Hollywood Walk of Fame

The Walk of Fame spans on Hollywood Boulevard between Gower Street and La Brea Avenue, and on Vine Street between Yucca Street and Sunset Boulevard. An additional short segment runs diagonally between Hollywood and La Brea on Marshfield Way. 's Walk of Fame star|A star in the motion pictures category , the Walk consists of 2,840 stars, all but one of which are placed in the ground, the vast majority in the sidewalk at intervals. The stars are five-point, coral-pink terrazzo rimmed with brass and inlaid into a charcoal-colored terrazzo background. The honoree's name is inlaid in brass block letters in the upper portion of each star, and below the name, a round inlaid brass emblem indicates the category of the honoree's contributions. Stars face east or west on Hollywood Boulevard and north or south on Vine Street so that pedestrians walking either direction will have stars facing them. The Walk also contains hundreds of blank stars, each serving as a placeholder for a future honoree. Categorization The Walk of Fame honors entertainment industry contributions in six categories and every nominee must fit into one of them. The categories are not represented equally. , 44% of all stars were in the motion pictures category, 25% in television, 19% in audio recording or music, 9% in radio, fewer than 3% in theater/live performance, and fewer than 1% in sports entertainment and the "special category" combined. Each star represents one category; therefore if an individual has been honored in more than one category, that person will have more than one star. the Los Angeles Police Department, whose emblem shows a Hollywood Division badge; KTLA, whose emblem shows a satellite dish, Some stars, such as those for Victoria's Secret, Los Angeles Dodgers, Screen Actors Guild, and Recording Academy display the honored organization's logo. "Friends of the Walk of Fame" monuments are also part of the Walk. These monuments honor Walk of Fame sponsors and consist of charcoal terrazzo squares rimmed by miniature pink terrazzo stars that display all category emblems except Sports Entertainment, as no "Friends of the Walk of Fame" monuments have been unveiled since Sports Entertainment was added. In addition to the emblems, these monuments also contain the sponsor's name, logo, and contribution in inlaid brass block lettering. Unlike the rest of the Walk, the Apollo 11 entries are not stars; they are round. These monuments also contain text beyond the honorees' names, specifically they contain the date of the moon landing and "Apollo XI". The Walk contains four of these monuments, one on each corner of Hollywood and Vine. Star locations | alt=Pedestrians looking at two rows of alternating stars in the charcoal sidewalk on the north side of Hollywood Boulevard The blocks outside Grauman's Chinese Theatre and Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel are considered the prime locations for stars. Stars of particularly well-known celebrities are often placed in front of the Chinese, Oscar winners' stars near Dolby Theatre, Family members and co-stars are usually placed near each other. Some stars are located outside businesses related to the individual the star honors. Examples include Ray Bradbury and John Waters, whose stars were placed outside Larry Edmunds Bookshop, which they frequented; Tim Burton, whose star was placed outside Hollywood Toys & Costumes, a business he credits as one of his childhood inspirations; and Alfred Hitchcock, whose star was placed outside Fox Hollywood, a theater that was showing his film Psycho at the time of the unveiling. Locations are occasionally chosen for ironic or humorous reasons: Mike Myers's star was placed outside an adult store called the International Love Boutique, an association with his Austin Powers roles; Roger Moore's and Daniel Craig's are located at 7007 Hollywood Boulevard in recognition of their roles in James Bond 007 films; Ed O'Neill's was placed outside a shoe store in reference to his character's occupation on Married ... with Children; Steve Guttenberg's was placed outside the Police Activities League in reference to his role in the Police Academy franchise; Honorees may request a location for their star, although the final decision is made by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. George Carlin requested his star be placed in front of the KDAY radio station, where he first gained national recognition. Lin-Manuel Miranda requested a site in front of the Pantages Theatre, where his musicals In The Heights and Hamilton had played. Michael Jackson refused to attend his star's unveiling unless it was located outside Grauman's Chinese; the Chamber acquiesced to his demand. Carol Burnett explained her choice in her memoir: while working as an usherette at Warner Brothers Theatre, she advised a couple arriving