How Someone Gets a Walk of Fame Star

The steps, in order

1. Nomination. Nominations are made online only, according to the official site, and each carries an application fee. The nomination procedure on walkoffame.com explains the form. The nomination must include the nominee’s commitment to attend the ceremony if selected.
2. Selection. The official FAQ puts applications at about 200 to 300 a year. They are considered once a year by a committee of Walk of Famers, with each category represented, normally at a June meeting.
3. Ratification. The committee’s choices are ratified by the board of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. About two dozen to 30 names are selected a year.
4. Sponsorship fee. A sponsorship fee is paid upon selection by the honoree’s sponsor. According to the official FAQ, "the fee covers the creation and installation of the star, as well as maintenance of the Walk of Fame." The official FAQ at walkoffame.com gives the current amount.
5. Ceremony. Recipients have two years to schedule their ceremony; if it is not held in that time, the selection expires. The honoree cannot select the location of the star.

The Chamber has acted for the City in this since 18 May 1962, when the City made it the agent for adding names. The history page covers how that arrangement came about.

Posthumous stars

Stars can be awarded after death, under separate limits set out by the official site: one posthumous star a year, a waiting period of two years after the person’s death, and a family member to accept the star at the ceremony.

What does not work

The official site states that no petitions, signatures, phone calls or emails are accepted; only official applications are considered. A fan campaign therefore has to take the form of a nomination through the proper channel, with a sponsor ready to pay the fee if the name is selected.

Can you pay to be on the Walk of Fame?

Not in the sense of buying a star. Money comes in at two points, the application fee with the nomination and the sponsorship fee after selection, but neither buys a place: the committee decides who is selected, and the fee is paid only once it has. The honoree also has to agree to attend the ceremony and cannot pick the spot.

Can anybody get a star?

A nomination can be submitted through the official process, but selection is a separate step. With about 200 to 300 applications and about two dozen to 30 selections a year, most nominations in a given year are not selected. Stars are awarded in six categories, from Motion Pictures to Sports Entertainment, and the committee includes Walk of Famers from each. The categories page lists all six.

How much do celebrities pay?

The sponsorship fee is paid by a sponsor on selection. The official FAQ at walkoffame.com gives the current amount; this page does not repeat figures, which can change.

A name that has not gone through these steps will not be on the sidewalk, which explains many of the gaps people notice; the missing stars page covers them. The ceremonies themselves are free to watch, as the star ceremonies page explains.

Frequently asked questions