The Hollywood Walk of Fame contains almost 2,700 stars, yet these famous people don’t have their accolades.
The closest most of us will ever get to our favorite artists and musicians is a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. It’s the highest honor to be recognized as a faithful member of glamourous Hollywood, yet the names of the following legends have yet to be inscribed on a terrazzo and brass floor plaque.
CLOONEY, GEORGE
The 61-year-old actor has been a Hollywood A-lister for the previous 20 years, winning two Oscars and four Golden Globes, among other honors. With 80 credits under his belt, you’d think his name would be plastered all over the popular attraction, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.
Clooney was chosen for the award a year ago, but he never set a date for the event. Celebrities have up to two years to select a date before the application expires and must be resubmitted.
Ana Martinez, the ceremonies producer, stated, “George was selected a few years ago, but it appears that he has a hectic schedule.” If George reads this, please phone us, and we can set a date!”
HOUSTON, WHITNEY
Whitney Houston, arguably one of the greatest vocalists of all time, never received a star during her 30-year career. She was chosen for the prize in 1995, but her representatives, like Clooney’s, apparently never arranged a ceremony date.
Celebrities can be awarded a star after their deaths, so never say never.
MADONNA
Madonna, the Queen of Pop, broke barriers as a vocalist and performer with her risqué songs and on-stage dances. She’s won every prestigious music award, yet a star in her honor has yet to appear on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 1990, the vocalist of “Like a Virgin” declined the offer.
THE PACINO
Another superstar who did not attend the function is the Godfather star. He was nominated by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce but declined because he never scheduled a date.
PRINCE
Another late icon without a Hollywood star. The Purple Rain artist was offered the distinction twice before his untimely death in April 2016: once in the 1990s for a 1999 ceremony and again a year or two later. Martinez revealed after his death that he refused both, stating that “it wasn’t the proper moment.” “I have him on my wish list.”
M. ALI MUHAMMAD
The boxing legend does have an award, but it’s not on Hollywood Boulevard. The star, presented in 2002, is exhibited alone on a wall because Ali did not “want the name of Muhammad to be trodden on.” The star was unveiled on an easel rather than on the ground and was placed on the wall at the Dolby Theatre’s entrance.
WASHINGTON, DENZEL
Washington was nominated in 2018, but no ceremony date was determined.
SPRINGSTEEN, BRUCE
The Walk Of Fame board overwhelmingly approved “The Boss” after a fan-submitted Springsteen in 1989. He did not attend the ceremony, causing Martinez to institute the “Bruce Springsteen policy.”
“Ever since then, we’ve had celebrities or their management sign off and say they’re OK with it and will participate in the event once it’s arranged if they’re chosen.”
Martinez argues that he was never adequately notified about the award and that his management was not addressed. Thus he refused it.
EASTWOOD, CLINT
Despite being nominated multiple times, Eastwood isn’t interested in the renowned award. “If he wants it, there’s one seat left in front of the Chinese Theater,” Martinez remarked of Eastwood.
ROBERTS, JULIA
The Eat Pray Love actress has been called out for a star twice, most recently in 2019, but no date has been set. If she had decided to go ahead with it, the cost of creating, installing, and maintaining the star would have been $50,000. Unfortunately, these products do not come cheap.
FAQs
Why isn’t Madonna honored with a Hollywood Walk of Fame star?
Madonna did not want to be a celebrity.
Don’t worry; Madonna wasn’t forgotten; she wasn’t interested. According to Showbiz CheatSheet, the singer was nominated for a star in 1990, she turned down the offer when the committee approached her.
Who doesn’t have a star on Hollywood Boulevard?
Madonna, known as the “Queen of Pop Music,” is another singer who has broken sales records worldwide yet does not have a plaque on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The singer was given a star in the 1990s but declined for unexplained reasons.
Is Denzel Washington a Hollywood celebrity?
According to the Walk of Fame committee, a recipient must plan the ceremony within five years of receiving the award. Others who have accepted a star but then neglected to arrange a date include Denzel Washington, George Clooney, and Al Pacino.