Having your name immortalized on the Hollywood Walk of Fame has always been the desire of celebrities who have dedicated their lives to the arts. The Hollywood Walk of Fame comprises more than 2,699 (until July 2021) five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks. Walk of Fame has 1.3 miles east to west on along 15 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in Hollywood, California.
The Walk’s Origin
The original idea for the Walk of Fame emerged in 1953 to “maintain the glory of a community whose name means glamour and excitement in the four corners of the world”, according to its creators. But construction on the Walk didn’t begin until 1958. Two lawsuits filed by local landlords questioning the taxes and by Charles Chaplin’s son delayed completion.
The official groundbreaking took place on February 8, 1960.
The first eight honorees, from an original list of 1558 names, were Joanne Woodward, Olive Borden, Ronald Colman, Louise Farm, Preston Foster, Burt Lancaster, Edward Sedgwick, and Ernest Torrence.
Over the years, the rules for a celebrity’s name on the Hollywood Walk of Fame have become stricter. Each year, an average of 200 nominations are submitted by fans or anyone else to the Walk of Fame selection committee for review.
At a meeting, usually in June, the committee selects approximately 20 celebrities to receive stars on the Walk of Fame. Living recipients must agree to personally attend a presentation ceremony within two years of selection. A fee of $50,000 is collected to pay for the creation and installation of the star, as well as general maintenance of the Walk of Fame.
Despite all the glamour and publicity generated by the nomination and selection for the star on the Walk of Fame, some celebrities show no interest in being honored in this way. See some of these celebrities and the reasons for their refusal.
Angelina Jolie
Angelina Jolie has 3 Golden Globes and 1 Oscar in her career but has no interest in seeing her name written on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Although the reason was never stated, it may be the $50,000 fee. Angelina has always been involved in social causes and probably finds it much more important to invest such a sum in some kind of charitable contribution.
Clint Eastwood
Clint has more than enough résumé to be on the Walk of Fame, but for the Daily Mail, the Actor and Director just doesn’t mind. Having a star on a sidewalk in Hollywood has become such a common thing that some actors simply ignore it.
Whitney Houston
The “Bodyguard” star was selected for a spot on the Walk of Fame in 1995 but never accepted. After your death, Whitney Houston’s family have finally revealed why: “She didn’t want people walking on her name.”
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Julia Roberts
Julia Roberts declined the Walk of Fame invitation a few years ago, but in 2019 the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce’s Walk of Fame Selection Committee announced the Pretty Woman star as one of the honorees. So far, the date of the ceremony has not been set. Will she finally accept?
Madonna
Singer and actress Madonna is another celebrity who declined the invitation to be on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Famous for hits like “Like A Virgin”, “Crazy For You” and “Papa Don’t Preach”. Madonna also starred in 22 films and even won the Golden Globe for her role in the musical “Evita”. She was first invited to receive the honor in 1990, and to this day she refuses to do so, simply because she doesn’t want to.
Beyoncé
Technically, Beyoncé is already on the Walk of Fame when her girl group Destiny’s Child was honored in 2006. But she shares the star with her former bandmates, Michelle Williams and Kelly Rowland. The 28-time Grammy winner deserves a star all to herself but apparently has no interest and rules out any possibility.
Muhammad Ali
Boxing legend Muhammad Ali turned down the star on the Walk of Fame for religious reasons.
He said at the time: “I bear the name of our Beloved Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him), and it is impossible that I allow people to trample over his name”.
Leonardo DiCaprio
2016 Oscar winner Leonardo DiCaprio isn’t interested in having a star on the Walk of Fame.
DiCaprio’s Titanic co-star Kate Winslet received a star in 2014.
Prince
Prince refused the honor twice. The first in the 90s and the second in 2014. Ana Martinez, the producer of the Walk of Fame ceremonies, told: “He felt that it wasn’t the right time.”
Prince is one of the biggest music legends, and will likely have, in a few years, a posthumous star.
Denzel Washington
Denzel Washington is a famous and award-winning Hollywood actor, but he doesn’t have a star on the Walk of Fame. The American actor was nominated and selected to receive the honor in 2018 and accepted the honor. But he simply never had time to make an appearance at a ceremony. Without the show with the presence of the celebrity, the star is not placed.
Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen was nominated to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1989. The ceremony was organized, and the date was set, but “The Boss” did not attend. From this event, the Chamber of Commerce decided to create a new rule in which honorees are required to sign a contract pledging to attend the event.
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