during the final few minutes of a showing to wait for the next showing, to avoid seeing and spoiling the ending. The theater manager fired her on the spot for "insubordination" and humiliated her by stripping the epaulets from her uniform. Twenty-six years later, at her request, Burnett's star was placed in front of the theater. Other elements In addition to stars, the Walk consists of several other elements. Hollywood and La Brea Gateway, also known as Four Ladies of Hollywood, is a gazebo sculpture meant to pay tribute to the multi-ethnic women of the entertainment industry. This structure consists of a square stainless steel Art Deco-style open-roof gazebo, the corners of which feature life-size caryatids of Dorothy Dandridge, Anna May Wong, Dolores del Río, and Mae West, each standing on a square base and wearing a glamourous gown. The gazebo's roof is rounded and supports a circular dome, the dome topped by a central spire with descending neon block letters spelling "Hollywood" on each side. Atop the spire is a small gilded weather vane-style sculpture of Marilyn Monroe in her billowing skirt pose from The Seven Year Itch. The gazebo, designed by Catherine Hardwicke, was installed at the Walk's western end in 1993 and dedicated on February 1, 1994. and also "depressingly awful". Hardwicke contends that critics missed the humor and symbolism of the piece. The Hollywood Walk of Fame Mural is a mixed-media mural made to celebrate the Walk's 60th anniversary and the Chamber's 100th. The mural is meant to tell "a comprehensive story of the history of Walk of Fame from its creation to its persistence..." and also "captur[e] the ages, the diversity and the beauty of the Walk of Fame and its recipients..." It was created by Ian Robertson-Salt, curated by Art Share LA, and unveiled on June 11, 2021. Another Walk of Fame element is its time capsule. This capsule, which commemorates the Walk's 50th anniversary, was buried below a specially-designed star near Hollywood and Highland in 2010. The capsule contains more than fifty items, including a signed picture of Joanne Woodward, a piece of Elvis Presley's star, a replica of the Capitol Records building, Emmy award memorabilia, an assortment of DVDs, the script for Casablanca, playbills from The Pantages, news articles about the Walk of Fame, a note from Bob Barker, and more. It is scheduled to be opened in 2060. 's live performance star with a plaque honoring him as Hollywood's Citizen of the Century Some stars are accompanied by plaques about the star or its recipient. For example, a plaque below Bob Hope's live performance star honors him as Hollywood's Citizen of the Century, a designation he was given when the star was re-dedicated for his 100th birthday; a plaque below Gene Autry's live performance star, his fifth star awarded, notes that he is the only individual honored in all (at the time) five categories; and a plaque below Jennifer Lopez's star recognizes it as the 2,500th star unveiled. Additionally, all stars unveiled in 2010 have a 50th anniversary plaque below them. ==Administration==

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce administers the Walk of Fame, which is maintained by the self-financing Hollywood Historic Trust. The Chamber collects fees ($85,000 ) from each new honoree's sponsor, half of which is used to create and install the new honoree's star, while the other half is used for maintenance of the entire Walk. The Chamber also hosts induction ceremonies and owns the Walk's licensing rights, the latter of which they've upheld through cease and desist orders and lawsuits. Nominations In 1962, the City of Los Angeles specified the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce as the organization to advise the City regarding new entries to the Walk, and the Chamber has overseen the nomination and selection process ever since. They do so through the self-created five-member Walk of Fame Selection Committee, which receives between 200 and 300 nominations per year. Anyone, including fans, can nominate anyone in the field of entertainment as long as the nominee or their management approve and an application fee ($275 ) is paid. Nominees must have a history of "charitable contributions" and a minimum of five years' experience in the category for which they are nominated. Posthumous nominees must have been deceased for at least two years. Traditionally, members of the Selection Committee other than chairman are not made public. However, in 1999, in response to intensifying charges of secrecy in the selection process, the Chamber disclosed its committee members. They were: Johnny Grant, committee chair; Earl Lestz, president of Paramount Studio Group; Stan Spero, retired manager at KMPC and KABC; Kate Nelson, owner of Palace Theatre; and Mary Lou Dudas, vice president of A&M Records. , the Chamber has only