How to Get a Star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame
Hollywood’s longstanding tradition of celebrities being awarded stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame was established in 1960 as a unique way for the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce to memorialize the area’s prestige and glamour. In that time, not only has it become a world-renowned tourist attraction, but also a global symbol of success to which many people aspire.
The Walk of Fame is located on 15-blocks of Hollywood blvd and 3 blocks of Vine Street in Los Angeles’ Historic Hollywood District; and is home to over 2,700 terrazzo and brass-made stars that commemorate some of the most-accomplished celebrities in the field of entertainment.
Have you ever wondered what it takes to get your name on one of those stars? This article will explain how to get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, an award that will undoubtedly cement your name in the history of the entertainment business forever.
How to get a star on The walk of fame - The process
The process of getting a star is actually quite simple compared to what it takes to win an Oscar. In order to achieve this, you’ll need to:
Meet the qualifications
Get nominated
Pay the sponsorship fee
Get voted to win The Star
But, simple doesn’t exactly mean it’s easy. Not everyone famous is eligible, can afford the sponsorship fee or is guaranteed for selection.
Who is Eligible for a star?
According to WalkofFame.com, The qualifications to earn a star are:
Notable achievements in The Entertainment Industry
Longevity in the respective category of five years or more
Proof of philanthropic contributions to the community
A guarantee that the living celebrity will attend the ceremony if selected
How to get nominated
The Hollywood Walk of Fame nomination procedure starts with the initial nomination form submission. Anyone can nominate a celebrity who meets the criteria, so as long as there is written proof that the celebrity or their management agrees. Each nominee must fit into one of the available nomination categories: motion pictures, television, radio, recording, live theatre/performance or sports entertainment.
According to WalkofFame.com, the following documents must be included in the nomination submission:
- Photo of the nominee
- Brief bio of nominee – no more than 2 pages
- Nominee’s qualifications
- List of contributions to the community and civic-oriented participation of the nominee
- Letter of agreement from the nominee or his/her management
Nominations are reviewed and voted on by both the Walk of Fame Committee and the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. Once the selection has been made, the names are handed to the City of Los Angeles Board of Public Works Department so that the installation can be carried out.
How Much Does a star on The Walk of Fame cost?
A star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame costs a $50,000 sponsorship fee that is due once a celebrity is selected. This money is placed in the Hollywood Walk of Fame Trust and is used for creating the star, installing it in the ground and general Walk of Fame maintenance.
Hollywood Walk of Fame Ceremony
Once a celebrity has been selected to be granted a star, a ceremony takes place at the location of where the star is installed.
The ceremony is open to the public and must be attended by the winner. As an article by Variety explains, this is because of what’s jokingly referred to as The Springsteen Policy: a procedure that the Walk of Fame committee adopted as a way to ensure that the celebrity receiving the honor will be in attendance at the ceremony. The rule was created when Bruce Springsteen declined the award after being nominated by fans and voted in by the committee. Celebrities are now required to provide written proof that they agree to attend the ceremony if selected.
Approximately 24 ceremonies are carried out each year.
Facts about The Hollywood Walk of Fame
Now that you know what it takes to earn a star on Hollywood’s coveted 18-block long stretch of noteworthy cement, let’s talk about some interesting facts about the Walk of Fame itself. As one of Los Angeles’ most notable tourist attractions that attracts upwards of 10 million people per year, the Hollywood Walk of Fame has certainly played a major role in shaping the life experiences of both tourists and celebrities alike.
The History of the Walk of Fame
The Hollywood Walk of Fame’s conception is credited to E. M. Stuart who served as the Volunteer President of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce in 1953. According to WalkofFame.com, his vision was to
“maintain the glory of a community whose name means glamour and excitement in the four corners of the world.”
The first star on the Walk of Fame was awarded to Filmmaker Stanley Kramer on March 28, 1960.
Who has the most stars?
Gene Autry has 5 stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame which makes him currently the most-awarded person on the famous sidewalk. The categories he won for include film, television, radio, live performance and music.
A-listers without Stars on the Walk of Fame
While most would assume that all famous people with a certain degree of popularity have stars on the Walk of Fame, you might be surprised that some A-listers haven’t yet made the cut. Some of the most notable among those people are Beyonce, Denzel Washington, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt. Denzel Washington is a special case because he, like Bruce Springsteen and George Clooney, failed to accept his star once he was nominated and approved.
The Most Famous Celebrities with Stars on The Walk of Fame
While many celebrities have received stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, some names are more notable than others. Some of the most well-known celebrities with stars include Marilyn Monroe, Walt Disney and Sandra Bullock.
How Many Stars are there on The Walk of Fame?
According to WalkofFame.com’s Frequently Asked Questions, there are more than 2,700 stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
You can even browse the famous list of star-winners on their website.
Dead Celebrities Can Get Hollywood Stars
Did you know that dead celebrities are also eligible to receive Hollywood Stars? The Walk of Fame Committee rules dictate that a celebrity must have been deceased for five years prior to being nominated. One award is given to a celebrity who has passed on each year.
Memorable Hollywood Stars
The Walk of Fame tradition has been around since the 60s; and while every ceremony is special in its own way, some certainly stick out more than others. For instance, Muhammad Ali’s star is not cemented into the ground like everyone else’s. This is because as he famously stated when being selected in 2002, he preferred not to be walked on by “people who have no respect for me”.
Another special case is Mickey Mouse, who in 1978 became the first fictional character to receive a star.
Can a star be removed from the Walk of Fame?
No. According to a Hollywood Chamber of Commerce policy, stars cannot be removed once installed in the sidewalk. That, however hasn’t stopped people from defacing stars in light of controversy surrounding certain honorees. This was the case for Former President Donald Trump who is known for having one of the most vandalized stars in the history of the Walk of Fame.
Useful Hollywood Walk of Fame Resources
For more information about this historic Hollywood landmark, we’ve linked some great resources below:
Us here at V SHADES wish you nothing but prosperity on your journey to success!
