCH LIVE  The event was streamed live exclusively at walkoffame.com 

Actor Zac Efron was honored on Monday, December 11, at 11:30 a.m. with the 2,767th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The star was unveiled at 6426 Hollywood Boulevard.   Efron was honored with his star in the category of Motion Pictures.

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce administers the legendary Hollywood Walk of Fame for the City of Los Angeles and has proudly hosted the globally iconic star ceremonies for decades. Millions of people from here and around the world have visited this cultural landmark since 1960.

ABOUT OUR HONOREE     

“We are thrilled to honor actor Zac Efron who began his career as a Disney alum and has reinvented himself as a leading man by playing a wide variety of great roles” stated Ana Martinez, Producer of the Hollywood Walk of Fame. “What a way to end our year of star ceremonies with this very popular and gifted actor!” added Martinez.

Nurturing an impressive body of work that encompasses both film and television, Zac Efron is one of Hollywood’s most sought-after talents.

Efron was born in San Luis Obispo and began his career at the Pacific Coast Performing Arts Center and became a household name with the launch of the 2006 Emmy Award-winning Disney Channel phenomenon High School Musical. He reprised his role in High School Musical 2, which broke cable TV records garnering 17.5 million viewers.  He subsequently starred in the Disney Feature Film High School Musical 3:  Senior Year, the third installment of the extremely successful High School Musical franchise.  HSM3 set a box office record as the highest-grossing opening weekend total for a musical.

Efron will next be seen starring in Sean Durkin’s upcoming film, The Iron Claw, which is set to release on December 22, 2023. The Iron Claw is a chronicle of an American family, an intimate and epic portrait of the Von Erichs, a dynasty of wrestlers who made a huge impact on the sport in the 1960s but were plagued by misfortune and loss. The film co-stars Jeremy Allen White and Harris Dickinson.  Efron has received incredible reviews to date for his transformative performance as Kevin Von Erich, the one family member who, through tragedy and triumph, and under the shadow of his domineering father and coach, perseveres in search of love and life outside of the biggest stage in sports.

Efron recently wrapped production on A Family Affair opposite Nicole Kidman and Joey King, a romantic comedy focused on a surprising romance that results in comic consequences for a young woman, her mother and her movie star boss as they face the complications of love, sex and identity.  The film will premiere on Netflix in 2024.

Zac also reunites with filmmaker Peter Farrelly in 2024 for the fantasy feature film, Ricky Stanicky, a hilarious comedy that follows three teens who create a fake person named Ricky Stanicky to take the blame for a prank gone wrong.

In 2021, Efron produced and hosted the beloved Netflix series, Down to Earth with Zac Efron.  Zac was awarded the 2021 Daytime Emmy® Award for Outstanding Daytime Program Host for the first season and has been nominated in the same category for the second season. The show received a nomination for Travel, Adventure and Nature Program for the second season as well.  In Down to Earth, Efron journeys around the world with wellness expert Darin Olien in search of healthy, sustainable ways to live. In 2022, Zac returned for a second season of the award-winning Netflix series, Down to Earth with Zac Efron: Down Under.

Last year Zac starred opposite Russell Crowe in Apple TV+’s original film, The Greatest Beer Run Ever. Directed by Peter Farrelly, The Greatest Beer Run Ever followed the real-life story of Chickie Donohue (Efron) as he leaves New York in 1967 to bring beer to his childhood buddies in the Army while they are fighting in Vietnam.  Additional film credits include Firestarter;  the crime-thriller Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile, in which he plays the notorious serial killer, Ted Bundy; The Greatest Showman, alongside Hugh Jackman, Zendaya, and Michelle Williams; Gold; Scoob!; The Beach Bum; Baywatch; The Disaster Artist; Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates; Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising; Dirty Grandpa; We Are Your Friends; That Awkward Moment; the historical drama Parkland; At Any Price; The Paperboy,; Liberal Arts; The Lucky One; Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax; New Year’s Eve; Charlie St. Cloud 17 Again; Me and Orson Welles, and the box office smash summer film Hairspray, which won the Critics’ Choice award for Best Ensemble.