announced that Lestz became chairman after Grant's death, and the Chamber's current position is that "each of the six categories is represented by someone with expertise in that field." While no announcement was made, Pavlik was identified as chairman in the press release announcing 2011's new honorees. By 2016, Maureen Schultz had become chair and in 2023, Ellen K was chair. Rule adjustments 's star in the live performance category, placed vertically in a wall so it cannot be walked upon Rules prohibit nominees whose contributions lie outside the categories the Walk of Fame honors, but the Selection Committee has adjusted interpretations of its rules to justify selections. For example, the Apollo 11 monuments officially recognize the astronauts for "contributions to the television industry", something that committee chairman Johnny Grant acknowledged was "a bit of a stretch". Only one honoree has had their star unveiled after failing to attend the required unveiling: Barbra Streisand. Upkeep According to local law, the city of Los Angeles bears no responsibility for the maintenance of sidewalks, including those of the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Instead, the responsibility lies with property owners, or in the case of the Walk of Fame, a property owners' association. As such, maintenance for the Walk of Fame is paid for by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, funded by half of the fee for each new star. However, these funds aren't used exclusively for cleaning and repairs; for example, they also pay for streetscape holiday lighting. , Hollywood Partnership operates an $8 million budget to clean 80 blocks in Hollywood, including those covered by the Walk of Fame. Star removal Once unveiled, a star cannot be removed. In answer to various requests, the Chamber announced in 2017 that because the Walk is a historical landmark, "once a star has been added ... it is considered a part of the historic fabric" and cannot be removed. The Chamber further clarified this position in 2024, stating that it does not have the authority to remove stars. ==History==

Origin The Walk of Fame was created in response to the significant revenue drops Hollywood was experiencing in the late 1940s and early 1950s, caused by suburbanization and the Paramount Decree. The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce credits E. M. Stuart, its volunteer president in 1953, with the idea for the Walk, Multiple accounts also exist for the origin of the star concept; it may have come from the stars displayed on Hollywood Hotel's dining room ceiling above tables favored by its most famous patrons Either way, the Chamber fleshed the idea out and retained an architectural firm to develop proposals. By 1955, after the basic concept and design had been agreed upon, plans were submitted to City Council. In February 1956, a prototype was unveiled featuring a caricature inside a blue star on a brown background. The final design, including the coral-and-charcoal color scheme, was approved the following month, and over the next year, 1,558 honorees were selected by committees representing four branches of the entertainment industry: motion pictures, television, audio recording, and radio. Members of these committees included Cecil B. DeMille, Samuel Goldwyn, Jesse L. Lasky, Walt Disney, Hal Roach, Mack Sennett, and Walter Lantz. near Hollywood and Vine in the 1960s Construction of the Walk was scheduled to begin in 1958, but two lawsuits delayed it. The first was filed by local property owners challenging the $85 per foot of storefront, $1.25 million in total, tax assessment levied upon them. In October 1959, the assessment was ruled legal. The second was filed by Charles Chaplin Jr., who sought $400,000 in damages for the exclusion of his father, While Joanne Woodward is often singled out as the first person to receive a star—possibly because she was the first to be photographed with one—the original stars were installed as a continuous project, with no individual ceremonies. Woodward's name, however, was one of eight drawn at random and inscribed on prototype stars that were built while litigation was delaying permanent construction. The other seven were Olive Borden, Ronald Colman, Louise Fazenda, Preston Foster, Burt Lancaster, Edward Sedgwick, and Ernest Torrence. The eight prototypes were installed temporarily on the northwest corner of Hollywood and Highland in August 1958 to generate publicity and demonstrate how the Walk would look. In total, 2,008 stars were unveiled: 1,558 for honorees After the initial installation, eight years passed without a new star. In 1962, the Los Angeles City Council passed an ordinance naming the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce the agent to advise the City regarding new honorees. The Chamber then devised rules, procedures, and