See Celebs Through the Years Getting Their Star on the Walk of Fame
See Celebs Through the Years Getting Their Star on the Walk of Fame
The Hollywood Walk of Fame is an iconic sidewalk strip of our nation's most dazzling onscreen and musical stars, from actors who just seem to get better with age — hello, Meryl — to others who bring nostalgia for a certain era in entertainment's history. Catch glimpses of these stars earning their permanent place in Hollywood (and don't forget to check out these photos of stars on their wedding day and rare photos of Hollywood stars on set).
1960: "Bye Bye Birdie" lead Ann-Margret becomes the Hollywood icon herself
Singer, dancer, and actress Ann-Margret was made famous in her role as the naive, vivacious Kim McAfee in Bye Bye Birdie, a movie about a rock n' roll star and his wild fans, inspired by Elvis Presley and his own frenetic following. The triple-threat went on to star in Viva Las Vegas with the actual King of Rock n' Roll one year later.
1975: Elton John has his star and wears them, too
Hollywood had decided that Elton John was a star before he even turned 30. But the singer, pianist, and composer had only just gotten started, having barely tapped into his four-decade-and-counting career conjuring music for movies, Broadway, and in his own albums.
1975: Ricky Nelson is forever remembered as a teenage heartthob
Ricky Nelson began his career as a child sitcom star before growing into one of the biggest teen heartthrobs of the late 1950s and early 1960s, giving Elvis Presley a run for his money. The crooner put 53 songs on the Billboard Hot 100 between 1957 and 1973 — nineteen of them Top 10 hits — before his fame fizzled out in the ’70s.
1976: Johnny Cash giggles over his success with his family
"I Walk the Line," "Ring of Fire," (written by June Carter Cash) "Folsom Prison Blues"… all songs that Johnny Cash famously contributed to the country and folk music bracket. The singer's career had many ups and downs, but he became a musical icon nonetheless.
1979: The Hollywood hills are alive with Julie Andrews
The four-octave singer and actress most famous for her 1960s roles as the lovable, magical care givers Mary Poppins and The Sound of Music's Maria became part of the Hollywood constellation on October 5.
1979: Fleetwood Mac stays together long enough to receive a star
Christine McVie, John McVie, Mick Fleetwood, Stevie Nicks, and Lindsay Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac happily unveil their star two years after releasing their most popular album, Rumours, born of the tensions and incestuous relationships within the group.
1980: Pioneer for black musicians Quincy Jones "thrills" to be on Walk of Fame
This is the man who would produce Michael Jackson's Thriller music video two years later. By 1980, Quincy Jones's achievements read like a list of firsts: first African American to be nominated for an Academy Award in the Best Original Song category, in 1968 (along with co-songwriter Bob Russell), and first African American to be nominated twice within the same year for "Best Original Score."
1980: The Beach Boys catch a wave, then a star
Mike Love, Carl Wilson, Brian Wilson, Al Jardine and Bruce Johnston (left to right) accept their star after decades of crooning vocal harmonies and light rock n' roll tunes that capture the essence of Southern California.
1981: Ray Charles touches his name on his Hollywood star
Some say Ray Charles birthed the sound of soul, merging gospel, rhythm and blues, and jazz in the 1950s. The pianist and composer was also a pioneer for African Americans in the music industry, paving the way into country and pop music for future artists.
1982: The supreme Diana Ross shines bright in Hollywood
Singer and actress Diana Ross helped develop Motown and lead The Supremes before launching her solo act in 1970. She started off strong with song "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" and her fame only grew from there as she conquered film, Broadway, and TV.
1983: Lifelong actress Joan Collins is immortalized
Born into a family of performers, English actress Joan Collins was introduced into the entertainment industry as a child. After years of playing the seductress in films and TV, her role as the vengeful Alexis Carrington in the ’80s soap opera Dynasty garnered her international fame.