Television credits include the animated series, Human Discoveries, on Facebook Watch; a recurring role on the WB series Summerland, guest starring roles on The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, ER, The Guardian and C.S.I. Miami.

Efron has received a wide array of accolades throughout his career including CinemaCon’s Comedy Star of the Year (2016), ShoWest’s Breakthrough Performer of the Year award, the MTV Movie Award for Breakthrough Performance (2008) and Best Male Performance (2009), in addition to multiple People’s Choice, Teen Choice and Kids Choice Awards.

Efron supports the charities Cool Earth and NRDC.

Photo: Brian Bowen Smith

 

04 Dec 2023
Recent ceremony, Recording Permalink
DariusRucker

Darius Rucker

December 4, 2023

DariusRuckerWHO | HONOREE Darius Rucker

EMCEE Access Hollywood and Access Daily with Mario + Kit Co-host Kit Hoover

GUEST SPEAKERS TBA

WHAT Dedication of the 2,766th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

WHEN Monday, December 4, at 11:30 AM PT

WHERE 7065 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, CA 90028

WATCH LIVE The event was live-streamed exclusively at walkoffame.com

 

Award-winning performer Darius Rucker was honored with the 2,766th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Monday, December 4, at 11:30 a.m. PT at 7065 Hollywood Boulevard. Rucker received his star in the category of Recording.

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce administers the legendary Hollywood Walk of Fame for the City of Los Angeles and has proudly hosted the globally iconic star ceremonies for decades. Millions of people from here and around the world have visited this cultural landmark since 1960.

 

ABOUT OUR HONOREE

“The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce is thrilled to honor the very talented Darius Rucker,” stated Ana Martinez, Producer of the Hollywood Walk of Fame. “I think he will be happy to know that his mentor and friend Charley Pride’s star is a few feet away from his star” added Martinez.

Darius Rucker first achieved multi-Platinum status in the music industry as lead singer and rhythm guitarist of the GRAMMY Award-winning band Hootie & the Blowfish, who has sold more than 25 million albums worldwide including their Double Diamond-certified (21x Platinum) debut Cracked Rear View, which remains among the top 10 best-selling studio albums of all time. Since releasing his first Country album in 2008, Rucker has earned a whole new legion of fans with four number #1 albums on the Billboard Country chart, including RIAA Platinum-certified Learn to Live and True Believers, plus 10 No. 1 singles at Country Radio and 11 Gold, Platinum or multi-Platinum certified hits.

Rucker was inducted as a Grand Ole Opry member in 2012 and in 2014 he won his third career GRAMMY Award for Best Solo Country Performance with his Diamond-certified (11x Platinum) version of “Wagon Wheel,” one of the top five best-selling Country songs of all time. He topped the charts at Country radio once again with “Beers And Sunshine” in 2021 and his latest single “Fires Don’t Start Themselves” off his brand-new album Carolyn’s Boy , now available everywhere. The project features recent-release “Have A Good Time,” his cover of Rihanna’s “Lift Me Up” from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, plus co-written songs with Ed Sheeran, HARDY and more.

Hootie & the Blowfish will return to the road in 2024, as the foursome sets out on the Summer Camp with Trucks Tour produced by Live Nation featuring special guests Collective Soul and Edwin McCain, scheduled to tour May 30th through September 28th.

The group comprised of Rucker, Mark Bryan, Dean Felber, and Jim “Soni” Sonefeld, who formed the band during their time as students together at the University of South Carolina, will visit 43 cities across the U.S. and Canada. This marks the first full tour since 2019 for the band, whose chart-topping GRAMMY-award winning career has featured more than 25 million albums sold, including their 2x Diamond-certified debut album Cracked Rear View – which remains among the top 10 best-selling albums in all of music history – plus 17 Billboard-charting songs to date.

As a lifelong philanthropist, Rucker co-chaired the capital campaign that generated $150 million to help build the new MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital in his hometown of Charleston, South Carolina and has raised over $3.6 million for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital through his annual Darius & Friends benefit concert and golf tournament. In addition, Rucker has advocated for over 200 charitable causes supporting public education and junior golf programs in South Carolina through the Hootie & the Blowfish Foundation and serves as a National Chair for the National Museum of African American Music in Nashville, Tennessee.