financing methods to do so. In December 1968, Richard D. Zanuck was awarded the Walk's first new star and by May 1975, 99 stars had been added. , center, at Joe Pasternak's star unveiling, 1991 Chamber member Johnny Grant is generally credited with resuscitating the Walk and establishing it as a significant tourist attraction. Beginning in 1968, Grant stimulated publicity by requiring each recipient personally attend their star unveiling. Grant was awarded a star for his television work in 1980. He was also named chairman of the Selection Committee and Honorary Mayor of Hollywood, a ceremonial position previously held by Art Linkletter and Monty Hall, amongst others. Preservation and expansion The Hollywood Walk of Fame was designated Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument No. 194 in 1978. In 1985, the Hollywood Boulevard Commercial and Entertainment District was added to the National Register of Historic Places, and while the Walk was not included in the listing, it was mentioned as an element of "fine urban design". In 1996, during construction of the B Line, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) removed and stored more than 300 stars. The U.S. House of Representatives also officially commended and congratulated the Walk that year. and fifty received Ds, the damage ranging from minor cosmetic flaws to holes and fissures severe enough to be a tripping hazard. After the evaluation, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce together with the city and county of Los Angeles made plans to repair or replace at least 778 stars at an estimated cost of more than $4 million . 's star with cracks at its top, 2011 To encourage funding for the project by corporate sponsors, the Chamber inaugurated the "Friends of Walk of Fame" program, and in 2019, they commissioned Gensler to plan a $4 million renovation for the entire Walk. In 2020, draft plans were released, proposing new landscaping and bike lanes, sidewalk dining and widening, and the removal of street lanes and parking between Gower Street and La Brea Avenue. Phase one of this proposal, which includes widening sidewalks; consolidating bus stops; adding benches, tables, and chairs; and removing parking lanes between Orange Drive and Gower Street, was approved in 2021. Theft 's replacement star after the original was stolen in 2005 Four stars and one statue have been stolen from the Walk. In 2000, James Stewart's and Kirk Douglas's stars disappeared after they had been temporarily removed for a construction project. Police recovered the stars in the home of a construction worker employed on the project, however, the stars were badly damaged and had to be remade. One of Gene Autry's five stars was also stolen from a construction area. In 2005, thieves used a concrete saw to remove Gregory Peck's star from its site at Hollywood and North El Centro Avenue. The star was replaced almost immediately but the original was never found, nor were the perpetrators who stole it. Another theft occurred in 2019, when Austin Clay, who had previously vandalized Donald Trump's star, stole the Marilyn Monroe statue atop Hollywood and La Brea Gateway. Thieves have also attempted to chisel out individual stars' category emblems. ==Honorees==

While more than 2,800 stars have been awarded, Analysts and commentators weren't surprised by this, as the same lack of representation was present in Hollywood as a whole. The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce responded by stating that it has been working hard to improve diversity. They also noted that several of the Walk's original honorees were minorities, including Anna May Wong, Dolores Del Rio, Cantinflas, Hattie McDaniel, and others. Bob Hope and Tony Martin have been honored in four, while Roy Rogers and Mickey Rooney have been honored individually in three and in a shared star for a fourth, Roy Rogers as part of Sons of the Pioneers and Mickey Rooney with his wife Jan Chamberlin. More than thirty individuals have been honored in three categories, including Jack Benny, Danny Kaye, Frank Sinatra, Dinah Shore, and Gale Storm, The family with the most individuals recognized is the Barrymores, with five. Unique and unusual Professions Several below-the-line filmmakers have been included in the Walk, including: Conrad Hall and Haskell Wexler (cinematographers); Edith Head and Ruth E. Carter (costume designers); Max Factor and The Westmores (makeup artists); John Chambers, Stan Winston, and Rick Baker (special effect make-up artists); and Ray Harryhausen and Dennis Muren (visual and special effects artists). Max Factor was a makeup manufacturer as well. and Ray Bradbury, whose stories have formed the basis for dozens of movies and television programs. One film critic, Roger Ebert, has a star, although it is in the television category as his review shows