1983: The King of Motown writes and sings his way to Walk of Fame
Singer-songwriter Smokey Robinson played an integral role in Motown Records. He was part of the studio's first group the Miracles and later the Temptations, writing hit songs like "My Girl" and "The Way You Do the Things You Do." He produced 37 Top 40 hits for Motown between 1960 and 1987.
1983: Gloria Estefan's Latin music beats cemented into Hollywood
Cuban American singer, songwriter, and actress Gloria Estefan is one of the most successful crossover artists in Latin music. She launched her music career with her husband as part of Miami Sound Machine.
1986: A young Tom Cruise waves to adoring fans
By 1986, Tom Cruise had established himself as a charismatic heartthrob with roles in The Outsiders, Risky Business, and Top Gun.
1986: Tina Turner can't believe her solo stardom
Two years after the Queen of Rock n' Roll released her first solo album, Private Dancer (after dropping her abusive husband), she nabbed a star on the Walk of Fame. It was only the beginning of a decades-long career as a musical icon and actress.
1986: Stone fox Tom Sellick celebrates with mom and girlfriend
This actor has made more of a name for himself in television than in movies. The role that led him to receive his Hollywood Walk of Fame star was as Thomas Magnum in the 1980s detective series Magnum, P.I.
1985: Bette Midler's award is the wind beneath her wings
Singer and actress Bette Midler got her start onstage, performing on Broadway in the late 1960s before going on to sing on a string of solo albums in the ’70s. The Divine Miss M's role in film The Rose launched the next level of career in 1979.
1990: Robin Williams hugs his star on the red carpet
It's no surprise that the beloved stand-up comic Robin Williams earned his Hollywood star after his roles in Good Morning, Vietnam and Dead Poets Society in the late 1980s. Here he poses with his wife and kid.
1990: Comedian Arsenio Hall honored as his talk show kicks off
Arsenio Hall began his entertainment career by doing stand-up comedy, later moving into film. He starred alongside Eddie Murphy in Coming to America in 1988 and landed his own talk show — The Arsenio Hall Show — the following year.
1991: Liza Minnelli joins her mother's star on the Walk of Fame
Of course the daughter of Judy Garland would get a Hollywood star. But although she has acting in her blood, singer and actress Liza Minnelli was self-made, eventually garnering international stardom for her role as Sally Bowles in the 1972 film version of Cabaret.
1991: Paul Abdul's hairdo is on-point for getting her award
Paula Abdul rose from cheerleader to choreographer to pop and R&B dancer and singer in the 1980s, persisting into the early ’90s. She appeared on the pop scene just as music videos were really taking off, which rocketed her to stardom. Abdul accepted her place on the Hollywood Walk of Fame with her mother and sister by her side.
1991: Billy Crystal snuggles with his Walk of Fame star
Funny guy Billy Crystal probably earned this star for acting opposite Meg Ryan in When Harry Met Sally and for his role in City Slickers. The dry-humored comedian went on to host the Academy Awards nine times.
1992: Tom Hanks cheese for the cameras with Rita
Tom Hanks has become something of an American sweetheart, earning our love through his roles as Forrest Gump, Chuck in Cast Away (Wilsooon!), and Sheriff Woody in Toy Story. Soon he'll star as another beloved TV personality, Mr. Rogers, in A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood.
1993: Dick Van Dyke is ecstatic about his star
The charming, quick-footed comedian Dick Van Dyke is best known for his musical roles as Albert Peterson in Bye Bye Birdie, the father in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and of course Bert/Mr. Dawes Senior in Mary Poppins.
1993: Patti LaBelle struts her stuff on the Walk of Fame
You might best know Patti LaBelle for the original "Lady Marmalade," which her group Labelle came out with in 1974. The singer and actress is known for her high-powered performances and wide-ranging vocals.
1994: Sophia Loren signature legs outshine her award
Italian actress Sophia Loren is almost as famous for her acting as she is for her beauty. The star has acted in both American and Italian films, garnering awards for movies in both languages, including for her role in Italian production Two Women.