Rucker is also an avid sports fan, with his Darius Rucker Collection by Fanatics apparel line available at Fanatics.com, a part of the Music City Baseball investment group working to bring an MLB team to Tennessee, and serves as a partner at the MGC Sports & Entertainment agency.

For more information, visit www.dariusrucker.com and follow on social media @DariusRucker.

 

01 Dec 2023
Motion Pictures, Recent ceremony Permalink
MackCulkin

Macaulay Culkin

December 1, 2023

MackCulkinWHO | HONOREE Macaulay Culkin

EMCEE Steve Nissen, President and CEO Hollywood Chamber of Commerce

GUEST SPEAKERS Catherine O’Hara and Natasha Lyonne

WHAT Dedication of the 2,765th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

WHEN Friday, December 1, at 11:30 AM PT

WHERE 6353 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, CA 90028

WATCH LIVE The event was streamed live exclusively at walkoffame.com

 

Actor Macaulay Culkin was honored with the 2,765th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Friday, December 1 at 11:30 a.m. PT at 6353 Hollywood Boulevard. Culkin received his star in the category of Motion Pictures. Joining emcee, Steve Nissen as speakers were actresses Catherine O’Hara and Natasha Lyonne.

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce administers the legendary Hollywood Walk of Fame for the City of Los Angeles and has proudly hosted the globally iconic star ceremonies for decades. Millions of people from here and around the world have visited this cultural landmark since 1960.

 

ABOUT OUR HONOREE

“Macaulay Culkin has been a staple in pop culture for decades,” stated Ana Martinez, Producer of the Hollywood Walk of Fame. “He has an extensive trajectory of work but his movie, “Home Alone” is one of the most beloved holiday movies known the world over. How fitting that Catherine O’Hara who played Macaulay’s mother in the film is reuniting with her movie son and will be speaking at the ceremony!” added Martinez.

Macaulay Culkin began his stage career at the age of four and made the first of several small film appearances in Rocket Gibraltar, playing the grandson of Burt Lancaster. It was in the John Hughes film Uncle Buck, in which he played the inquisitive nephew of John Candy that Culkin first began to attract attention.

Culkin then shot to international stardom with his lead role in Hughes’ film Home Alone, in which he played Kevin McCallister, a resourceful child who is accidentally left behind when his family goes on vacation. Culkin received a Golden Globe nomination for his performance, and Home Alone II: Lost in New York, was also a worldwide success.

Culkin appeared on stage to critical acclaim in Madame Melville and portrayed the ill-fated Michael Alig in the motion picture cult classic Party Monster. His film credits include Jacobs Ladder, My Girl, The Good Son, Richie Rich and Saved! Culkin filmed the independent Changeland on location in Thailand for director-writer Seth Green. His television credits include roles on Kings, The Jim Gaffigan Show and Robot Chicken. Culkin also founded the new media empire Bunny Ears which included a Podcast website, live events as well as social and merchandising components.

He most recently appeared in American Horror Story: Installment 10 for FX and in The Righteous Gemstones for HBO Max.

Culkin continues to make giving back his priority by supporting charities such as the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and Stand Up To Cancer.

 

24 Oct 2023
Recent ceremony, Recording Permalink

Gwen Stefani

October 24, 2023

WHO | HONOREE Gwen Stefani                 

EMCEE Walk of Famer and iHeart Media personality Ellen K

GUEST SPEAKERS  Jimmy Iovine, Irving Azoff, and Blake Shelton

WHAT Dedication of the 2,764th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

WHEN Thursday, October 19, 2023, at 11:30 AM PT

WHERE  6212 Hollywood Boulevard adjacent to Amoeba Music

WATCH LIVE The event will be streamed live exclusively at walkoffame.com 

 

Multi-platinum recording artist, fashion icon, and ‘The Voice’ coach, Gwen Stefani was honored on Thursday, October 19, at 11:30 a.m. with the 2,764th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The star was unveiled at 6212 Hollywood Boulevard next to Amoeba Music. Stefani was honored with her star in the category of Recording. There was a street closure between Argyle and El Centro beginning at 10 a.m.