were televised. Movie theater proprietors are also included, most notably Sid Grauman, creator of the Grauman's Chinese and Egyptian theaters, Amongst other businessmen, at least one has his business listed alongside his name: Guy Laliberte, who co-founded Cirque de Soleil. Eight inventors have stars on the Walk: George Eastman, inventor of roll film; Thomas Edison, developer of many devices used in the film industry, including the phonograph, motion picture camera, and long-lasting, practical electric light bulb; Lee de Forest, inventor of the triode vacuum tube and Phonofilm; Herbert Kalmus, inventor of Technicolor; Auguste and Louis Lumière, inventors of important motion picture camera components; Ray Dolby, co-developer of the first practical video tape recorder and a pioneer in surround sound and noise reduction; and Mark Serrurier, who re-designed Moviola, which was invented by his father. Hedy Lamarr, co-inventor of a frequency-hopping radio guidance system that was a precursor to Wi-Fi networks and cellular telephone systems, is also honored but for her acting work. Several honorees have also achieved political notability. Presidents Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump have stars on the Walk, and Reagan is also one of two California governors with a star; the other is Arnold Schwarzenegger. Former U.S. Senator George Murphy and Representatives Helen Gahagan and Sonny Bono also have stars, as does former Prime Minister of Poland Ignacy Paderewski. Three judges have been honored, all in the television category as their proceedings were televised: Judge Greg Mathis, Judge Judy Sheindlin, and Judge Joseph Wapner. Animals 's star, given for his work in motion pictures Three dogs are included in the Walk: the fictional character Lassie and animal actors Rin Tin Tin and Strongheart. An animated dog, Snoopy, is also included, as are several other animated animals. Fictional characters In addition to members of the entertainment industry, the Walk also honors fictional characters, with more than twenty honored . The first fictional characters added and the only included in the original 1,558 stars were Lassie and Betty Lou. However, despite being played by numerous canine actors, the most notable being Pal, Lassie is often referred to as a canine actor herself, and Betty Lou shares her star with her voice actor and broadcast partner, Tommy Riggs. Mickey was added in 1978, in honor of his 50th anniversary. Minnie Mouse would not be honored until forty years later, however when she was, her star was located directly outside El Capitan, Disney's flagship theater. In 1985, Bugs Bunny, a Warner Bros. character, became the fourth fictional character honored. and in 2024, Batman became the first superhero honored. Clayton Moore is so inextricably linked with his Lone Ranger character that his star lists the honoree as playing the character. Tommy Riggs is also listed alongside Betty Lou whom he voiced, although his star does not specify that he played her, rather it implies he acted as himself alongside her, which he also did. Shared names Two pairs of stars share identical names representing different people. There are two Harrison Ford stars, one for the silent film actor and the other for present-day actor, and two Michael Jackson stars, one for the pop singer and the other for the radio personality. After Michael Jackson's death in 2009, many fans mistook the radio personality's star for the singer's, the latter of which was inaccessible due to the premiere of Brüno. Groups and pairings Some stars honor groups, not individuals. Most are musically related, but some are not. For example, sports teams are honored, including the Harlem Globetrotters and Los Angeles Dodgers, and the largest group represented by a single star is the estimated 122 adults and 12 children collectively known as the Munchkins from The Wizard of Oz. Other stars honor professional pairings rather than individuals. Examples include radio co-hosts Al Lohman & Roger Barkley, Ken Minyard & Bob Arthur, Mark & Brian, and Mark & Kim; live performers Siegfried & Roy and Jan & Mickey Rooney; television writers Sid & Marty Krofft; actors Mary Kate & Ashley Olsen; music duos Sonny & Cher, BeBe & CeCe Winans, Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme, and Daryl Hall & John Oates; and more. Additionally, at least one star honors both a group and a professional pairing within the group: the star for the band Heart also includes the names of its singing duo Ann & Nancy Wilson. Repeat selections and entries Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins share four monuments, one on each corner of Hollywood and Vine, all in the television category. Charlie Chaplin is the only honoree to be selected twice for the same star. He was unanimously voted into the initial group in 1956, but the Selection