1996: Eddie Murphy gets a smooch and a star
Eddie Murphy started performing as a comedian, eventually becoming a regular SNL cast member, and is now known as one of the best out there. But the funny guy also has acting chops, showing them off in comedic movies like The Nutty Professor and as Mushu in Disney's Mulan, but also in more serious roles, like as a singer in Dreamgirls.
1996: Jack Nicholson embraces his star power
Famous for playing dark, neurotic characters — Jack Torrance in The Shining, Batman's archenemy the Joker — Jack Nicholson is a household name in motion pictures.
1996: Faye Dunaway is all a-glow with her achievement
Faye Dunaway launched her long career by playing femme fatale characters Bonnie, one-half of the infamous criminal couple in Bonnie and Clyde. She's appeared in an endless series of roles throughout the decade, usually opting for intense, dramatic portrayals.
1997: James Brown dons his famous cape for the ceremony
After three decades of body-shaking rhythm and blues, the Godfather of Soul was inducted into the Walk of Fame wearing the cape he usually incorporated into his "Please, Please, Please" routine.
1997: Cicely Tyson sheds light on black female empowerment
Harlem-born Cicely Tyson was discovered by an Ebony magazine photographer, and her career later evolved from modeling to acting. In her six-decade career she became famous for her portrayals of strong black women, going on to become the first black woman awarded an honorary Oscar.
1997: Pierce Brosnan catches a star as 007
Pierce Brosnan was one of the It actors of the 1990s. He became well-known through the ’80s TV show Remington Steele, later erupting into fame in a lead role in Dante's Peak and eventually becoming the fifth James Bond.
1998: Meryl Streep shoots to the stars
By 1998, Meryl Streep was already a cinematic powerhouse, having churned out at least one movie a year (and in a few cases, three) every year since 1976 (excluding 1980). She's only gotten better with age. Thank goodness she decided to stick with acting when she struggled in the beginning.
1998: Jamie Lee Curtis screams her way to the Walk of Fame
The actress launched her career by starring in so many horror films that she was dubbed the "Scream Queen." But she slowly pushed her way into other genres with movies like Perfect, in which she co-starred with John Travolta, and Forever Young with Mel Gibson.
1999: Siegfried & Roy bring their signature white tiger to their Hollywood star unveiling
German-born performers Siegfried Fischbacher and Roy Horn became Las Vegas staples, conjuring a long-running show of illusions that often included white tigers. The duo even started a tiger-breeding program later in life.
1999: KISS shows up in all their glory
Ace Frehley, Gene Simmons, Peter Criss and Paul Stanley of KISS pose for their Hollywood star induction ceremony. The hard rock group rocketed to popularity in the 1970s for their wild live performances with fire breathing, smoking guitars, shooting rockets, and pyrotechnics.
1999: Kevin Spacey smiles in the wake of "American Beauty"
Kevin Spacey started his acting career onstage before working his way into small supporting roles in films. In 1996, the actor won an Oscar for his role in The Usual Suspects, and Hollywood bestowed a star upon him soon after American Beauty hit cinemas.
2001: Whoopi Goldberg is fed cake by Mayor Johnny Grant
Comedian Whoopi Goldberg's first onscreen role was actually a serious part, as Celie in the 1985 film The Color Purple. But the actress went on to perform in myriad roles, like Guinan in Star Trek, a faux-nun in Sister Act, and a hyena in The Lion King, all before she earned her Hollywood star in 2001.
2002: Jackie Chan gets up close and personal with his award
Jackie Chan has worn many hats within the film industry, including comedian, stuntman, actor, and director. Soon after completing the movie The Tuxedo, in which he exercises his acrobatic martial arts talents, the Hong Kong–born artist earned a Hollywood star.
2004: The Olsen twins make it to the Walk of Fame the same year they make their last movie
Ashley Olsen and Mary-Kate Olsen spent their entire lives in front of a camera, starting from infancy on Full House, and finally called it quits when they were 18, after filming New York Minute.
Do you remember some of these iconic moments?