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce administers the legendary Hollywood Walk of Fame for the City of Los Angeles and has proudly hosted the globally iconic star ceremonies for decades. Millions of people from here and around the world have visited this cultural landmark since 1960.

ABOUT OUR HONOREE

“Gwen Stefani is the pride and joy of California!” stated Ana Martinez, Producer of the Hollywood Walk of Fame. “Not only is she an acclaimed singer/songwriter and performer, Gwen is also a talented fashion designer and cosmetics mogul. The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce is ready to welcome not just a girl but a mega talent to the Hollywood Walk of Fame!” added Martinez.

As guest speakers, record label founder and entrepreneur Jimmy Iovine, CEO of the Azoff Company and manager Irving Azoff and country superstar and husband Blake Shelton joined emcee Ellen K for the star unveiling.

A three-time GRAMMY® Award winner, Interscope Records recording artist Gwen Stefani has achieved global success as a singer/songwriter, performer, charismatic frontwoman of No Doubt, and as a multi-platinum solo artist.  Currently, Stefani can be seen as a coach on NBC and Warner Bros. Unscripted Television’s Emmy®-winning series “The Voice.”

Stefani is a trend-setting music and fashion icon with an impressive array of honors: four MTV Video Music Awards, two Billboard Awards, an American Music Award, and a Brit Award.  To date, she’s sold more than 60 million units worldwide, and over ten billion streams, including her debut solo album Love. Angel. Music. Baby.  The four-times platinum album delivered the hit singles “Rich Girl,” “What You Waiting For?” and the No. 1 hit “Hollaback Girl.”

Her sophomore album, The Sweet Escape, featured the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 single “Wind It Up” and the unforgettable anthem “The Sweet Escape.”  Her critically praised latest album, This Is What the Truth Feels Like, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200 album chart and includes her powerful No. 1 single “Used to Love You.”

In 2020, Stefani had two No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart with husband Blake Shelton, “Nobody But You” and “Happy Anywhere.”   Stefani released the new song “True Babe” in June ahead of a series of major festival performances in for the U.K. and Europe this summer.

Before the music there was makeup. Stefani’s passion for makeup was integral in the launch of her beauty brand GXVE in early 2022. The clean, high-performance cosmetics collection is inspired by Stefani’s iconic looks and created for the community of makeup lovers who find their inspiration, individuality and self-expression through artistry.

One of pop culture’s most magnetic style icons, Stefani is one of the first artists to brilliantly merge music stardom into a series of global lifestyle brands including her fashion-forward clothing line, L.A.M.B., sister label Harajuku Lovers and her eyewear line gx by Gwen Stefani.

Stefani continues to make giving back a focus in her life supporting several charities and foundations.

 

18 Sep 2023
Motion Pictures, Recent ceremony Permalink
John Waters

John Waters

September 18, 2023

John WatersWHO | HONOREE John Waters                       

EMCEE Hollywood Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Steve Nissen

GUEST SPEAKERS Ricki Lake, Mink Stole, and Greg Gorman

WHAT Dedication of the 2,763rd star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

WHEN Monday, September 18, 2023, at 11:30 AM PT

WHERE 6644 Hollywood Boulevard in front of Larry Edmunds Shop

WATCH LIVE The event was streamed live exclusively at walkoffame.com 

Director John Waters was honored today with the 2,763rd star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on at 6644 Hollywood Boulevard, in front of his favorite store, Larry Edmunds Bookshop. Waters received his star in the category of Motion Pictures.

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce administers the legendary Hollywood Walk of Fame for the City of Los Angeles and has proudly hosted the globally iconic star ceremonies for decades. Millions of people from here and around the world have visited this cultural landmark since 1960.

 

ABOUT OUR HONOREE

“John Waters has been a huge part of pop culture for many years,” stated Ana Martinez, Producer of the Hollywood Walk of Fame. “He has created and directed some of our historic and favorite film moments and the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce is thrilled to welcome him to our landmark location for this well-deserved and permanent tribute,” added Martinez.

Joining emcee Steve Nissen for the star unveiling as guest speakers were Ricki Lake, Mink Stole and Greg Gorman.