Committee ultimately excluded him, reportedly due to questions regarding his morals but more likely due to his left-leaning political views. Chaplin was re-selected and added to the Walk in 1972, the same year he received his Academy Lifetime Achievement Award. however, the resulting outcry was so intense that the decision was reversed and Robeson was awarded a star the following year. Organizations Commercial organizations are only considered for businesses with an entertainment industry connection of at least fifty years. While not technically part of the Walk, as a city ordinance prohibits placing corporate names on sidewalks, these stars are installed on private property adjacent to it. Stars in this category include Chevy Suburban, Disneyland, Hollywood Reporter, KTLA, Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Times, Musso & Frank, Variety, and Victoria's Secret Angels. Other organizations honored with stars in or adjacent to the Walk are the Los Angeles Police Department, Screen Actors Guild, Recording Academy, and the Walk of Fame itself. Another star bearing the wrong name was Mauritz Stiller, which for 28 years read "Maurice Diller". This mistake was corrected in 1988. In addition to incorrect names, some honoree's names have been misspelled. In 2010, Julia Louis-Dreyfus's star was constructed reading "Julia Luis Dreyfus". The actress was reportedly amused and the error was corrected. Similarly, Dick Van Dyke's star misspelled his last name as "Vandyke" before it was rectified, and several stars remain misspelled, including Lotte Lehmann (misspelled as "Lottie"), Merian C. Cooper ("Meriam"), and Auguste Lumière ("August"). Controversial Several honorees have resulted in controversy, some immediately when honored and others later. Charlie Chaplin's initial selection was so controversial due to his political views that it was revoked, Gal Gadot's inclusion has also received backlash due to her outspoken support of the Israeli military; her star unveiling was met with protests and her star was vandalized soon after. Numerous individuals and organizations have called or petitioned for the removal of Donald Trump's star, including local residents, Latino advocacy groups, Others have also come to the star's defense. Spade Cooley is believed to be the only convicted murderer honored by the Walk. He is not the only murderer though, as Gig Young is known to have murdered his wife. Young was never convicted, however, as he committed suicide shortly after. Other controversial criminal-related stars include those of accused rapists and domestic abusers, some of whom were convicted while others were not. The Chamber also rejects numerous nominations every year. These are typically not made public; however, after Kim Kardashian publicly stated her desire for a star, the Chamber clarified that her nomination would be rejected as the Walk does not honor reality stars unless they have been nominated for or win an Oscar, Emmy, Grammy, or other major award given for a performance. ==Visitors==

The Walk has played an important role in making tourism the largest industry in Los Angeles County. According to a 2003 report by market research firm NPO Plog Research, the Walk attracts about ten million visitors annually, which is more than the Sunset Strip, Grauman's Chinese Theatre, the Queen Mary, and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art combined. Despite the Walk's popularity and prestige, visitors are often underwhelmed due to its perceived dirtiness, grittiness, and problems with homelessness and crime. The Walk has repeatedly been called the "Walk of Shame" and designated as "the world's worst tourist attraction"; it has also been described as "cheesy", "tacky", and a tourist trap. Street vendors and performers performing on the Walk|alt=Two guitarists play on one side of a row of Walk of Fame stars, Hollywood Boulevard behind them, while pedestrians walk by on the other. Cars, including a blue and yellow taxi, and buildings can be seen in the bathroom. The Walk of Fame is one of Los Angeles's most popular locations for street vendors. In 2018, street vending was banned, but the ban was rescinded in 2024. Vendors commonly sell merchandise or bacon-wrapped hot dogs. Buskers, musicians distributing albums, and other street and costumed performers also frequent the Walk, particularly outside Grauman's Chinese Theater and Madame Tussauds Hollywood. In 2016, City Council considered limiting the amount permitted in the area, as many visitors report negative experiences due to the performers' rude and aggressive behavior. The performers have also been known to get into altercations with each other. Unveilings 's star unveiling in 2012|alt=A large crowd of onlookers behind barriers surrounding a platform, with Scarlett Johansson in a black and white dress and emcee Leron