Unusual Stars on the Walk of Fame
Muhammad Ali: the star on a wall
The official directory lists Muhammad Ali’s star under Live Performance at 6801 Hollywood Blvd, with a ceremony date of 11 January 2002. Unlike the stars in the pavement, it is mounted on a wall at Ovation Hollywood, the complex that includes the Dolby Theatre. According to the Chamber, Ali did not want the name of the Prophet Muhammad to be stepped on and asked for the star to be placed on a wall. The Muhammad Ali star page gives the short version.
Apollo 11: four moons at Hollywood and Vine
The Apollo 11 entry is not a single star. It is four circular moon monuments, one on each corner of Hollywood and Vine (6200 Hollywood Blvd), dedicated on 20 July 1973. The official site says the award was made in the Television category "as a tribute to the first televised Walk on the Moon". The monuments name Neil A. Armstrong, Edwin E. Aldrin Jr. and Michael Collins and carry the date 7/20/69.
Fictional characters
Not every star belongs to a person. Mickey Mouse was the first fictional character honoured, on 13 November 1978, and his star is at 6925 Hollywood Blvd, in front of the TCL Chinese Theatre. Guinness World Records names later fictional honorees including The Simpsons, Godzilla and Kermit the Frog. The fictional characters page covers them.
Gene Autry: five stars
Gene Autry is the only person with five stars, according to the official site. They are in five categories and at five addresses: Radio at 6520, Recording at 6384, Television at 6667, Motion Pictures at 6644 and Live Performance at 7000 Hollywood Blvd. Seeing all five means walking from the 6300 block to the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.
Woodward and Kramer: which was first
Joanne Woodward is often called "the first star". She was one of eight demonstration stars unveiled on 15 August 1958 at Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue, alongside Olive Borden, Ronald Colman, Louise Fazenda, Preston Foster, Burt Lancaster, Edward Sedgwick and Ernest Torrence. The first star laid in the permanent Walk was Stanley Kramer’s, on 28 March 1960, near Hollywood and Gower, according to the official history.
The unusual stars at a glance
| Entry | Where | What is unusual |
|---|---|---|
| Muhammad Ali | 6801 Hollywood Blvd, Ovation Hollywood | Mounted on a wall, not in the pavement |
| Apollo 11 | Hollywood and Vine, 6200 Hollywood Blvd | Four round moon monuments, one per corner |
| Mickey Mouse | 6925 Hollywood Blvd, TCL Chinese Theatre | First fictional character, 1978 |
| Gene Autry | Five addresses, 6384 to 7000 Hollywood Blvd | Five stars in five categories |
| Stanley Kramer | Near Hollywood and Gower | First star in the permanent Walk, 1960 |
The "blank star"
The guided walking tour’s listing mentions "the story behind the blank star" among its stops. The listing does not spell the story out, so it is not retold on this page. The walking tour close-up describes that product.
Ali’s wall star and the Dolby Theatre are in the same complex at 6801 Hollywood Blvd, above the Hollywood/Highland Metro station, so the two fit into one stop.
For a visit inside the Dolby Theatre, home of the Academy Awards, the 30-minute guided tour is listed below; its listing notes several flights of stairs.
Frequently asked questions
Which Walk of Fame star can you not step on?
Muhammad Ali’s. It is mounted on a wall at Ovation Hollywood, 6801 Hollywood Blvd, rather than set in the pavement.
Are there stars for cartoon characters?
Yes. Mickey Mouse was the first fictional character honoured, in 1978, at 6925 Hollywood Blvd. See the fictional characters page.
What are the round monuments at Hollywood and Vine?
The four Apollo 11 moon monuments, dedicated on 20 July 1973 in the Television category as a tribute to the first televised Walk on the Moon, according to the official site.
Who has the most stars on the Walk of Fame?
Gene Autry, with five, one in each of five categories. The official directory at walkoffame.com lists all five addresses.