Born in Baltimore, Maryland, John Waters was drawn to movies at an early age.  He subscribed to Variety at the age of twelve, absorbing the magazine’s factual information and its lexicon of insider lingo.  This early education would prove useful as the future director began his career giving puppet shows for children’s birthday parties.  As a teenager, Waters began making 8-mm underground movies influenced by the likes of Jean-Luc Godard, Walt Disney, Andy Warhol, Russ Meyer, Ingmar Bergman, and Herschell Gordon Lewis.

Using Baltimore, which he fondly dubbed the “Hairdo Capitol of the World,” as the setting for all his films, Waters assembled a cast of ensemble players, mostly native Baltimoreans, and friends of long standing:  Divine, David Lochary, Mary Vivian Pearce, Mink Stole and Edith Massey.  And the rest is history!

John Waters has directed sixteen movies including Pink Flamingos, Female Trouble, Polyester, Hairspray, Cry Baby, Serial Mom and A Dirty Shame. Both Pink Flamingos and Hairspray have been added to the U.S. Library of Congress’ National Film Registry.

He is the author of ten books: Shock Value, Crackpot, Pink Flamingos and Other Trash, Hairspray, Female Trouble and Multiple Maniacs, Art: A Sex Book (co-written with Bruce Hainley), Role Models, Carsick, Make Trouble, Mr. Know-It-All, and in May, 2022 his first novel, Liarmouth: A Feel Bad Romance. In 2022 Liarmouth was optioned by Village Roadshow Pictures for John to possibly direct the movie version.

Two music compilation CDs have been released by New Line Records, “A John Waters Christmas” (2004) followed up by “A Date with John Waters” (2007). In 2017 Third Man Records released a 7” EP of Waters reading “Make Trouble” and in 2021 Sub Pop Records distributed his “Prayer to Pasolini” as part of its Singles Club. John’s audiobooks “Carsick” and “Mr. Know-It-All” were both nominated for Grammy Awards in the Best-Spoken Word Album category. Sub Pop Records released the 7” single, “It’s in the Book”, in 2022, Waters’ cover of a 1952 hit comedy recording by Johnny Standley.

In September 2014 Film Society of Lincoln Center honored John Waters’ filmmaking with a 10- day celebration entitled “Fifty Years of John Waters: How Much Can You Take?” featuring a complete retrospective of his work. The next year the British Film Institute also honored John’s contribution to cinema with their own program called “The Complete Films of John Waters…Every Goddam One of Them”. In 2015, Waters was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) and the same by the Maryland Institute College of Arts (MICA) in May 2016, as well as two by School of Visual Arts (SVA), in 2020 and 2022. The French Minister of Culture bestowed the rank of Officer in the Order of Arts and Letters to Mr. Waters in 2015. In February 2017 John Waters was honored with the Writers Guild of America East’s Ian McLellan Hunter Award for his body of work as a writer in motion pictures.

Outfest, who is honored to have nominated Waters for his star on the Boulevard, has had a long history with John’s creative work.  He was honored in 2012 with the 16th Outfest Achievement Award joining an exclusive group of notable recipients. The award was presented by Ricki Lake at the 30th anniversary opening night of Outfest Los Ángeles in 2012 just before the premiere of Jeffrey Schwartz’s, ‘Vito’.

The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures presents John Waters: Pope of Trash, the first comprehensive exhibition dedicated to the filmmaker’s contributions to cinema, on view September 17, 2023 – August 4, 2024. The exhibition features more than 400 works that journey through Waters’s complete filmography, from his do-it-yourself independent beginnings to his rebellious Hollywood productions, including four shorts and twelve feature films. John Waters: Pope of Trash is accompanied by a retrospective film screening series, a fully illustrated catalog co-published by the Academy Museum and DelMonico Books, and is curated by Exhibitions Curator Jenny He and Associate Curator Dara Jaffe.

Waters was one of the faces of a Nike campaign in 2019 and the Saint Laurent fall/winter 2020 menswear campaign in 2020, and was featured with Mink Stole in the 2022 Calvin Klein Pride campaign.    

 

 

PHOTO CREDIT: GREG GORMAN