Gubler in a black suit on the platform and smiling to the crowd Star unveilings are free to attend; Vicente Fernandez's unveiling also attracted a similarly high 4,000 attendees. Anthony Anderson's unveiling, which occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, had a notably low attendance of 25. Rallies, protests, and vandalism Walk of Fame stars are sometimes used as sites for rallies or protests. Often, the protests occur as vandalism, which has ranged from profanity and political statements to damage with heavy tools. In 2005, closed circuit surveillance cameras were installed on Hollywood between La Brea and Vine to discourage these activities. Additionally, if an honoree has a large enough scandal, police will increase their presence around that person's star to deter vandalism. has been the site of numerous protests and rallies; it has also been vandalized multiple times. During the 2016 presidential election, a service dog's owner had the dog defecate on Trump's star, which was then posted on Twitter. Shortly after, James Otis, a claimed heir to the Otis Elevator Company fortune, used a pickaxe and sledgehammer to destroy the star's brass inlays. He readily admitted to the vandalism and was sentenced to three years' probation. The star was repaired and then served as the site of rallies and protests throughout the election. Further vandalism of Donald Trump's star occurred in 2018 when it was destroyed a second time, this time by Austin Clay. Clay later surrendered to police, after which he was sentenced to one day in jail, three years of probation, and twenty days of community service. He was also ordered to attend psychological counseling and pay $9,404.46 in restitution. Later in 2018, after Trump's star was repaired, it was placed behind bars and defaced with swastikas and other graffiti. Conversely, dozens of blank stars were vandalized in support of Trump's star that same year. and with dog feces and spray-paint. Other politicians' stars have not seen the same level of protests or vandalism, however Ronald Reagan's star was the site of a 1981 gathering to request signatures petitioning him to keep leopards on the endangered species list. The star was also peed on for David Bowie's Day-In Day-Out music video, however, the moment was removed so that MTV would accept the video into their rotation. In 2015, Sofia Vergara's star was graffitied in reference to her use of frozen embryos. In 2017, Bob Marley's star was damaged by a heavy object and protestors also gathered around Kevin Spacey's star to protest predatory culture in Hollywood. In 2024, Selena Quintanilla and Jenni Rivera's stars were covered in black paint twice within 24 hours and in 2025, Gal Gadot's star was vandalized in reference to the Israeli military. and in 2015 protestors (including Lili Bernard and Victoria Valentino) used the site to protest against rape limitation laws in California. Radio commentator Michael Jackson's star has also been defaced (presumably, it was mistaken for the singer's with the same name), after which Paris Jackson cleaned it up. and the Walk of Fame was also the gathering point for an estimated 25,000 Black Lives Matter protestors in 2020. ==Influence==

The Hollywood Walk of Fame has inspired walks throughout the world. Other walks that either cite Hollywood's as their inspiration or claim to be their country's equivalent to Hollywood's include those in Almeria; Berlin; Cambridge, MA; Hong Kong; Las Vegas, NV; Łódź; London; Mexico City; Mumbai; Sydney; Tampere; Wembley; and many more. Los Angeles also has several other walks inspired by Hollywood's, and elsewhere in California, the creators of San Francisco's Rainbow Honor Walk and Walk of Game have both cited the Hollywood Walk of Fame as their inspiration. The Walk has also influenced protestors, not just in Hollywood, but elsewhere. Examples include a 2010 protest in Mumbai, India and a 2026 Jeffrey Epstein protest in Washington D.C., both of which were modeled after the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In media Notable films that feature the Hollywood Walk of Fame include Pretty Woman, where streetwalkers use the names on several stars to describe where they streetwalk, Harry and Tonto, where the titular characters are picked up at the Walk, Inland Empire, where the main character vomits blood on the Walk, and The Fanatic, where the main character is a busker on the Walk. Jimmy Kimmel Live! has done skits on the Walk, including having Mark Hamill stand beside his star to see if anyone would recognize him. The music video for Miley Cyrus's "Walk of Fame" features the Walk, The Kinks's Celluloid Heroes was both inspired by and mentions the Walk, and Sofie Royer has a song titled "Hollywood Walk of Fame". Street photographer Garry Winogrand has also featured the Walk of Fame in his work. ==See also==